"You know, there IS something you could do for me..." the ghost murmured. "Something that this failure of a McScott was never able to do..." He threw Jimmy an angry glare.
Jimmy nervously looked at the floor.
"You must know, there is another Scottish clan living around here... the McTricks! The McTricks and McScotts always have been enemies... But one thing they did was really the worst thing ever done to the McScott clan: They tricked me!"
"How terrible..." his wife grumbled in the background.
Eric threw her another glare, then coughed and continued: "Well, as I said: I was being tricked! Alan McTrick, the clan's patriarch, is a merchant as me, when I was still alive... But this cheating little maggot..." The ghost gritted his teeth. "He sold me some wares... but when I was going to pay for them, he tricked me by using a pair of defective scales... they made me pay 3 pounds too many."
"Pound?" Usagi wondered.
"Pound is the English and Scottish currency," Jimmy explained.
Ukyo was thinking. Defective scales? Was that the influence of the Libra Amulet or just coincidence?
Eric McScott shook his head. "I couldn't bear the disgrace and soon left the world of the living..."
"Don't speak nonsense," His wife scolded him. "We both died from old age."
"Hah!" her husband yelled. "I was still as healthy as I was as a young man, don't tell me anything about old age! No, no, it was the shame of being tricked by McTrick!"
"So... what do you want us to do about it?" Mamoru asked.
The ghost grinned and floated a little closer. "I want... that you somehow get these 3 pounds back for me. I don't care how... but be sure McTrick loses 3 pounds... and the McScott clan gains 3 Pounds! If you manage to do that, I'll tell you the place where I hid the amulet."
"But Uncle Eric," Jimmy protested. "No one can trick the McTricks! They're just too sneaky!"
"Nonsense!" His granduncle huffed. "You always have been a failure, my boy, that's our problem here!"
And with a 'bamf' of smoke, the ghost vanished. Betty smiled reassuringly at them and followed her husband.
----
The following day...
Early in the morning, Jimmy and his old pal Mamoru drove into town.
They parked the car and walked into the town center.
Jimmy gestured towards a small junk-shop. "That's his shop. And remember, be careful: McTrick can be a sneaky little weasel!"
Mamoru nodded. "I'll be careful."
The evening before, they all asked themselves if they should do as Jimmy's granduncle told them. After all, they could easily search for for the amulet themselves. But as Jimmy told them, that would take weeks. If the McTricks were really as back-stabbing as Jimmy and his uncle said, they deserved it. And besides, 3 pounds, that's not very much, right?
Luna wanted to give them a lecture about what was right and what was wrong, but as she couldn't say anything as long Jimmy was around, she didn't get much of a chance for this lecture...
Mamoru and Jimmy entered the shop. A jingling bell at the door informed the proprietor of the arrival of customers.
A short, elderly man with black hair and a beard came out of the backroom. "Ah, Jimmy," he said with a grin. "How nice to see you again, my boy!"
"Morning, Mr. McTrick!" Jimmy replied. "My friend here is from Japan, and he's looking for a nice souvenir. You don't mind if we take a look around, do you?"
"I'm just searching for something as a present for my girlfriend," Mamoru added, to stay in character.
"Of course, of course! Bringing him here was a good idea, Jimmy! In my shop, he will find a big assortment of souvenirs. Just take a look around, sir, and tell me if you find something that you like."
Mamoru looked around. He instantly realized how unusual high McTrick's prices were. In his opinion, that was downright daylight robbery. Luckily, he still had much money left from his big lottery prize.
He just wished Nabiki was here. From what Ukyo told him, the middle Tendo girl was unbeatable when taking care of anything financial...
He pointed at a small teddy bear wearing a Scottish kilt. "How about that bear?"
"A very good decision, sir," McTrick grinned. "Scottish needlework, and an excellent prize. Your girlfriend will love it."
Mamoru nodded. "I'll take it." He took it to the counter.
McTrick smiled. "That's a total of 8 pounds, please!"
Mamoru smiled back. "Can we round it down?"
McTrick instantly stopped smiling. "The McTricks have never allowed a discount, and they won't start it now."
"Hey, it's only 3 pounds."
"I told you, sir: No discounts!"
Mamoru sighed. A really stubborn merchant. Well, time for Plan B...
He pulled out his wallet. "May I pay in Yen?"
"I don't mind," McTrick grumbled.
Mamoru took out several Yen bills and gave them to the merchant. He took the teddy bear. "Goodbye, sir!"
"Just a moment," McTrick suddenly shouted. "Are you trying to take me for a fool?"
'Dang!' Mamoru thought. 'He really is an observant bargainer...'
McTrick grinned. "You thought I wasn't informed about the exchange rates, did you? The Yen you owe me are corresponding approximately 3 pounds... and you're lucky that I don't charge you for the thousandth part of the price!"
Mamoru groaned as he paid the full price for the bear.
'Okay, he won this round, but that was only the beginning...'
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(Posted Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:43)
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