100 Themes: Introduction

I. Introduction: 1

I wonder what could have possibly drawn me to this place. Perhaps it was the heavy scent of chai that hung in the air. Or maybe it was my knack for getting lost. Maybe even destiny, if you want to get corny. What ever it was doesn’t really matter. I’m here.2

It’s common to find obscure little shops around this part of town. You have your tearooms, vegan shops, indie apparel, and record stores, but never have I seen a place like this before. For one thing there’s no merchandise. Only a few comfortable looking lounge chairs with green cushions and an unorganized front desk. The scent of tea and cinnamon is almost overpowering yet oh so enticing. Soft music plays in the back. The tune is relaxing and nostalgic. I recognize it from my childhood when my dad would play old vinyls from the 60s and 70s. All these elements seem to draw me into a trance as I start to sway to the beat. But I quickly awaken when a girl comes through the back door. “Hey there,” she says, giving me a smile full of braces. 3

“Uh, hi.”4

I’m not gonna lie, she looks weird. As do most people in this neighborhood. Her hair is tied back inside a blue scarf with a few loose strands poking down the sides of her tan freckled face. She’s not exactly thin, but neither is she plump. Sort of in between with wide set hips. Her tight black tube top makes them look even wider giving her a real hourglass physique. “If you came for an appointment you’re gonna have to wait. Andre’s on his break for the next half hour. I’m always telling him not to leave without checking his schedule first. I can’t tell you how many clients he’s lost due to ditching them at the last minute,” she rambled.5

“Oh no. I’m just-“6

“Oh! Is this your first time at Solace?”7

So that’s what this place is called. Now that I think about it, I did half read the sign painted gold on their window. “Yeah, but I was just brow-“8

“Welcome! Oh man, we haven’t had a newbie here for a hell of a long time,” she interrupts. She comes towards me making clacking sounds as she walks. I look down and realize she’s barefoot. The clacks come from three toe rings hitting the wooden floor. I have to step back a bit since she comes too close. She’s a head shorter than me. “I’m Renee. Pleasure to meet you, Mister?”9

“Um, Jackson.”10

“Jackie! All right, just follow me into the back here and we’ll get you situated.” Before I get the chance to decline she’s already taken my hand and pulling me away. For such a short girl, she’s got a lot of strength. This place is a lot bigger than I thought. The back leads to two separate and very large rooms. “That one on the left is where my brother, Andre, works. Does tarot and stuff, but it’s mostly bullshit. Don’t tell,” says Renee. “My work is much more professional.”11

She takes me into the room on the right. That scent from before along with the music all came from here, I see. In the corner sits an old turntable. Next to it, a black kettle. Fragrant steam floats from the tip. I start to feel that trance-like state coming back. This room just seems so safe. The walls are dark chocolate with a forest of white and black trees painted all around. More green cushions and pillows are placed around a glass coffee table in the center. “Take a seat, kiddo.”12

She sits across from me pulling her brown floral skirt across her knees. “This is my end of the joint. We just remodeled like a few weeks ago. Ain’t it cool?” I quickly nod my head. I have no idea what to make of this girl. She’s has much too much energy. Almost as overpowering as the tea. “Um, what is it you do here?” I ask. Might as well get to the point before she opens her mouth. “Story therapy.” I wait for her to elaborate, but instead we spend an awkward twenty seconds in silence. “What’s that?” 13

“I got the idea from this Japanese game. People would sit in a room surrounded by a hundred candles and tell ghost stories. After every story, they’d blow out a candle till everything was completely dark. Supposedly it would summon some kind of entity. We used to do that here, but it became a fire hazard so we had to quit. But then I had this idea. Instead of horror, why not have people share their own stories? Anyway, to make a long story short, my clients come here to tell stories, drink tea, eat my cookies, all that good stuff. It’s very therapeutic experience for them. Of course, they don’t tell exactly a hundred tales. We switch off. I tell fifty, they tell fifty, you get the picture.”14

It seems they’ll allow any sort of business these days. Who in their right mind would waste money on this crap? Do they even charge people for this? “Would you like to try?” asked Renee, showing off another metallic grin. I politely turn her down. “Come on. It’s a great stress reliever. And it only costs five dollars, for food and drinks.” Persistent little thing. “No, I really should get going.”15

“Do you need to go somewhere?”16

“No, but-“17

“Perfect! Now just sit tight and I’ll start us off.”18