The child was a little hesitant.
She paused before speaking. "...So many things..."
What was a general store?
Naturally, it was called a general store because it had all sorts of things inside... just about everything.
As far as the child could see...
There were all kinds of things: familiar, unfamiliar, interesting, ordinary...
The child was getting a little dizzy just looking at them.
Because she had been looking up, she was also a little lightheaded.
So...
What was it...
that Grandpa wanted her to look at?
"That's right."
The old man crouched beside the child.
"You've seen a lot of things, haven't you?"
"There are so, so many things in this general store."
"This music box..."
The old man pointed at the music box in the child's palm. "It's just one of them."
"If it stays here..."
"It'll basically just gather dust."
"If you take it home, it can serve its purpose much better."
"What do you think..."
The old man smiled. "Does it want to stay here and get moldy and dusty..."
"Or does it want to go home with you?"
The child froze.
The answer was obvious.
She looked at the old man.
"Have you found your answer?"
The old man's lips curved.
"Every item here was carefully chosen by my wife and me."
"If they can find a better home..."
"My wife and I will both be very happy."
The child tightened her grip on the music box.
She nodded firmly.
"I'll take good care of this music box!"
"I'll listen to it every day!"
The old man chuckled.
"Then I'll leave it in your hands."
"But you don't have to force yourself to listen to it every day."
"As long as you keep liking it, that's enough."
"Okay!"
The