I wish I hadn’t seen it, but there was no going back now. There is a quaint shop at the end of London’s Borough Market called Quarrels, Quibbles and Quests. It has sat there alone for ages I was told. I never noticed it before! One day, I decided to take a look, however to my dismay, it seemed empty. Without much thought, I opened the door to the shop. Out of the blue, an old man with a mis-shaped smile shook my hand. I could feel his firm grip draw me into where all of his items were hidden. The store was dilapidated with only a little window stuck in the corner trying to bring some light to this mystery. I could now see the store filled to the brim of antiques from South America to the edge of China. The man looked hopeful that I would purchase one of his finds. As a collector, I was immediately glued to the chinas. In the corner of my eye, I spotted a china globe. I walked up to it to look. We started to quibble about the authenticity of this item with the shopkeeper claiming it was from the Ming Dynasty. I touched it and it zapped my finger and left a mark on the globe! The man said in his cracked voice “Oh no, no touch, no touch, it's real alright and now you have to buy it.” I tried to wiggle my way out of this acquisition but alas.

After re-thinking my actions, I really shouldn’t have bought that globe. The man now had a mischievous grin imprinted on his face as he carefully counted my money with rapacity. As I left, I heard a brief chuckle arise from within the door which remained ajar. I tried to shake the memory from my mind but I could still smell the dusty air from the store room in my nostrils, constantly reminding me. The globe had a label on it that said ‘do not peel off’ (in bold text). Being as curious as a cat, I did just what I should not have. A petite itch started to irritate the wrist of my right hand (which had peeled the label off). The itch turned to a sting. Suddenly: My arms, my finger, my head and my legs exploded with pain. With a loud cry of terror, I was flung forwards into a wormhole. 

I could taste the pain climbing out of my poor mouth but all of a sudden, it all yielded. I found myself in a world unknown to me. That shopkeeper sent me here for daring to argue with him! I always wondered why the shop was called Quarrels, Quibbles And Quests, but now I know. The new world that I now had arrived in was unknown to me and an adventure awaited. Oh, what was I to do?

The gleaming sun beat down on the misshapen and gnarled trees surrounding me. I trod carefully through the peaceful but strange forest as I heard chatters and chirps sweep my surroundings. The tranquil air filled my nose with a lavish smell that I never would forget. The light crunch of the pebbles and twigs underneath me swept me of all my unease. As I strolled through the calming land, I imagined myself at a luxurious buffet with all of the best foods: I tasted the sweet berries and fruits from the most exotic trees. Beams of sunlight ran down my cheeks like rain on a windy day. It was as if I was in heaven! 

In the distance, the abrupt bells rang from a nearby village and awoke me from this quasi dream. I knew this adventure might soon be over. I ran my fingers along the smooth wood of a pine tree sitting next to me, ensuring it was still real. As I was leaving, in the corner of my eye, I saw a little door. I crept slowly up towards it and pulled the rusty handle towards me. Through the door lay a new fantastical experience, another sparkling land. Maybe this quest was not over, not yet!