Wonderstruck

Ben walks to Kincaid’s. It is hot, and he is covered in sweat when he arrives. The store is large and overflowing with books. The counter and shop are empty when he comes in, except for one black cat. He waits, his head in his hands, a wave of nausea coming over him.

Many images show the path of an older woman walking through the streets of 1970s New York. She walks confidently. She arrives at Kincaid books and steps through the door. We see a close-up of her face, warm and smiling slightly. Ben recognizes her as the woman who often visits the wolf diorama. He watches as the woman and an old man, who appeared behind the counter, begin signing to one another. He tries to stand, but his legs buckle beneath him. The old man and woman approach, to help him. The old man gets him water, but the woman is staring at him with an odd look: “It looked like confusion and wonder and sadness, all at the same time” (505). Ben realizes the locket around his neck had fallen open. The woman points to the locket when the old man returns, and they both are startled.