Once upon a time it seems there lived an alchemist named Bob. Bob was not his real name but his given name was so difficult to spell and nearly impossible to pronounce that after hearing people struggle with it for years he finally decided to just call himself Bob and be done with it.
Now alchemists have been known to create all kinds of things but Bob specialized in magic potions, elixirs, and balms. He had a potion that would allow the user to appear handsome or beautiful no matter how ugly they really were. He had another that would make the user invisible for a short time. He even offered a miracle wart remover which was very highly regarded . But his most popular item was the love potion, for then as now when someone fell deeply and passionately in love with another it was more than likely the object of their desire would not feel the same way in return. The cure for unrequited love was Bob's specialty and of course the cost of such a potion was very high - one hundred pieces of gold, which even in a fairy tale economy is quite a lot of money.
Now it happened that one day Bob answered a knock at his door and there before him stood an old gentleman with a white beard and thinning hair. Bob invited him in and it wasn't long before the gentleman, whose name was Rufus, asked for one of Bob's magical love potions. Bob then asked if Rufus understood the steep price for such a mixture and Rufus quickly produced from a satchel he carried over his shoulder a thick cloth bag. He laid the bag heavily on the table next to him. "One hundred pieces of gold," said Rufus. "All the money I have in the world, and it's taken me many, many years of scrimping and saving to gather such a sum but soon it will all be worth it for I will have my heart's desire - my one true and lasting love."
Bob scratched his head before making his next inquiry. "Yes, well, if I might ask, sir, how is it you are seeking this potion so late in life? Most of my customers are quite a bit younger."
Rufus stared out the window for a moment before answering. "You see, when I first met my one true love, whose name is Pamela, by the way, we were both very young and headstrong. And one day we had the most terrible argument over her wanting to see other men and after a great deal of tears and shouting, all on my part I'm afraid, we chose to go our separate ways. I suppose I always felt that one day we would be together again but fate has a way of spoiling such plans. After a time I met another woman and the next thing I knew I was married and starting a family. Eventually I heard that Pamela had married as well. Yet as the years went by my marriage became quite unbearable. I knew from the beginning my wife was not my one true love and it was unfair of me to marry her. We seldom speak now except to argue and find fault with one another. Our children are grown and haven't much to do with us and so at last I became determined to find happiness with the one woman I ever truly loved. But I knew I needed a great deal of money for your magic elixir and it has taken me all this time to acquire such a sum. But now I have it and I ask you to sell me the potion."
"Yes, of course," Bob said as he reached up to a shelf above him and brought down a small, purple vial. "This is it, all you will need. But you must follow my instructions carefully. Have this woman, this Pamela, drink this in your presence and be sure that there is no one else around when she does so. After drinking this she will fall deeply, passionately in love with the very first person she sets eyes on. That is why you must be alone with her. Her love will never waiver from that moment on and she will love you unconditionally."
Rufus held the vial in his hand with great reverence. It was so small he guessed there could not be more than one or two spoonfuls of the magical mixture in the bottle. He thanked Bob and took one last look at the bag of gold he was leaving behind before setting out to find his long, lost Pamela.
It was nearing supper time when Rufus reached Pamela's home, a magnificent house with many rooms that was built overlooking the ocean. Pamela, Rufus knew, had married a handsome, athletic, and very rich man. What he did not know is that Pamela's husband was not her one true love, either, but being that he was handsome, athletic, and very rich she was able to live quite happily with the compromise.
Rufus knocked on Pamela's door and a few moments later Pamela's maid Abby answered and inquired what business Rufus had with her mistress. Rufus told the maid he was a very old friend of Pamela's and needed to see her on an important matter. Abby asked Rufus to wait in the parlor and left to seek her mistress. Rufus looked around at the many fine things in Pamela's beautiful home and stared out at the ocean through the large glass windows. He knew he would never be able to provide Pamela with such luxury and for the first time he wondered if upon seeing her again after all these years he would feel differently about her. Like himself she would have aged and perhaps.... But just then the parlor doors opened and when Pamela walked in Rufus knew instantly by the ache in his heart that his love for her was unchanged. She was older, yes, but just as beautiful and when she smiled he felt he might begin to cry as he thought of all the wasted years he had spent without her.
"Rufus," Pamela said. "How wonderful to see you. I've missed you. It's so nice of you to visit after such a long time. I hope you'll stay for dinner." She sat next to Rufus on the couch beside the grand windows and they passed the time in polite but awkward conversation until at last Rufus was ready to explain the reason for his visit. He had to be clever, though. He obviously could not tell Pamela the truth about the potion and its purpose and yet he had to have her drink it in his presence. He had practiced what he would say many times.
"Pamela, I have obtained at great expense a potion from an alchemist of great renown. This potion is guaranteed to give me all my heart desires and much happiness for the rest of my days but it must be taken by someone who wishes me to have such happiness without reservation. Otherwise it won't work."
"But surely," Pamela questioned, "surely you would have your wife drink it for you. Doesn't she wish you to be happy?"
"My wife would only wish for what she thinks I should have which in essence would be what she desires for herself. As for my children, they would only wish me great wealth so they could then borrow the money. No, Pamela, there is no one, no one but you that I can trust to drink this potion. I know your heart and I know you would do so wanting only the best for me."
"Of course, Rufus, it's the least I can do for such an old friend." At this Rufus removed the vial from his pocket and before handing it to Pamela he looked about the room to assure himself that they were completely alone. Pamela took the vial and removed the cork and with only the slightest hesitation put the vial to her lips and drank the liquid down. At that moment the parlor doors opened and Abby announced that dinner was served. Pamela automatically turned to answer her maid and when she did she suddenly became transfixed. Pamela rose from the couch without a word and moved toward Abby until she was standing close beside her. "Oh Abby," Pamela cooed, "your hair is so lovely. I've never really noticed how very lovely it is and how very lovely you are."
Rufus could not move or even speak. He knew what had just happened and yet could not believe it, but with no other choice than to accept the bitter truth that he had failed he forced himself up off the couch and moved across the room with feet that felt like lead.
"Won't you be staying for dinner, Rufus?" asked Pamela, never looking away from Abby's eyes as she gently stroked her maid's hair. "No," Rufus answered. "No, thank you."
"Goodbye then, Rufus. I hope that you have all that your heart desires.'' These were the last words Rufus would ever hear from his one, true love. He walked out of that beautiful house and down the long road and as he walked he realized he must now return to his nagging wife and his loveless home. Moreover, he would have to explain to his wife how their life's savings had completely disappeared. While pondering this he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see a handsome, athletic looking man entering Pamela's front door. "Honey, I'm home," he heard the man say.
Oh dear, thought Rufus. Oh dear, oh dear.....
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And so our story ends with not be quite the storybook finish one might have wished, but at least now it's clear why there are so many tales about love at first sight.....and his name is Bob.
- C. S. Winter
