My great aunt's obsession with Garden Nomes was a bit of a running joke in our family.

We would tease her about them at family gatherings, joking that they were taking over a property. She had more than a dozen of them scattered all over a back and front yard,

as well as in the garden.

So, when she asked if I could drive her to the flea market one Saturday,

I already knew what she was aiming to buy.

Looking for another jewel for your front yard, I asked, smiling.

In my family, we were always ribbing each other.

Of course, there's a perfect spot by the front door now since we remove that shrub last week.

I need to get a special little guy to go there.

They'd better have something interesting.

When we arrived at the flea market, I saw, they indeed have something interesting.

It was in the front window of the shop staring at us when we parked

and my great aunt lit up with a big smile. I couldn't understand her reaction.

Since my first thought was that the thing looked malicious and cruel

There it is that's the one

She exclaimed

So much for shopping around. She jumped out of the car while it was still rolling, dashing inside quickly on her

arthritical legs.

I hurriedly finished parking the car and chased after her, stealing a backwards glance at the

creepy little gnome.

It was dressed in green and purple and had an evil grin on its small bearded face. It was holding an axe which clinted like a real

blade in the sunlight. Excellent grassmanship, the flea market owner was already saying

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