Last Wednesday, I hadn't planned on stopping by an odd looking plant store on my way walking through downtown, but something about the stray cats gathered outside the storefront painted with the words "The Porcelain Garden" convinced me to give it a try. And on the other hand, I was in need of a number of new, fresh samples to be the subject of my sketchbook drawings after the last three plants I bought had unfortunately succumbed to the summer heat. Upon first glance, there was nothing too out of the ordinary with the plant store. It was small and crowded, but upon further inspection, there was an abnormal amount of cleanliness among the many shelves of potted plants and more notably, there was the lack of a shop keeper. How curious. I would have spent longer wondering about the whereabouts of the seemingly absent shop clerk, but a small pot of pale pink succulents that had caught my eye and I found myself focused on the delicate leaves. "Do you know how to care for them?" a voice suddenly asked, causing me to jump. All of the sudden there was a young man beside me, peering down at me questioningly. Still in shock, I only stared back at him. "Water them twice a week. And give them lots of sunlight. That's about all there is to it," he continued before picking up the small potted plant and making his way to the cash register. "Cash or card?" he then asked me. "Um, cash," I stuttered out and before I knew it, I was standing outside of the store, a bag in hand and a stray cat staring up at me expectantly, as if to say "you're not the only one he's done that to."