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Mr. Basil's Library

The Ending That Started the Tale (Part 1 of 2)

The Ending That Started the Tale (Part 1 of 2)

May 26, 2025

The hand of the tiny clock reached 12 and it screamed loud enough for the lanky man to stir. His wooden bed, a bit short for him, just like his thin blanket, shrieked as he moved. He raised his weary hand and searched for the round item on the table lamp. His hand found the fine-toothed comb first and missed an inch while trying to return it. It fell to his left worn out slipper on the scruffy floor and he peaked from his bed to see what happened. He got a better sight of his son's gift for his 51st birthday, 29 years ago, and took it. The clock with a couple of tapes on showed 6:15 am. He yawned and got up after resetting the alarm and picking his thick glasses. As usual, the clock fell on its back just as he made his fourth step to the kitchen due to its missing leg.

The kitchen is just a few breaths away from his bed, all squeezed in a room that smells of soil and morning grass. The man's glasses moved closer to his small eyes as it rolled from his wide nose, while he was reaching the top cupboard for some bread. With a thick layer of strawberry jam from the village's farm, he enjoyed his breakfast. The dampness of the rocking chair, beside the only window in the room, welcomed him as he sat. Silence covered the room again but was shortly interrupted when the bell chimed.

He headed to the door with his mouth still busy with the second bite he had, the rest of the bun clinging on to his right hand. He walked out from the room and entered the rectangular library. His room rests with one of the shorter walls. From his view, he can see the first reading section, its five towering wooden shelves and two long tables illuminated by the giant glass windows on both sides of the wall. He trailed his left hand in the front desk as he walked and opened the door.

He looked down to his right and was not disappointed to see a cold bottle of milk and the newspaper for the day. The nippy weather that greeted that morning, like any other, reminded him of the comfort that made him stay in this village his entire life. There haven't been many changes since then, just more people. Everything would still be covered by mists just before sunrise, would still be serenaded by native birds throughout the day, and would still be awed by the sunset. But he did notice that very few people use the carriages now than before.

The wooden floor sang as he took each unhurried step. He reached his room and let out a sigh as he shut the broken door. After removing his hand from the knob, the door swung back and made a small gap again. Meanwhile, in the second reading section, separated from the first by another set of tables and chairs, a quarter-inch thin book with timeworn pages entitled 'Where Cats Came From' was climbing the fourth row of the fourth shelf.

"Excuse me—oops—sorry—coming through—thank you." She mumbled as numerous books complained.

"Nice record Miss Knots." She added, as she passed by 'Knottling's Weekly Mishaps', a simple printed pocketbook composed of the nearby capital's folktales. She was read for 32 straight days excluding Sundays. The passing book finally managed to squeeze herself between the left and right rows facing the third and fifth shelves.

"Are you alright?" asked the tall, pale gray, thick book with a male child-like voice.

"Oh. Hi. Yes, I am." She replied.

"Why are you there?" the book asked and caused a small laugh from around.

"You're new, are you?"

"How did you know?"

"Well, you asked me why I am here. Only the new ones would ask that."

"Oh, sorry. I—"

"No, no. Don't get me wrong. I mean—"

"She's a trespasser. That's who she is." A voice from a distant shelf said and another controlled laugh erupted. The book didn't reply and focused on being comfy on her space.

"I don't understand. Shouldn't you be lining up with us? No one will see you nor read you if you're there."

"Because I'm not supposed to be here. At least that's what they say. I don't believe it. I know Mr. Basil. I used to be—"

"His favourite book." The 'Introduction to Biology' textbook beside the newbie finished.

"Don't believe any word from her. She's a liar." Another textbook by a different author, with a half human body on its cover, added.

"No, I'm not."

"Oh yeah? Then why did Mr. Basil got mad when he saw you? Why did he throw you back to the restricted section?" A neighbouring book argued and didn't receive a reply, for the book in question already left.

"See?"

"What's a restricted section?" the newbie asked.

"Huh, you never heard of it?" the 'Introduction to Biology' book asked. More and more books from the same shelf were secretly listening to the conversation.

"Where are you from anyway?" the second text book asked.

"Um, I'm not really sure mister…"

"Ogie. No mister, just Ogie. The one on your right is Bio. He's not motivated with names." Replied Ogie with disappointment.

"And I'm Carol. So, who donated you?" said the other neighbour with 'Advanced Chemistry' on her cover.

"Um, I'm not sure if I was donated. I had an owner before. They transferred to a new home. I was supposed to be there, but last night, when the box opened, I saw an old man's face and here I am."

"That would be Mr. Basil." She replied.

"Son, let me translate to you what just happened. You've been—" Ogie started with a menacing smile.

"Ogie!" Countless of books yelled at once.

"What's your name?" asked Carol with a smile, trying to change the subject.

"Momo." He smiled back.

"And your genre?"

Momo showed a confused look again, so Carol decided to help. "Come on guys, move. I'll read his cover." She ordered and the nearby books like Ogie followed. She tried squeezing herself in but failed and told Ogie to read instead. He began reading Momo's title out loud at first but was confused midway. He read to himself instead until he finished. He shushed the impatient Carol on his side and read it again for the second time. On his third try, he read it out loud, "Clarinet Classic Music Sheets Grand Collection."

Gasps echoed. The book 'Where Cats came from', who was halfway through the top row of the same shelf, stopped. One history book from the first section tried to move as much as he can to find the source of the trivial conversation. He has a moustached man dressed in heavy garment on his cover. He tried to take the man's binoculars, but the man resisted and drew out his sword. The book flicked it and made a face.

"Is something wrong?" Momo asked.

"No. Nothing. It's just that you're the first of your kind here." Carol replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Which intrigues me, may I see your pages?" She asked with sparkling eyes.


Author's Note: Sorry, I had to cut it in 2 parts due to 15k characters limit by Tapas. Also, please check out my landing page: https://linktr.ee/msjenjana


jnmsltao
Jenjana

Creator

#drama #library #Book #adventure #magic #family #mystery #Town #multiplepov #nonhuman

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A problem ensued when two books in a library read by two girls had different endings.
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The Ending That Started the Tale (Part 1 of 2)

The Ending That Started the Tale (Part 1 of 2)

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