《Readers Beware》


 Lorady Lindens Living Library

    Mr. Linden came into town on the coldest day of the year, when yesterday¡¯s rain turned to today¡¯s ice and the wind seemed like one¡¯s most bitter enemy. He brought with him a transportable library. To be more precise it was a big maroon van with the words Lorady Linden¡¯s Living Library painted on the side in big yellow letters. The interior of the van was lined with books secured to the walls and stacks covering the floor. There was hardly any room for a person to stand in that van and Mr. Linden seemed proud of that fact.


    He parked his van right next to the town¡¯s own library and opening all the doors set up a table and chair, he had removed from the empty passenger seat, next to his van. At first no one would approach him for a strange man with a van was not something you willingly engaged with, as most would know. But courageous little Kitty Purrow could not contain her curiosity and she soon went up to Mr. Linden to see his strange library.


    ¡°Hello,¡± she said exuding bold confidence.


    ¡°Salutations,¡± he replied smartly.


    ¡°Salutations? What does that mean? What are you doing here in front of the library?¡±


    ¡°Salutations is said as a greeting or acknowledgment of another¡¯s arrival or departure, and I am lending books to those who wish to borrow a few.¡± Kitty pursed her lips in thought and announce, as she felt mildly talked down to,


    ¡°I was just testing you. I know what salutations means, and I can read. I know what a library is. I meant, what¡¯re you doing here in front of the town library? Isn¡¯t it silly to have a library in front of a library?¡± she told him with a confident chuckle practically thrusting her nose into the air.


    ¡°I see. You must be a very intelligent and well-read young lady. However, I imagine it is only superfluous if both libraries have the same books. I have brought rare books from all over the world to offer the town something new.¡± Kitty scrunched up her face as he had used another word she did not know. However, being a proud ten year old she would not ask for the meaning of more than one word per conversation.


    ¡°Well I¡¯ll borrow a book then,¡± She told Mr. Linden as if it was his honor.


    ¡°All right. Is there anything you would like in particular?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± she sighed grandiosely. ¡°I¡¯ll just look around a bit.¡± With that she stuck her head into the van¡¯s interior. Slowly she edged her way deeper and deeper into Mr. Linden¡¯s library till she was crawling through stacks of books. Suddenly she heard a rustling sound from the front of the van. Startled she turned quickly knocking over a stack of books in the process.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.There was nothing there, and peeking out the back of the van Kitty saw Mr. Linden was still sitting in his chair. Turning back to where she heard the sound come from, she slowly made her way over. It was darker in that part of the van as less light could reach from the open doors, so Kitty had to get very close to the books to even see their titles. Seeing nothing unusual Kitty was about to turn back then a book caught her eye. It was a rustic green hardback with a cover that appeared to be made of fabric. The only thing on the book was the title, Ivy, in gold lettering. The mystery of the book was bewitching and Kitty had to read it. Having made her decision she began to make her way back to the door of the van.


    Seeing Kitty immerge Mr. Linden put down the book he was reading and asked Kitty, ¡°decided on a book have we?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡± Kitty replied proudly placing the book on Mr. Linden¡¯s table for him to see. When he saw the book his face darkened.


    ¡°Where did you get that?¡± he asked harshly.


    ¡°Off the back shelf,¡± Kitty replied meekly in fright. Mr. Linden thought for a moment then asked,


    ¡°are you sure you want this book?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°All right but you may only check it out for three days.¡± He said holding up three fingers. ¡°Please sign your name here, and wright the name of the book here,¡± he said showing her a notebook he seemed to produce from nowhere. Kitty quickly wrote her name and the book title. Taking the record book back Mr. Linden looked down his nose to read her name.


    ¡°Now Ms. Purrow, I only have one rule. You must never leave that book open. Do you understand? When you¡¯re not reading it, this book absolutely must remain closed.¡± He told her earnestly. Kitty nodded her head in understanding and went on home. Mr. Linden sat down in his chair and watched her go, the wind bitterly biting at him. Muttering to himself,


    ¡°how long has it been since someone checked out Ivy?¡±

 Consequences

    When Kitty got home her father was at the dinner table reading the newspaper and her mother was still at work. Hearing the front door open and close Mr. Purrow put his paper down.


    ¡°Kitty? How was your day?¡± he asked as she came into the kitchen.


    ¡°Oh, it was fine.¡±


    ¡°Really anything fun happen at school today?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Sarah got in trouble with the teacher again and we all had to do an extra page of math.¡± Kitty said frowning.


    ¡°Hum, I see. Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well I checked out a book from this new library.¡± She said holding the book up proudly.


    ¡°New Library? What do you mean?¡± He asked bewildered.


    ¡°There was a man parked in front of the library today, and he had his own library, so I checked out a book from him.¡± Mr. Purrow frowned.


    ¡°A man?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Linden.¡±


    ¡°I see. My I see that book please, Kitty,¡± He asked. Kitty knew he wasn¡¯t really asking though so she handed over the book. Mr. Purrow flipped through all the pages than read the first few. It seemed okay so he handed it back to Kitty saying, ¡°alright go on. Don¡¯t forget to do your homework.¡± That was the end of it and Kitty ran upstairs to her room. She put the book on her bed and did the homework she was assigned.


    Her mother came home a little later and they had dinner. After playing on the computer a bit and taking a bath Kitty got ready for bed. Snuggling under her covers she picked up the book she had moved to her nightstand and began reading. At eight her mother came in to the room and told her she had thirty more minutes. Finally becoming tired she closed the book and went to sleep.


    Two more days passed like this and on the third day Kitty was almost done the book. She didn¡¯t want to return it without finishing as the story was very exciting. It was about a boy who was stranded in the juggle. It told of his adventures facing wild animals, hunger, and vicious natives.


    That night she went through her same old routine but at eight o¡¯clock when her mother usually came in to say good night and only thirty more minutes her mother did not come. Mrs. Purrow had left early that morning for a business conference and was to be gone for the next four days. Kitty read and read and slowly she found it harder and harder to concentrate on what she was reading. Slowly she fell asleep, the book laying open on her lap.


    As she slept the room gradually became more and more humid. Kitty began to sweat under her covers and tossing onto her side the book slid off her lap. Unfortunately the book remained open. Along with the humidity the room began to reek like wet vegetation, a musty sort of smell with the smell of fresh turned earth mixed in. Finally a bit a green appeared to emerge from the center of the book. It grew and expanded creeping from the pages and across Kitty¡¯s blankets. It grew larger and longer till it started to cover Kitty and spreading all across her room. As it groped across her it began to creep up her face softly growing across her mouth till it tickled her nose and tangled her hair. The tickly woke Kitty gently from her sleep.


    Suddenly she was wide awake. She couldn¡¯t move. She began to struggle desperately. The more she struggled the tighter the ivy and vines constricted around her till they were so tight it was hard to breath. She tried to scream but the still expanding plant had long ago blocked her mouth. Utterly trapped she began to cry. Tears steamed from eyes that called desperately for help. Slowly the ivy blocked her vision and her view went black. She felt a strong tugging and she realized the vines were pulling her somewhere, but she didn¡¯t care anymore. She just cried.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    The next morning Mr. Linden appeared on the Purrow door step. He lightly nocked on the door. Mr. Purrow answered.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you so early in the morning. Your Miss Kitty¡¯s father, yes?¡± Mr. Linden asked smiling politely.


    ¡°Yes, and who are you?¡± Mr. Purrow answered guardedly.


    ¡°My apologies, I am Lorady Linden owner of the Lorady Linden Living Library. Your daughter borrowed a book from me a few days ago. It was due yesterday but I did not receive it. Normally this would be of no consequence and I would not handle it this way but you see I am leaving today and so I must collect all my books now.¡± Mr. Linden explained apologetically.


    ¡°So you lent my daughter that book. What was it called again? I¡¯ll see if it¡¯s in her room.¡± Mr. Purrow replied nodding his head.


    ¡°The book was title Ivy.¡±


    ¡°Alright then. Would you like to come inside as I look?¡± Mr. Purrow offered.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mr. Linden replied stepping in. ¡°May I ask, where is Miss Kitty?¡±


    ¡°Oh, she leaves early to catch the bus to school with her friends.¡± Mr. Purrow replied while heading up stairs. He went into Kitty¡¯s room and found the book resting closed on Kitty¡¯s bed. He noticed her bed was unmade and decide he would need to talk to her about it when she got home. Heading back down stairs he gave the book to Mr. Linden.


    ¡°Do we owe you any late fees or anything?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No this is just fine,¡± he told Mr. Purrow while leaving. ¡°Have a nice day.¡±


    ¡°You too,¡± replied Mr. Purrow closing the door.


    Mr. Linden went to his van and opening the passenger door pulled out a small chest from under the dashboard. Inside the chest were two books of a similar design but in red and blue both with single word titles in gold. He placed the book in the chest with the others and locked it tight placing it back under the dashboard. Closing the door he went around the van and got in the driver¡¯s seat and started the car. Before putting it in drive he looked down at the chest and thought why it is always the young ones. Then starting the car he rode off.


    A week later in a city two towns over Mr. Linden parked his van in front of another library. He opened all the doors of his van and sat in his chair at his table. Pulling out a newspaper to read a sharp wind blew at the edges. Suddenly a small chirping voices said,


    ¡°I¡¯d like to read this book.¡± The boy put a worn blue book on the table with the title Frost printed on its cover in gold. ¡°Anything interesting in the paper today?¡± the boy asked.


    ¡°Nothing of importance,¡± Mr. Linden said putting his paper down to help the boy. The front page article read Mysterious Disappearances across the East Coast.