Thursday, October 14, 2010

don't judge a book...

10 years after Lord Truban escaped:
It was a
cold, and rainy afternoon when Mercedes jumped into her Mom's car after school.


It was now the winter school break and she was very glad of that. Her Mom started to drive, as she peered out the window. Drops of water were drizzling down the cold glass, and it was hard to see, but from the familiar drive and through the droplets, she could make-out that they were at the Dome Library. It was the largest library in the state with four stories.
 Her mom, Mrs. De Fount, drove into the parking lot. Mercedes would often come here when winter break began to pick  out  books to read over the break...well, come to think of it, she didn't  exactly pick it herself.

Mr.Tubs, was an old and dear friend of the family, Mercedes' father had first met  him when he used to work at the library. He would always pick at least two or three books for her to chose from at this time of the year. Although he was retired now, the manager of the library allowed him keep a spare set of keys to certain doors,  as well as taking care of vintage papers and magazines, and things like that.

The manager Mr Fisher,  trusted Mr Tubs, after all, he  had worked there for at least 10 years and was so familiar with the Dome Library that it was a comfort to him to have him there when he was brought in as a new and rather young librarian.

Nobody knew very much about Mr Tubs, except that he had been there such a long time that he was practically part of the furniture, was very helpful to readers of all ages and made it a point to choose books to give to  Mercedes. He had also become a good  friend to Mr De Fount and could be seen at times sipping coffee in Mr De Fount's company at the local Alfresco CafĂ©.

Mercedes and her mother walked into the building and were greeted by the tall elderly gentleman with the thickest wavey white hair,  a neatly trimmed matching moustache and  the wisest of smiles, it was Mr.Tubs.

"Mrs.De Fount! Mercedes! How very nice to see you both again, how is Mr.De Fount?"
 "Just fine sir,and  you?" said Mercedes
 "Fine fine,well..." Mr.Tubs clapped his hands together, "... if you are ready,  I have  the perfect book for you." he said with a twinke in his eye .
"Go Mercedes" said Mrs De Fount with a smile back at Mr Tubs "I'll wait here for you." Mercedes' mother would always pick a book as well as her daughter,so she might be a good example.

So Mercedes walked along with Mr.Tubs, all the while chatting with him about the end of school term.  Finally she asked out of curiosity
 "Mr.Tubs,what sort of book is it? Is it fiction, or nonfiction...?"
 Mr.Tubs interrupted,"...Well you could say fiction...but you wouldn't be truthful by saying that, and you could say nonfiction..but nobody would believe you. So I suppose it's neither here nor there." he said quite mysteriously.
 Mercedes giggled,"Well I can't wait to read it anyway!I trust you! You always pick out books that end up being my latest favorites"
 "Oh yes you'll enjoy it..." he whispered almost to himself,"You will, you will"

While they'd been talking, they had walked through several large rooms with books  stacked almost up to the ceiling and then old magazines,papers,documents,and then at the far end of another large room, specifically for dictionaries and encyclopedias, was a small, green,wooden door.Through this was a flight of steps which they ascended,  then a narrow hallway without books, or shelves. Mercedes thought, I've never been up here before.
Mr.Tubs shut the door behind them both, and Mercades found herself standing in the most beautiful room she had ever seen! It was the top of the Dome!