Naturally Unfinished

The Ghevak library was, well, brown. Brown inside and out. Brown brick outside, brown carpet inside, brown tinted windows from all the dirt swept up onto them by the frequent tornados and the gardener Henry, straight in the middle. But despite all the burnt, bright, bubbly but balanced brown shades, I loved the place. Loved. But now I’m not so sure. The Ghevak library was named after Mr. Aldin Ghevak, who founded the library, and was a grump if I ever heard of one. But that’s besides the point. The library he founded did not represent him. Or so I thought. But then I was young and naive, as many beings before me would never stoop to admit. But admiting your faults is the only way to overcome them, which I know now. But I’ll stop boring your bonnet off you, or whatever they say these days, and get into the story. If you could call it that.

One day I found a book titled “Jaiden B” My name is Jaiden Brooks, so naturally, I opened the book. I would say my mouth fell open, you know, for dramatic effect, but that would be a lie. Any of my few friends could tell you that I don’t lie. Or try to avoid it anyway. The truth of the matter was that I froze. I did not move for so long that Mrs. Aveelah, the sweet little librarian came over to ask if I was okay. I quickly startled and looked up.

“Yes, I mean no, I mean… I really don’t know… I-“

“Jaiden, would you like some water? Sit down, you look… well… off.”

I didn’t say anything, but sat down like she had suggested.

The book had opened up to a page, somewhere in the beginning-to-middle area. The words had just appeared on the page:

“Jaiden opened the book hesitantly, as though afraid of an animal lurking around a corner.”