• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 290 0

up to the second floor, where more books are waiting for you to investigate. Tall bookshelves that go from floor to ceiling are crammed with old books written by many, many authors. The books are in excellent condition of course, and they are all hardcover, some even with hand-painted drawings. A tall, wooden ladder slides along these bookshelves so your fingers can trail the spines as you look for that special book. At the far end is a wall made up of stained-glass windows that cast shifting colors onto the polished floor. The stone fireplace in the corner is lit with a cheery blaze to keep you company as you sit reading in the big, green, overstuffed chair. You drink hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles that you are careful not to spill because you wouldn’t dare spill anything in a place like this. And as you sip and read, you hear lovely classical music that even you, a classical-music hater, enjoy.

The Book Room was exactly such a room.

Jackson felt the serenity within the room. (Serenity is like when it’s 7:00 on a Saturday morning and the house is quiet and you’re watching cartoons while eating two full bowls of sugar flakes.) He walked slowly around, admiring the books, the bookshelves, and the tall, wooden ladder. He smiled at the wrought-iron staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. Meeka threw her tour guide’s pouch onto the big, green, overstuffed chair and then lay down on the floor. She stuck her tongue out, making faces at her reflection in the shiny wood.

Jackson noticed a counter in the corner.

The counter was made of polished, dark wood and curved slightly around to a deep maroon velvet-curtained

doorway. On the well-polished counter sat a well-polished silver bell. And beside the well-polished silver bell was a little white card with gold script. The gold script read:

Ting the bell for service.

Jackson touched his index finger to the well-polished bell and tapped down on the button. A clear sound reverberated off the walls and into his skin. As the “ting” faded, a very tall man slipped out from behind the deep maroon velvet curtain in the doorway.

Chapter 14

The Chapter after That

He was old. White tufts of hair created little fluffy clouds around his ears. His dark blue eyes were serious, but there was a joke twinkling behind them. You know the kind of eyes that read serious newspaper articles but laugh at the cartoons as well? He wore a well-worn, bright green blazer with a sky-blue dress shirt underneath. His tie was deep red with little black question marks all over it. His pants matched the blazer, and his shoes, I’m happy to say, were bright red high-cut sneakers. (My favorite suits are the ones you can wear with bright red sneakers.) He stood up very straight as though he had proper posture training. A small smile danced behind his frown.

“May I help you, sir?” the gentleman asked. His voice was very serious, very dignified, and very polite.

Jackson was at a loss for words. He was in awe.

You know when you go to meet the Queen and you are really excited? So you put on your best clothes and wet down your cowlick, but when you get there you have absolutely no idea what to say to her? So when you open your mouth, you say something ridiculous like, “Shame about the weather, your Highness,” or “Are your roses doing well, your Highness?” And if you really want to humiliate yourself, you say, “Don’t all those cucumber sandwiches make you gassy?” Well, that’s exactly how Jackson felt. This gentleman was eccentric and classy—gracious even. Almost like a kindly grandfather, but one who was a butler as well. I know it’s a strange contrast, but someday when you meet him, you will completely understand.

“I don’t know. I’m n-not really s-sure what I’m looking for, or if I’m looking for anything. I’m on a t-tour, you see.” Jackson smoothed his wrinkly red pajamas, wishing he had put on some jeans. He swallowed.

“Are you an author?”

The gentleman looked over at Meeka. She lay on her stomach, her face an inch from the floor. She was humming and her