The Old Book Reopened – Chapter 25

Justin awoke with a slight start and immediately realized that he’d fallen asleep reading the old book. And he’d slept a good while. It was already dark. He looked at the clock, 8:37. He thought back over the story he’d read, or was that a dream he’d had while he was asleep. He sat up and looked at the book on the bed beside him and grabbed it with a start. What was going on? Had Shannon or someone come in and traded him books. The one he now held looked to be the same size but it was bound in smooth, plain white leather. Curious, he flipped it open to the middle but there was nothing on that page. He fanned the pages with his thumb and gasped. Every page in the book was as white as snow. There wasn’t one single word in the entire book. He dropped it back on the bed as if it had burned him as he quickly stood up.

He shook his head trying to think what to do first. Shannon was the most likely reason, since she was probably in the house, and the most logical reason too. He crossed his room and went to find her turning the light on as he went out his door. It didn’t make sense but it made him feel a little less eerie. Shannon wasn’t in her room so he bounded down the steps and almost ran over her as he came around the family room doorway.

Watch it, oaf,” she said rubbing her forehead which had collided with his chin.

Did you switch my book while I was asleep?” he demanded.

What are you raving about?” she retorted, still pressing her hand to her head.

Did you take the book I was reading, and leave another one on my bed, while I was sleeping, Shannon?” he said slowly and deliberately taking her and holding her by the shoulders when she made as if to walk off.

No, you idiot, I did not,” she replied mimicking his tone. “I don’t think mom should let you sleep through dinner. It makes you delirious,” she said, shrugging away from his grasp and going into the kitchen.

Justin could tell she wasn’t lying so he went straight for the phone on the end table by the couch, dialed quickly and waited for an answer. After three rings he thought he was going to get the answering machine, but then, just before he was going to hang up, he heard Ernie’s mom say, “Hello.”

Hi, this is Justin. Is Ernie there?”

Sure, Justin, just a minute. I’ll get him.”

Justin listened while she called him, and heard Ernie pick up somewhere else in the house. “Hello.”

Hey, Ernie,” said Justin tensely. Then he waited until he heard Mrs. Painter return and replace the receiver. “Ernie, this is Justin. I need to ask you something.”

Sure, what?” asked Ernie, although given Justin’s tone, he was pretty sure he knew what was coming.

That book you loaned me, Ernie, do you know anything odd about it?”

So you’ve been inside,” was Ernie’s reply.

I thought maybe I was dreaming.”

I don’t know how it works. Do you want to talk about it?”

I don’t think so. Not now anyway. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going crazy.”

I can relate to that. It was the same with me.”

And, is it white, and blank for you now?” Justin asked.

Yes.”

Maybe we can talk about it later some time,” suggested Justin. “I don’t want to get in the middle of it, and have Shannon walk in here.”

Sure, I understand.”

Ok, then I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

Actually, I have to go to the dentist in the morning. I called to tell you earlier but your mom said you were sleeping, so I called and told Matt. My mom will be dropping me off at the gym after my appointment. She made it early though, so I wouldn’t miss any of camp. She’s so good to me.” The last was heavy with good-humored sarcasm.

Ok, I’ll see you at the gym, then.”

Sure, later, Justin.”

Justin hung up the phone and plopped down on the couch. He turned on the TV. He wasn’t in the mood yet for quiet or darkness. He didn’t even know what was on though, while he sat there thinking about all that had happened. His thoughts eventually came back around to the way the book had changed. The book! He’d left it on his bed with the light on, his door open, and then interrogated Shannon about switching it on him. What if she walked by and noticed it? He bounded up stairs only to find his way blocked by the attic ladder in the middle of the hall. His mom’s legs were visible on the top of it; the rest of her disappeared through the square opening in the ceiling. “Just gonna squeeze past, mom,” he said, as he did so, accidentally bumping the ladder.

Whoa, careful down there,” came his mom’s voice.

He burst into his room and there was the book just as he’d left it. Sighing heavily, he grabbed it up and looked around for what to do with it. First he stuffed it into his gym bag intending to return it to Ernie. Then he decided he didn’t want to have it at the gym at all. He took it back out and sat down at his desk staring at it. He felt he must keep it safe and secret. The attic. He poked his head out of his room, to see his mom descending the ladder precariously with a cardboard box. “Here, let me get that for you,” he said, squeezing around more carefully this time and taking the box.

Thanks, sweetie. I left you a plate on the back of the stove. I thought you might need that nap you were taking. You’ve been practicing basketball so hard lately.”

Yeah, thanks mom. You finished up there? I’ll put the ladder up for you,” he said handing her the box.

Oh, that’d be great. Thanks, honey.” Justin waited until she was down the stairs before he climbed the ladder and looked around the dimly lit attic for a safe place to hide the book. The back corner of the attic was all in shadow. The bare light bulb mounted just above the opening couldn’t penetrate that far. Careful not to knock his head on the steeply angled trusses, Justin moved to the very back and laid the book on a crossbeam. Then he went back to the opening and tried to see the book. He could just make out the outline, but was satisfied that it would never be noticed. His mom was about the only one to ever go up there, and that was just to stash or retrieve some seasonal or rarely used item, all of which she kept in cardboard boxes, labeled on masking tape and surrounding the opening as if they were keeping watch there. Hurriedly he pulled the string hanging from the light bulb that left the attic in darkness, backed down the ladder and folded it into the ceiling just as Shannon topped the stairs behind him.

What’re you doing in the attic?” she asked.

He jumped as if he’d been bitten and turned around. “Uh, mom was up there, I uh, shut it for her,” he stammered. “I’m gonna get something to eat,” he added and started down the stairs.

I think that’s a good idea,” she said under her breath. Justin ignored that and just about everything else for the rest of the evening.

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