I Landed on the First Page of the Book and It Whispered
‘Hey there, you have pretty long fingers. Thank goodness, I’m in safe hands!’
“Oh, let me warn you about those missing pages from page 136. I lost them twelve years ago.”
I sealed my eyes while struggling to slow down my racing heart, and believed that it wasn’t a ghost in my room.
I didn’t have to look around to find the source of that feminine voice. It was the fat book in my hands that once belonged to my great Aunt. But, how on earth was the book talking?
My cousin had gifted this book to me and had casually informed me that this book is unique. ‘It will speak to you’, he said. And I had scoffed.
“And every coffee stain belongs to Mister Leo. He was a voracious reader. I called him unfaithful because he read five books simultaneously!”
I did not want to be declared mentally unstable after being caught talking to a book. They might conclude either of us is possessed. Nevertheless, I can’t afford to lose it; it’s a treasure!
“How can you talk?”
“Oh dear, these days every vintage book is capable of talking! You see, we had a bunch of owners and a handful of experiences we want to share!”
Oh! Does my family know about this? Does that mean all the books passed down to us or borrowed by my siblings can talk?
That would not go well with the humankind. It would be like our privacy being stolen by a book we just read. People will stop buying secondhand books and some may never lend their books. What about age-old libraries? All those ancient manuscripts? Do they all speak about their readers now?
This would make people change their reading habits and, the kind of books they prefer. Some may give-up reading altogether. What about all the worldly knowledge then?
“Are you going to flip the page and start reading, dear? Or are you just checking me out?”
Wow! That was quick!
“My great Aunt passed you to me and my siblings. Of course, I won’t discard you. But, I’m hard to please.”
I heard a chuckle.
This woman is tough. I won’t ever be able to read a secondhand classic in peace. She will always annoy me with her coarse voice if I try to skip a page.
But, some may find this odd thing a way to understand the reading choices of people and if possible, use the owner’s information to sell new books. Aha! A unique marketing strategy!
“I like your hairstyle. You look a little like Miss Janice.”
“My great Aunt? Really?”
Yet, inquisitive people like me will remain curious to know about previous owners. It would be like reading two stories together. Will that make me unfaithful?
“Also, don’t you ever lock me in your bag for eternity. Take me out once in a while so that I could breathe!”
I smiled.
Okay! Maybe if you remain gentle and loyal to those old books you have, they may never divulge your secrets or speak ill of you!
