inkling teen magazine 2021 - Flipbook - Page 13
son left soon after.
The next day, Martha plonked me in her
car and we drove around for what seemed
like forever. To top it off, I was still sore
from Archie9s attack.
When we finally reached our destination,
she picked me up off my seat, and carried
me to a door that opened with a little
jingle. She brought me over to a counter,
where a man was standing. She handed
me to him, and he brought me to a very
dark room, placing me on a large pile of
other books.
I spent the night in that cold, dark, room. I
tried to make conversation with the other
books, but for some reason they wouldn9t
answer me. I wasn9t scared though. No
siree. I was a BRAVE book!
The next morning, the man came and
picked me up, and brought me to a
different room. He picked out my loose
pages from Archie, as well as a HUGE
needle (!!!) and some string. He put the
string on the needle and STABBED me with
it multiple times! It hurt a lot at first, but
then I got used to it. When he was done, I
felt like I was brand new! Just a bit later, I
heard the door play the same jingly sound
as when I had first entered. I heard a
woman9s voice. Wait, could it be? Yes!
Martha had come back for me! Not that I
was ever afraid she wouldn9t, though.
The man picked me up and handed me to
her. She put some papers and metal things
in his hand as we left the building. We
went in that car again, for another long
ride. When the car stopped and we got
out, I was overjoyed to see our old house
again. As long as there was no Archie
there, of course. When we went in, I was
placed way up on a high shelf. I guess that
was so I was never damaged again. In fact,
it seemed that I was never even touched!
Long days, weeks, and months went by
where it was just me and the dust bunnies.
They had this odd habit of taking long naps
on my spine. I found it amusing, even cute
at first, but then quite annoying when they
overstayed their welcome.
Finally, after what must have been years,
somebody took me off the dust filled shelf.
The hands brought me down to a room
where many children were seated. They
opened me up, and began to read.
Although it had been a while, the familiar
feeling of being read came back
immediately. It was wonderful to be here
again, with an audience leaning in. When
the story was finished, a little girl asked if
she could have me! I looked up at my
owner, who I now realized was Allie, just
much older. She looked at me, her eyes
twinkling.
