The Gilded Book
Written by Cedar Jeffers
The door creaks open, and a mildew smell hits the teens' noses. The old floorboards squeal under the weight of the four kids. River scrunches her nose.
“Eww, I hate this, let's turn around and forget about this.” Rivers suggests.
Rolling her eyes, Indy says “Come on this is going to be fun.”
Indy and River have been friends since the summer before 3rd grade. River moved from a large city and stuck out like a sore thumb in the country, Indy was born and raised here. They live across the canal from each other. Indy took River under her arm and showed her the ins and outs of Long Springs. Long Springs is like any other small town; everyone knows everyone and only a few secrets are kept for long. Long Springs is a southern farming community with a handful of churches and small old townhouses that dot the surrounding landscape.
“Come on River, it has been like seven years and you're still a city kid.” Nash laughs.
“Indy is right, this will be fun, and think of all the parties we could have.” Elliot points out. The four of them had become friends because they all lived close to each other and they carpooled to school in Nash's old ‘85 Ford truck.
“Who would want to hang out with us?” Nash asks as the group looks around the building. The afternoon sunlight spills through the boarded-up windows.
“Look at all the books, why would anyone leave them here?” Elliot questions. Elliot has short blonde hair and a splash of freckles from working in the sun. Elliot is the smartest of the group. After High School, he plans to go to law school so he can travel the world.
“Look at the names of the books. That’s our principal's name, and Mrs.Carflat’s name.” Nash says as he reads, his flashlight bouncing all over books. Nash has black curly hair, is the group's muscle, and is planning to inherit his family farm.
“This is so weird. We need to go. Guys, look at this,” Squeals River. With long, pin-straight blonde hair and a mole above her upper lip, River is the rich kid in the group. She dreams of returning to the city and becoming a fashion designer.
“You found a book with Elliot’s name on it.” Whispers Indy in amazement. Indy has short brown wavy hair. Indy is a people person who loves to talk to everyone and knows all the town's drama. Everyone in the group stares in wonder at the warm leather with a gold flowy font with Elliot’s name.
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“Come on Elliot, open the book and read it. Stop being such a baby.” Nash says as the group sits on the couch at River’s House.
“What if it can tell the future… here let me open it if you aren't.” Indy reaches for the book and yanks it out of Elliot's hand. She opens it, and they all watch with anticipation as Indy reads out loud.
“Elliot Weston was born in 1990 to his mom, Kira, and his dad Kevin. He has one younger brother named Sam, three years younger than him.”
“Wow, who wrote this book, this is kinda creepy,” Elliot asks.
“Look there’s more.” Indy flipping ahead
“Elliot travels to Rome in 2015 and gets in a boating accident leaving him with a limp… Elliot gets married at 27 to Rosalina, they have 3 kids and live in Texas… Elliot is a world-famous traveler.” Indy reads in amazement.
“Ummm, this is totally creepy, we need to get the book back to that weird library and forget about it.” River suggests in a disgusted tone
“This is up to Eillot if he wants to keep his book that could be real or not.” Indy butts in.
“I think that this is fascinating and I will keep my book... In fact, we should go back and look for your books.” Elliot suggests with an eager grin plastered on his face.
“Well, let's go. This will be so much fun.” Nash says, jumping to his feet and grabbing his keys, he calls over his shoulder, “River before you complain, there is probably a book on your life.”
“You think so, I mean I was not born here and Eillot was…So maybe it is just you people who are born here.” River suggests looking at the book with wide eyes
“I wasn't born in Long Springs, I was born in Harington.” Proclaims Elliot.
“Whatever nerd.” Indy teases
The group squeezes into Nash’s trunk and heads to the woods at the end of the county line. They take an old two-track road until the woods parted to a small opening with the log-built, boarded-up library.
“Let's go. I'm so excited to see what is in my book.” Indy runs out of the truck and flings the log door open. The sunlight illuminates the dust and cobwebs in the air, and the walls are covered with books in every nook and cranny. The group looks around in a new sense of awe and wonder, now knowing that these books could tell the future.
“Look, this is a book on the town’s founder, all of the facts are accurate even how he died.” Indy breathes in amazement.
“I bet that there is a book on everyone who has lived in Long Springs…here is my great pepaw, and here is my Mom’s book.” Blabs Elliot
“We should start with our books and then we could read others … I don't want to invade their lives,” Indy suggests. The group all agrees and spread out to find their own book.
“Guys, I can't find my book, here are my brothers and sisters and the rest of my family but I don't see one with my name on it.” Indy draws an unsteady breath.
“It is ok Indy we will find it, we all have ours so your book is probably here somewhere.”River reassures her.
“River stop making her feel worse, and stop making that face every time you touch a book,” Nash tells River.
“What face am I making? If it is a grossed-out face, I can't help it. This is so gross with all the dust and cobwebs… Ah, There is one caught in my hair!” Screeches River. They all laugh and go back to exploring.
The group stays until dusk looking for Indy’s book; they look through all the shelves and do not see a single thing.
“Well, It’s getting dark so we should get back before dinner. Sorry, Indy. I don't think that your book is around here.” Eillot says with a reluctant look.
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Indy is lying on River’s bedroom floor and is listening to River read her book out loud.
“I am going to make it into fashion school, but then I have to drop out because I decided to become a teacher. I hate little snot-nose-kids, they are so gross and annoying.” River carries on and on about how this is not going to be her future. River is so absorbed in her own book that she does not see Indy’s upset face.
“Hey River, I should go and help my Mom with dinner.” Indy Mumbles
“What? No, you hate cooking, you have not read the rest of my book yet.” River whines.
“River, I'm going home. I don't want to read your book and hear about how your life is going to turn out awful. You get to know or at least have some idea of what to do with your life. You are so self-absorbed in your own life that you don’t realize that your best friend is upset.” Indy yells.
“Fine, whatever. Go home and cook and live your life in this stupid town for the rest of your life.” River huffs. Indy walks out of River’s room, River glares and calls,
“You are not special, you are nobody, even that stupid library does not care about you.”
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Nash’s truck rolls to a stop, and the two of them stare at each other and turn their eyes to the library.
“You think that your book is here? Indy, don't get me wrong but we have looked and we didn't find it.” Draws Nash.
“Whatever, you don't have to come in and look. I am just going to look for it. It’s not fair that everyone has a book but me. Even River has one and she is not even from here. She hates Long Springs.” Indy snaps.
“Hand me a flashlight, maybe it was covered by another book or something. Indy, it will be ok if you can't find your book, we don't even know if this is real or fake. You can still live your life without knowing what will happen next. You will find your calling and be okay.” Nash explains. Indy gives an unsure smile and hops out of the truck.
“Indy, it has been hours…I'm tired and hungry, let's go home.” Nash complains.
“No! It has to be here somewhere, maybe under the floors?” Indy wonders.
“Go get my crowbar in my toolbox” Nash exhales. Indy runs out excitedly. When she comes back, Nash grabs the crowbar and walks over to the spot where Indy’s family is and with one solid whack hits the floor.
“Look Nash, that's my book!” Shreeks Indy. She shines her flashlight over her book. The gilded book cover winks back at them. Indy shakes as she pulls out her book. The golden book is thicker and longer than the other books in the library. Indy in a breathless wonder whispers,
“What is this? Why is my book like this so special about me?”
“Come Indy read it already.” Nash's voice quivers in anticipation. Indy takes a breath and opens the book. She reads out loud.
“Indy Jones was born in 1990, to her mom Ashley and her dad Tom.” Indy's eyes drop down to the end of the page in big bold letters. Indy’s voice shakes as she reads.
“Indy Jones will bring the light to the darkness… What does that mean Nash?”
“River didn't tell you? At the end of all our books, it says something or another about a world-altering event and how there is light to save us, but only if you follow your story from the book.”
“No, I got annoyed at River for complaining and stormed off, then she told me that no one cares about me and I am a nobody.” Indy huffs. Nash’s face pales.
“That happened in my book… Do you think all of this could be real?” Nash asks
“If you are not lying, then it has to be real,” Indy says in amazement.