The Librarian.

~ habibadanyal

Ali gave himself a last look in the mirror before picking up the pile of books resting on his table. “Mom! Going to the library,” he shouted, skipping the stairs in two’s and three’s.

“Library again? Oh….Ohkay. Be careful, love.”

I wonder what that boy does with all those books. I have never seen him reading.

As he entered the library he saw her. She was arranging some books in a shelf. Dressed in black today, she looked ravishing. As she turned around to stack some books, she acknowledged his presence with a smile.

Ah! That deadly smile. Man! She can kill a dozen guys in one go.

“Read them already, have you?” She ruffled his hair as she moved around him to reach her desk. Ali noticed the bangles on her creamy hands. Her nails were painted scarlet today. Not talon-like nails, but trimmed just to the right size!

She waved her hands to gain his attention. “Hey! Where did you go? Off to Narnia?”

“Puhleez! I am too old for Narnia.”

She chuckled. She knew he was a bit touchy about his age. And the kind of books he read!

Just then darkness engulfed them. “Oh damn! They are cutting off the power supply for 3 hours now. Let me light the candlesticks.”

“Need any assistance there, Madam?”

Both of them looked up to see a handsome man, walk in and up to her. Even in the faint light of the only candlestick she had managed to burn, Ali saw her blush.

Oh shit!!!

©2012.Habiba Danyal
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For Write On Edge’s Red Writing Hood Prompt – Clue.

In honor of the classic Hasbro game and the unforgettable performance of Tim Curry as Wadsworth the Butler, your flash fiction or creative non-fiction piece this week should include the words “candlestick”, “scarlet”, and “library”. The words can be in any context you wish, and you have 250 words (247 of which you can choose yourself).

Published by habibadanyal

44 thoughts on “The Librarian.”

  1. It could as well be a teenage girl and a handsome librarian 😉 ‘cos we all know how that feels 😉

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  6. Very cute! It made me smile. My only thought is that I didn’t get a real sense of how old he was. I knew he was young, but I don’t know if he was 7 young or 10 young or 14 young.

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      1. With the expletive at the end, I was leaning toward that interpretation–but he seemed younger earlier, so I figured it was worth asking.

  9. I love that he’s going to the library for a crush and though my heart went out to him, because you know he’s going to lose that one for now, I hope he’s reading too! You captured really well that tender age of 12 or so.

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  10. An interesting take on the prompt – I love the triangle you are setting up here! In terms of concrit, I would say that it is difficult to follow the thoughts of so many of your characters! The narration follows the point of view of three characters: the mother – “I wonder what that boy does with all those books. I have never seen him reading” – the boy – “Ah! That deadly smile. Man! She can kill a dozen guys in one go” – and the woman – “She knew he was a bit touchy about his age.”

    It might be interesting to tell the tale with the more limited focus of the boy!

    I would be interested in reading more, for sure! 🙂

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  16. Awwwww……first love….and with an older woman….how cute!!!
    Very well-written and i enjoyed the ending. You have a lovely imagination.

    Reply

      1. Lol….i have seen comedies and soaps on such stories….some ppl say it happens in real life too.
        It was cute and amusing. 🙂

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