Big Big World

Big Big World

~ Prologue ~

I am a big big girl, in a big big world

It's not a big big thing, if you leave me

But I do do feel, and I do do will

Miss you much, miss you much

I can see the first leaf falling

It's all yellow and nice

It's so very cold outside

Like the way I feel inside

Outside is not raining

Until tears falling from my eyes

Why did it have to end

Why did it all have to end

I have your arms around me

And warm like fire

But when I open my eyes

You are gone

I am a big big girl in a big big world

It's not a big big thing if you leave me

But I do do feel, and I do do will

Miss you much, miss you much

Chapter 1 How are you, Hermione?

Allison Lowe ran a bookshop in Richmond, West London. It was not a really big one, (no comma) but she had quite a number of sources for keeping up the business, which made sure that she would have no worry about balancing the books. She mostly supplied academic books for primary schools, secondary schools and sometimes universities. These were just by orders, the books on shelf in the store were another thing.

These were 'rare' books. How 'rare' were they? They were books of cold subject areas e.g. flower language. You name it; she had it. One reason why she did that, was because she believed that even though the subjects were cold, that didn't make them unimportant. Such knowledge might come in handy when you least expect it to. Therefore, her bookshop actually had a reputation of being 'the last resort of knowledge'. Funny, wasn't it? She had never thought that she would achieve this much. From struggling to keep the books in the black at the early stage of the business to the small success she had now, she really thanked God for her luck.

She had made quite a number of close friends through her business too and she was proud to say they were all true friends. But none of them was as special as Hermione to her. She had known her for over ten years and regardless of their age difference (she was twelve years senior to Hermione), they were as close to each other as sisters.

Today was just another Blue Monday but contrarily she had not felt so excited for quite a long time. It was the monthly delivery date of the newly-ordered books from the book dealers and this time one of the books from the delivery was an unknown. It was actually a present from one of the book dealers; an early birthday present for Allison. She patiently awaited the books' arrival, while she had an unexpected visitor.

********************

Allison was reading the new Waterstone's Books Quarterly, while patiently waiting for the arrival of the books. She heard the bell attached to the door ring and turned her head around, thinking that it might be Eric, the delivery man. Instead, to her surprise, it was Hermione.

"Hermione! What a surprise!" Allison walked out from behind the cashier counter and gave Hermione a hug. "When did you come back?"

"Just came back yesterday for Easter holidays," Hermione replied, while taking her usual seat on the stool opposite the cashier. "Do you still need anyone for summer this year?"

"Hermione, you know you are welcome to come and read the books here whenever you like! We have been friends for such a long time already."

It was kind of funny how they became friends. Hermione was seven at that time and she came in to ask for an order of some university textbooks. As the bookstore's main income was from textbook orders, Allison wasn't at all shocked about that. Instead she was shocked that it was this young girl who had ordered these books, which ranged from science to the arts. They started chatting a bit from time to time and eventually they became friends. For the past few summers, Hermione had been working part-time in her bookstore, so she could read the books there and also help her tidy the books at the same time. Actually, Allison didn't mind if Hermione came in just to read the books. She appreciated that she actually loved to read the books in the store, as they were not really popular subjects anyway. She didn't mind having someone to keep her company. She just didn't want to give her a feeling that she was obliged to work here in order to read the books. For crying out loud, Hermione wouldn't even take the wages she wanted to pay her for last summer after she reached the legal working age!

"I just want an excuse for coming out. That's all." Hermione replied. Having being friends for so long, she knew clearly what had been going through Allison's mind. She knew she wouldn't mind her in the shop but she did not want to make people think Allison was giving her a privilege because they were close friends. Who knew what rumours would come out of this? Again, after knowing Allison for so long, Hermione CLEARLY knew that she did not give a damn about people's opinions with relation to work reputation. She didn't care how others looked at her, which could be clearly seen from her motto --- I am only responsible for how I look at myself but not how others look at me.

"Whatever. You get the job." Allison said. "So how has been school lately? Still having a difficult time with your Professor Snape?"

Hermione sighed, "It is difficult but I use to it already. I mean, it's already six and a half years having him as my professor. I am going to graduate in a few months' time: I can still stand it." Don't worry, of course Hermione told Allison a 'corrected version' of her boarding school life.

"Well, I just worry that you might get so fed up by him that you might explode like me when I was still in uni."

"Really?! What happened?"

"Well, there was this professor of mine who used to teach me Classical History. I didn't give a damn why he hated me so much, but one day I was so pissed off by him that I . . . screamed in front of him, criticizing his behaviour." She chuckled a bit at how Hermione was gaping at her. "I know. It's one of the craziest things I have ever done in my life but that was the only thing I could think of to 'help' him know about my 'seriousness'. It turned out that he hated me so much just because I didn't speak up in class."

"Just that?"

"Yes. Hilarious, isn't it? I couldn't believe it either when he told me that. I didn't speak up in class but I handed in excellentessays. He believed that it was not my work. He changed his mind after my outburst at him that time. One reason why I don't really give a damn what others think about me is because it is too much fuss to worry about that."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Chapter 2 Okay, what's next?

"Goodness' sake, Eric! Are you attempting to give me a heart attack?" Allison screamed, clutching her hands in mid-air in front of his throat, threatening to strangle him.

"Hold that. Even if you want to kill me, let me get these books signed for by you first." Eric held his hands up, one with a pen and the other a clipboard with receipts that needed to be signed.

"Your sentence will be death if you ever try to do that again," Allison said, taking the clipboard of receipts and pen from him and signing the one on the top and the one beneath it.

Eric took them back and waved his cap, "Thank you, ladies. Now I better go before I am executed. Bye!" He ran out of the shop.

"Is he ever going to grow up?" Hermione sighed. She couldn't help but compare him with the twins - Fred and George.

"Well, maybe one day he will but then he will not be Eric the imp anymore," Allison laughed, while moving the packages behind the counter.

"So, what do we have this time?" Hermione asked. She was always puzzled about how all these odd books came together and were bought by Allison.

"Let's see . . . A few about Japanese mythology . . . Whoa, seven about super-natural behaviours, eight about traditional costumes . . . and this," Allison took out a wooden box from the bottom of the package, "is obviously my birthday present."

"What is it?" Hermione looked at the wooden box which looked kind of old but still in good condition. There words carved along the edges of the box and they looked like Latin but she was not exactly sure about it. Allison opened the box and took the book out from it. The covering of the book was not any kind of material she could recognize. She picked up the envelope on the cover, which was addressed to her.

"Well, Stephanie said it would do well as my birthday present so I don't know what is it either." She pulled the letter out from the envelope.

Dear Allison,

As you are a language expert (though you always say you are not), I don't think it will be difficult for you to understand the words carved on the cover of the wooden box. The book dealer I bought it from told me that the words meant - The one who could read and put this book to use, will bring new prospects and hope.

The book dealer had it for quite some years but still couldn't figure out what this book was about as the pages were empty. It might be the reason why those words were carved there, because not everyone could read it, or it might just be another prank. Anyway, I am sure this book is not fraud by any case, as Archer has examined it in his lab and proved that it dated back to the sixth century, which fits the style of Latin used on the box cover.

I know it's a historical artifact but who would have thought it is for real, especially as it is in such a good condition. So just accept the present and shut up. I don't want to see you in the newspaper being arrested for turning this 'artifact' in to the British Museum. Understood?

Yours,

Stephanie

Allison couldn't help but sigh. Stephanie was always one of the 'craziest' among them, (no comma) but with this 'special' birthday present, she had just reclaimed her title from Eammon. When Allison was putting the letter back into the envelope, Hermione said, "Allison."

"Yes?"

"This book . . . is empty. There are no words in it."

Allison, taking out some clear wrapping sheets to wrap the books and preparing to put them on a shelf, said, "Oh, Stephanie said it was empty. Some kind of mystery, she believed." She glanced at the book, but something scared . . . or freaked her out. "Hermione, did you just say that there are no words in the book? Including that page?"

"Yes. Why?"

Allison slowly slumped onto the chair, clutching her chest. She stumbled the neubulizer out from the drawer. She breathed in the mist and she slowly recovered, breathing deeply. "Hermione, could you get me a cup of water?"

Hermione rushed out of the shop and came back with a glass of water from the cafe next door. Allison took it and drank it in one gulp. After taking several deep breathes, she said, "I can see words on the page."

_

_

To Be Continued