Morning all. I hope you are having a great day. Despite my best efforts, September seems to have snuck up on me. I read through the next chapter of Tansy and didn’t like it so it will be up Monday instead of today. Sorry for the delay, I just realized there was a major plot hole that needs to be fixed before it goes up. But I am more than ready for the morning prompt. Are you? I hope so. Anyone joining in set your timers and let’s get going.
I think I need to figure out what sort of myth the man was before I know what sort of story this will be. I do like the idea of suddenly finding out someone you thought was a legend was actually real. Such things can have all sorts of mental and social consequences.
Thursday, September 1st:”Oh yes, he was a real person.”
“Oh yes, he was a real person.” Emily said it with such casual conviction and then walked away. I doubt she even registered the surprise on the faces of those she left behind as she returned to shelving books newly returned to the library.
I glanced at the others to see how they were taking the statement. Some looked at Emily’s slowly retreating back in disbelief, a few in pity at what they thought might be simple mindedness. Others simply looked shocked and looked from Emily to the others in the group. Slowly she walked down the row of shelves, finally reaching the end of the row and turning her cart, rolling it and herself out of sight.
Once she was gone it was as if the entire group shuttered, drawing in breath loudly as though all of us were holding it. My gaze darted around the circle of my fellow students. I wondered what was showing on my face and fought to keep it as neutral as I could. I honestly didn’t know what to make of her statement. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at all. What I would show to the group would be general agreement with whatever decision they collectively made. Privately I would sort my own thoughts out on the matter.
“She’s Cracked it,” Evan said. Frank snorted. It wasn’t surprising. Evan believed what was easy and rarely thought beyond what he was told. He was told the man was a myth and he would believe it. Frank of course believed whatever Evan believed. If any independent thoughts ever surfaced in the placid pool of his mind then he kept them well and truly to himself.
“She seemed so…certain,” Christina said. Again, her stance was not surprising. Christina tended to believe anything said with a note of conviction. All of her own sentences tilted up as though every one of them was a question she wanted others to confirm before she accepted.
‘And if nothing else, Emily was certain,’ I thought. The debate began quietly but there was no real information to it and was easy to tune out. Emily believed the man was real and not a myth, everyone else in authority told them he was a myth. The debate was simply who to believe.
As the others discussed this matter, I wondered if it would be possibly to find the truth. As I was wondering where to begin the search, Stephan pointed out the time and soon everyone was scrambling to gather their things and head out of the library’s study area. I let myself fall to the back of the crowd as we made our way towards the door.
“Crap,” I said when we drew close to the exit. A couple of heads swung my way. I made a show of rummaging through my bag. “I left my notebook. I’ll catch up later,” I told them. I turned back and walked back to our study area while they continued out of the door. I reached our area and zipped my bag closed, looking for Emily rather than the non-existant missing notebook. I heard the slow and steady squeak of the cart’s wheels as she continued moving from row to row placing books back on their shelves.
I walked through the shelves looking for her. I just needed to know why she believed he was real.
Ten til Midnight 