"You've read every single book here, peter" Mrs Sanders said, staring at Peter Luttonworth who was standing in front of the book shelf filled with hundreds of science textbooks, novels and writings. "I've got to take one home again. I'll get bored" peter interjected, without looking up. "Its till tomorrow. You should be with your mates out there, living the life. You're nineteen, boy" Mrs Sanders said, this time, looking more puzzled. "Twenty. I'm not just a freak of their kind of life though" Peter replied, finally picking a book from the shelf. "You don't have a girlfriend, do ya?" She teased, smiling broadly. "No ma'am. Not yet" Peter replied as he walked towards mrs sanders signing table, staring around to see the checkout note. "Its in the cabinet" she said, noticing what his eyes was searching for. "You can't be here all day, reading science books and novels like you're some nerd. You're a really beautiful boy, i must admit and from a wealthy background. What do you actually gain from all this by the way?" Mrs sanders questioned, bringing out the checkout book which look really bigger than usual books. "I'm just well, different. No one would love me. I'm too geek 'ish to be someone's boyfriend. Yeah, I've had lotta crushes in past times but ma'am, trust me, none of em liked me back. Not once" He said admist chuckles, putting out the name of the book he took out from the shelf. "I do love you boy. Trust me 'bout that" mrs sanders smirked, putting some things in her desk into her big strange looking bag. "I know you do, mrs sanders. love you too ma'am" He replied in a loud voice, walking out of the library. "Good bye. I'll be back by tomorrow" He added. "I'll be expecting you, lover boy" she hollered back.
Just when Peter was outside, mrs sanders kept staring at the young lad's tall and well structured body as he walked straight to the white and black range rover parked across the road. As he drove off, mrs sanders watched him drive and then stared at the bookshelf peter always visited everytime he came by. "Only God knows the oath he's got with that shelf. Theres approximately three thousand books if not more and fifteen long shelfs in this library and he chose just one" she muttered in her breath, almost like a whisper.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Just as peter drove into the three-acre compound, he noticed the brown Cadillac parked at the front of the porch. He parked, grabbed the books then alighted from the suv. It was the doctor. Again. His mom has been ill and the doctor had once told them she would be fine but that was two months ago. Last month when he came, he overheard when the doctor was talking to his dad about the recent medical reports. His mom was having symptoms of breast cancer but fortunately, was still in stage one. He had been, in an odd way, prohibited from following them to hospital for tests, checkups and medicine purchase at the pharmacy the hospital doctor Reinhard Chavez recommended for them.
Walking in a quick pace, he barged into the house suddenly. "Hey kiddo. Why? You came earlier today. Didn't stay back to read?" His mom spoke first, looking puzzled at the same time, surprised. His eyes scanned the room in a rather quite slow manner before he gave his answer. "The library are out of books. Not literally. I've read everything on the shelf i could find. Good day, doctor Chavez" Peter answered, staring at everyone, one after the other. "Where's dad?" He further quarried. "He's upstairs. Went to get some things but he'll be....." Peter's mom was interrupted by the loud footsteps of mr luttonworth. "Hey there, fella. How're you doing? And uhh, why are you home soo early?" He asked, walking towards the little group. "Hello dad. No books today" Peter answered in a low tone. "Anything the problem, pete?" His dad asked him, as he reached them, placing both hands on his wife's shoulders. "Nahh. Definitely Not" he affirmed, leaving them be. It was getting quite uncomfortable for him for the fact that everyone was talking to him only. Just as he got to his room, he threw the book and key on his bed and ran quietly downstairs again, completely hidden from plain sight. "It'll be a long process but its worth trying. It's quite expensive too. Are you sure about this Mr and mrs luttonworth?" Doctor Chavez asked, wearing a long questioning face. "As long as it freeds me from this whole thing, I'm ready. Definitely ready" His mom replied. His dad looked sympathetically at his wife, visibly lost in dying thoughts. "Mr luttonworth? Are you in support?" The doctor asked, noticing the look on his dad's face. "Anything doc. Anything" he replied in a hush tone. "Well, it'll cost you about two thousand bucks. It'll be a special operation.....". Mr Chavez statement was cut short by Peter's sudden outburst. "My momma ain't doing no operation, doc !" He flared, coming out of his hiding corners. "Hey. Calm down pete. It'll be fine" his dad started towards him before he could reach every other person. "Momma will be fine pete. We just have to do this" he added, his voice derailing. "But why an operation? Isn't there another way? Doc, talk to me !" Peter said, tears welling up in his eyes, his voice visibly in utmost pain. "There is. Its just slow and the.... Wait, he doesn't know?" Mr chavez questioned, staring squarly at both parents. "We haven't told him. Yet" His mom answered. "I already knew. From day one of the whole thing. I'm not a kid anymore !" Peter yelled. "Oh poor dear" doctor chavez muttered, tapping his palm on his forehead. "It'll be fine, peter. I promise you" his mom said in a calm voice. "It'll be safe. I assure you all this one thing" mr chavez assured. "I definitely don't like this but my momma ain't gon die now" peter interjected just before he rose up and went back upstairs.