An individual bored out of their mind sits behind the front desk of a cramped bookstore. Every bookshelf in the store goes up to the ceiling and is filled to the brim with stories. The individual in question is a young girl by the name of Selina Gulvonac. She has short blonde hair, white skin with some freckles, blue eyes, and glasses. She's wearing a purple denim jacket over a striped shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes.
Trying to find some way of passing the time, she stares at the cuckoo cock on the wall, each tick it makes filling her ears with a strange mixture of pleasure and annoyance. Her eyes then linger down onto the carpet as she tries to envision where each stain originated from.
However, her boredom would soon be cured when-
CUCKOO! CUCKOO!
Selina jolts back as the cuckoo clock goes off, after calming down a little she hears the front doorbell chime as three patrons walk in. Of the three, she only recognizes one as Sally Everst; a regular who they often trade book recommendations with. As for the two teens that are with her? No clue.
"Welcome to The Starlight City Bookstore, the go-to shop for all things books," Selina recites, "How may I help you?"
"Hey I'm Ronnie and that's my buddy Marcus," the taller of the two teens remarks.
"Okay didn't ask but cool," Selina remarks as she grabs a book near her and starts reading it.
"Do you know if your boss is here?" Marcus questions.
Selina rolls her eyes as she closes her book before responding, "I am the boss."
"Oh wait, really?" Marcus asks.
"Yeah, all of this place is mine," Selina lies as she nods confidently.
"Oh okay my bad, sorry to bother you," Marcus says and he starts to turn around.
Though before he can, Ronnie stops him.
"Yeah, I doubt that," Ronnie begins to say before telling Selina, "Look we're not here to insult you, we're just here to chat with your boss about stuff."
"Promise?" Selina inquires.
"Promise," Ronnie affirms.
Selina sighs before standing up, "lemme go get them."
As Selina walks away, Ronnie & Marcus look at the walls to see that there are several photos on the wall taken of several different landmarks in the city, each with a book placed in the frame. As the two are looking at the pictures, Selina returns with a woman named Professor Jessica Powell, someone with black skin, braided black hair, and green eyes. She's wearing a black turtleneck over a beige coat, black pants, and red high heels.
"So I heard you wanted to talk to me?" Professor Jessica Powell asks as she takes a smoke.
"Oh, you're different from what I imagined," Marcus states.
"What're you trying to say?"
"What my friend means is that he thought you were Ivan Turnip," Ronnie explains.
"Turnip? He's a bit busy sorting some books but I can get him," Professor Jessica Powell says before screaming, "TURNIP! WE GOT SOME KIDS THAT WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"
"WHAT?!" Turnip yells from somewhere deep in the bookstore.
"YOU HEARD ME!"
Ronnie & Marcus look to see a person exiting one of the halls and heading toward the counter. The man has white skin, a bald head, a beard, and a tired look in his eyes. He's wearing a t-shirt, some jeans, black shoes, & is in a wheelchair.
"So who are these kids?" The man in the wheelchair asks, however when he sees Ronnie his eyes widen, "Reagan?"
"Close," Ronnie awkwardly chuckles, "I'm his son, Ronnie."
"Oh right right, sorry you just look so much like your dad," Ivan Turnip apologizes before shaking Ronnie & Marcus' hands, "It's nice to meet the two of you, what can I help you with? Any recommendations you want?"
"Actually, we came here because we wanted to see if you could help us chat to our teacher," Marcus says, "His name is Aken Amnestor."
As Marcus says those words, Turnip's smiling face turns into one with a frown.
"Oh him, I- uh- didn't think he was still in the city," Turnip states, "how's he doing?"
"He's alright though he's still worrying about people getting into fights," Ronnie states.
As Ronnie & Marcus talk to Turnip, Selina & Professor Jessica Powell watch awkwardly.
Turnip responds with, "he still is worrying about all of that? Can't blame him though, I never listened to him, and look where that got me. I'm just wasted potential."
"You're not wasted potential," Marcus exclaims, "you've got yourself a successful business and you seem happy doing what you're doing! I'm sure Amnestor would be delighted to see you again."
"You really think that?" Ivan Turnip asks.
"I'm certain," Marcus replies.
_________________________________________________
The next day, Mr. Amnestor is at his office when he hears a knock on his door.
"Come in," Mr. Amnestor replies.
The door opens and Marcus walks in.
"Hello Mr. Amnestor," Marcus says.
"Hello, Marcus. Can I help you with anything?"
"On the contrary, there's something I want to help you with."
Before Amnestor can ask what Marcus means, he hears the door to his office open once more. His eyes widen as he sees Elizabeth wheel in Ivan Turnip. Amnestor is silent, not knowing what to say. Ivan looks around and clears his throat.
"Uh, h-hey there Amny," Ivan responds with a nervous chuckle, "Long time no see."
Marcus & Elizabeth leave the room as the two are silent.
"I look a bit different from back then, huh?" Ivan tries to joke.
"That's what happens when time goes by," Amnestor remarks, "I've been getting more and more gray hair recently."
"Yeah," Ivan says before sighing, "You must hate me, huh?"
"I don't hate you," Amnestor says.
"But I ignored all the advice you gave me, and look where that got me."
"Why would I be upset about that? You were just a kid, it was my job to guide you to do better actions and I failed."
"You never failed me Amny, you were the one adult who always looked out for any of us back then."
As the two continue to chat, Marcus, Elizabeth, Alex, & Ronnie watch through the window in the door. As the conversation goes on, the group can tell that the two adults whose eyes were so cold just moments earlier began to feel warmth once more.
Eventually, after a long discussion, Turnip exits Amnestor's office but not before saying, "I'll see you around Amny."
Amnestor smiles to himself, however, his attention soon turns to the members of the miracle clinic who are still watching from the doorway.
"You can come in," Amnestor says.
Ronnie, Elizabeth, Marcus, & Alex all try to enter the office all at once. They manage to squeeze their way through the door.
Now that they're all in the office, Amnestor clears his throat before stating, "You kids are really something else. Being able to pull off something like this is-"
"Nothing less than a miracle?" Ronnie cuts him off.
Amnestor corrects him, "Very surprising to say the least."
"Oh," Ronnie remarks before saying, "Look I know you're worried that we'll get hurt doing this, but what we're trying to do is just help people live a little easier and take off the weights holding them down. Nothing more, nothing less. So…can you please let our club continue?"
"We'll make sure to study for every test we have as well!" Marcus promises.
"Wait since when did we agree to that?" Alex questions.
"Well I thought-" Marcus begins to say.
However before the discussion can continue, Amnestor lets out a reluctant, "Fine."
Ronnie, Elizabeth, Alex, & Marcus' eyes light up at his words.
"But I better not see any of you-" Amnestor tries to say but the four are already out of the room by then celebrating. Amnestor smiles to himself as he takes a sip of his coffee. A coffee that doesn't taste as bitter as it once did.
See You Next Chapter!~