It's the annoying rainy season again.
It was the seventeenth year of Ordinary. As usual, Yvonne was choosing her seventeenth "birthday present". She was so focused that her delicate fingers ran over the rough cover of an old book, and she loved every single one of them.
"What to do? There's less than ten dollars left." Pulling out a tau coat pocket, Evina grimaced.
It wasn't like this scene had happened once or twice. Yvonne should be able to say that she was a regular customer of this used bookstore.
"If you like the book, take it home and read it."
"But ... Uncle, the money I brought, it's not quite enough." Evina hurriedly explained in an awkward whisper. After a few seconds of hesitation, she reached out and put the book back.
"What, to here to buy books for so long still see foreign ah, today is your birthday is not it? Consider it a celebration for you by Uncle, and take the book."
The shopkeeper was about to pull the book out, but was still stopped by a voice as thin as a mosquito's.
"That book is too expensive ah, beat the good half price is still so expensive ... I received the big uncle for nothing, in the future can not even have the face to come back to buy books."
Yvonne, though a timid and cowardly girl, is valuable for possessing the courage to defend her principles, or for whom dignity is more important than life.
The shopkeeper sighed uncontrollably, he really couldn't understand, was God blind? Evina was such an obedient and understanding child, but why fate never favored her - her father died of an illness when Evina was two years old. Then her mother remarried and abandoned her. At that time, since one of the parents was still alive, the welfare organization was unable to take over the young Evina, and had to go back to the cruel mother and "threaten" her with the law, and only then did the vicious woman reluctantly take in her own daughter.
To this day, Evina lives with his mother, stepfather, and half-sister in a "foster" life.
Looking at the shopkeeper out of her mind, Evina didn't know what to say for a moment. But it was time for her to go, there were endless chores to do back there.
She nodded slightly to signal her goodbye. Hastily, she picked up the umbrella propped up outside the store and prepared to leave.
Still hadn't been able to find the right book to give herself, so her father's promise couldn't be fulfilled? Yvonne laughed bitterly for a while. Her current mood was as depressing as the cloudy sky.
"Yvonne, wait." The store manager woke up as if from a dream and took Evinachi's slender wrist, "Here, you come with me."
For no apparent reason, Evina is led into the basement of the bookstore.
***
The sight before her was unimaginable. Rows and rows of ancient bookshelves, erected with all kinds of old books, Yvonne couldn't help but walk up and scrutinize them.
"Most of the books here are crippled and damaged, customers are not willing to buy them even at a right discount, and naturally I don't intend to sell them cheaply. If you like it, just pick a book here at random."
Yvonne didn't respond. She had been mesmerized by an ancient book with a strange cover. Unguided, she walked straight to the row of shelves and lifted her hand with difficulty toward the high place where the book was located.
She was close enough to reach it, and her calm heartbeat sped up inexplicably as a result.
A step earlier, however, the book was withdrawn more quickly by a strong hand.
Evina raised her eyes and met the store manager's frightened eyes.
"You ... how did you find this book, who told you ever?" The store manager's eyes slightly calm, words but people and hard to hide surprise, and all of this can not escape the sensitive mind of Yvonne.
"I just glimpsed ... when I was in a trance" Out of thousands of books, it was the only one that appealed to me.
Evina did want to say that, she didn't want to lie.
"Ahahaha ... hahaha." The dark basement echoed with the shopkeeper's unbridled laughter, causing Yvonne to feel a twinge of fear.
If it were usual, with her guts, she would have immediately hit the road. However, at this moment, she had no such intention.
Staring blankly at the ancient book held tightly in the shopkeeper's hand, Evina, not knowing where she had borrowed the courage from, met the shopkeeper's scrutinizing gaze and firmly stated her thoughts.
"Uncle, I'll buy this book, although the money may not be enough, but I'll make up for the lesser amount in the future, please believe me."
The store manager was surprised at how much Evina had changed in a short time.
This book, sure enough ...
With a smile of relief and helplessness tugging at the corners of his mouth, the store manager handed the book to Evina without hesitation.
"Consider this my birthday present to you, little girl, it didn't scare you just now, did it?"
Evina also realized the rudeness of looking directly at her elders just now and lowered her head in shame.
"Hey ... you girl again, what is polite with me! Go home and keep it well, you have to cherish it ah."
Evina kept nodding her head in an effort to give a reliable assurance.
"Most importantly," the store manager gave a deliberate lurch. "... You can't read a book halfway, so when you get home, remember to read it as soon as possible and don't forget it!"
"Yes, I know." Evina promised softly.
A glance at her watch showed that it was past the time her mother had set for her to be home, but with the book in her arms, Ivina's brow still showed joy.
After a quick goodbye, Evina ran all the way to the exit of the basement.
Looking at the girl's distant back, a more familiar figure suddenly interspersed in the store's long distant memory.
Probably an illusion, the good and pure Evina will never repeat the retraction ... absolutely not.
This book, truly, has found its owner.
Then let it all, inevitably, happen ...