Pathways

Chapter 1

Books allow me access to a million different worlds, times, places, and characters. In return I take care of them and nurture them and when I find one that is broken I mend it.

My grandma was the one who taught me the importance of books and the preservation of history. She was an archeologist her entire life. She traveled around the globe to find, preserve, and learn about history.

When I was born, she insisted that I be brought up speaking French and English. She, herself, being a French native saw the opportunity to preserve her own history, with me. When I turned 16 she taught me how to read hieroglyphics.

She said, "The Egyptian's picture language may not be used anymore, but there is still so much we can learn from the remains, if only we can read it."

She told me wondrous tales of her exploits in the Amazon, Egypt, and Russia, to name a few. Hearing her tales as I grew up gave me a growing need for adventure.

I wish I could say I fulfilled my wish but I didn't. Unfortunately, money became my set back. I just didn't have any. So I got a job at my college, after I graduated with my archaeology/ history degree, as a librarian.

Now I'm stuck between longing for adventure and being comfortable in my place. My only solace at this point are books.

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"Ms. Trèsmot?" Asked a familiar voice behind me.

I swiveled my chair around with a smile and a book in my hands.

"Good morning Mr. Graften, I was wondering when you would show up today. I have the book you requested, if you would like to check it out now."

Alexander Graften was a curly haired, baby faced freshman at Stapleton college. He was my most frequent customer in the library and he was the only student who called me by my full name. Everyone else knew me as Ms. T.

He bowed his head shyly, "Yes thank you." He handed me his school ID so I could scan him into the system.

"So how were classes today? Did that boy...Charlie was it, mess with you again?" I handed him his book: The Great Pyramids of the World.

"No, he wasn't in class today. Thank you for the book Ms. Trèsmot." He sped off before I could comment further about the human trash called Charlie Witikar.

I sighed. Not to long ago I was in the same place that Alex is in, only my librarian wasn't half as nice. I shook my head.

I turned to fiddle with a game of solitaire on my computer. I hadn't moved one card before a group of raucous boys entered the library.

"Hey!" I said in a loud tone. My voice echoed through the silent glass dome above the double decker shelves.

The group turned and look at me.

I raised an eyebrow and put a finger to my lips. I pointed at the full tables of studying students. The boys ducked their heads and disappeared into the stacks. I waited all of about 5 minutes before I heard their snickers and whispered shouts. I rolled my eyes and got up. I stepped down from my raised desk and walked over to their location. As soon as I rounded the bookshelf I saw the group of boys circled around a student.

"Excuse me." I said in a stern tone. "What is going on here?" I crossed my arms and widened my stance.

The boys jerked their heads up.