The Magic of Stories | ONC 2024 shortlist

12 - People we love

Ten minutes later, Conny and the kids were out the door, all three in a brighter mood than I'd ever seen them. This left me to wrap up business with the last few customers. A young mother carrying a baby checked out with three books on child care and wished me a pleasant evening. Only when the door closed behind her and the sound of the chime faded into silence, a weird emptiness spread in my stomach. I was alone in the haunted library.

Despite my earlier resolution to not let the ghosts bother me anymore, I experienced a rising feeling of dread while I stacked the last returns on my trolley and wondered if this was a good idea. Perhaps I could come early tomorrow and just go home now?

Before my fears could overwhelm me, Cat popped into existence on top of the bookstack, grinning as usual. "Well done, with Conny and her kids."

My heart skipped a beat, but in the meantime, I had almost become used to his sudden appearance. "Thanks, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"A good and altruistic one, since you made them happy with a tiny effort."

"I guess, even if it left me stranded here with a bunch of ominous inhabitants of another plane of the multiverse."

Despite my gruff tone and obvious sarcasm, Cat's presence made my anxiety subside as I rolled the trolley with its passenger down the aisle. In his company, I even felt bold enough to ask questions. "Is there a reason Conny and the regular guests here can't see you and the other ghosts?"

"I don't know which percentage of the regulars can or can't see us, but you should accept the fact we're not ghosts."

"Right, beings of another realm. Will you answer my question, or do I have to ask Luca?" Since the man never talked to me, my threat was mute, and Cat knew it.

"Good luck with questioning our silent friend." He let me retrieve the first two volumes from the stack and yawned. "Let me see. It's rather easy to answer why your colleague doesn't notice us. Like most adults, she has lost her ability to perceive the wondrous things this world offers the moment she stopped believing in basic magic."

"This sounds like a sad state to be in. Is there a way to help her?" To my surprise, I meant it.

Cat contemplated a paw, extending and retracting the claws. "I don't know if there is a cure for this desolate condition. As a first thing, she would have to want it, and I'm not sure she is ready to leave the dark hiding place she built in her thoughts. Adult humans have too many sorrows on their mind to keep it open for wonders at the same time."

He might be right, and despite what I had said the other day to Marjorie, I hoped I would never lose my ability to see the extraordinary. "Amber thinks her mum should meet a man."

"That one is a clever young lady and a keen observer. While I doubt a new relationship would enable her mother to enjoy my company, it should help her unwind, at least." He blinked. "I bet Amber knows the buff maintenance worker has a crush on her mother."

It took me only seconds to get whom he referred to. "Paco? I agree he seems to admire Conny, but she doesn't deem him worthy of her attention."

"Some humans need a bit of pushing towards their luck, as you know." He winked. "You could prompt her."

Cat's proposition seemed like interfering, but then—

"Good luck with that."

The unfamiliar, deep voice made me jump. Luca manifested only two steps away, leaning against a shelf. He had his arms crossed in front of his see-through chest, and the gaze of his unnerving and unnatural blue eyes rested on me.

I gasped and steadied myself on the trolley to wait for the sudden staccato of my heartbeat to slow to an acceptable da-dum. "Please, not you, too. If all of you multiverse people keep appearing out of nowhere, I'll die of a hear attack before Marjorie is back from surgery."