Orphic

FIFTEEN // LAND OF STONES AND BIRDS

I finally was able to connect again! I might have more problems in the future, but for now, here is the last chapter of the first part

In the middle of our dancing and singing (and in the middle of a song), the lights shut off and the music comes to a halt. "Alright, folks," says the voice of Angie over the microphone. I look up and see her glaring at me and Elvin, who were dancing with Jordyn and Dove and Marla.

Angie explains to us that we need to hurry up and take our positions at cash registers. I begin to head to one with Elvin before she cuts me off and tells me something along the lines of "you're not good enough to do that" before she tells me to go and wander the garage sale to help sell things that aren't being sold. She sends some people to go and take care of cash registers and one to greet people at the door.

Jordyn says, "Peace," before taking her position at the cash register. Marla tells us good luck with being beginner salespeople, and Dove just nods and then heads over to the doors at at the entrance.

It is a good thirty minutes or so until people begin to file into the garage sale. Until then, Elvin and I explore the contents of the garage sale. Elvin walks behind me as I lead the way. He keeps watch for Angie since she's like a hound dog as I keep an eye out for good items.

I head over towards the books section as Elvin follows behind me. "Where are we going?" he asks.

"Where does it look like we're going?" I respond and roll my eyes at him. "Books."

I hear Elvin let out an exasperated sigh as I continue leading towards the book section. Even though I helped set up yesterday, the garage sale is still shockingly huge. It takes a good thirty seconds or so to weave my way over to the section designated for books, which is on the far end of the garage sale. There are about twenty-five tables set up in columns where several books were stacked on each table. "How does one even collect his many books?" I ask Elvin rhetorically, my eyes wide open at the huge selection.

"Well, I assume that the people helping just had a bunch of books at their home. Or they went out and bought a bunch like we did." Elvin makes his way to one of the tables and picks up a book.

"Elvin, it was rhetorical. And plus, the only reason that we bought books was because we didn't have any." I laugh at Elvin's naive-ness. I guess he knew a lot about the world for being in my dreams for all of his life, but it was still fun to laugh at.

"Oh. But they must have, like, a lot if it allows for this many books. Like at least six or seven." I look over to Elvin. His eyes are wide open like an owl's.

I chuckle. "A lot more than that. Have you ever seen a bookshelf?"

"Sure," says Elvin. "The stuff that they put the books on in the book stores. I saw those when I was getting the ones I bought for here."

"Yeah. Those are big bookshelves, but the normal ones have about three or four smaller shelves built for forty-or-so books." I shrug. "I have one, but it only has around twelve. The rest is just filled up with random stuffed animals."

"Oh," says Elvin. He shrugs. "Hm. Seems like a lot to me. Plus, you have to pay for all of that, right?" I nod. Elvin looks down at the book he was holding. "Have you read this?"

I shake my head. "No. I haven't read most of these. Well - that one, over there, I have read." I point to a copy of The Hunger Games. It's dog-eared and the cover's art is starting to scratch off. The pages are yellowed, like an old books, even though the book itself hasn't been around too long.

Elvin flips the book to the back cover. I watch as his bright blue eyes scan over each line. "Seems interesting."

"They all do," I say. "They're written so you want to buy them. If it was all boring, well, no one would ever consider buying it." I shrug and take the book from him. "What's it about?"