First Edition (Short Story)

Part 1 Beginnings

His name is Jacob Stevenson and he is a book collector and a bibliophile, one who is very passionate and truly loved reading and collecting books. He has actually been saving books much longer than he remembers. When Jacob was a young boy he was gifted the classic children's book Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. After reading it he fell immediately in love with the story and the main character Max.

Just like that brave little boy who would venture out to where those scary yet friendly monsters lived, Jacob had a very overactive imagination where he would get lost in stories inside his own head many times throughout the day. If he wasn't reading a book he was busy always thinking. That was his way of getting away from the stressful, loud, busy world, the ultimate escapism. It was a place to hide when the world became too much to tolerate. This minor connection with Max made him feel kind of special and not so alone like he normally felt.

He was a little different than the other kids at his school. Being extremely shy and majorly awkward didn't help him try to fit in with the rest of the children. It really didn't help at all
He was a quiet little boy with social anxiety which made it very difficult to meet new buddies and make friends out on the playground. He spent a lot of time with his nose stuck in his books sitting up against a wall at recess or just simply hanging out in the library during his free time. It was his favorite hideaway from the unruly reality, his literary sanctuary escape from the cruel world where he was constantly getting picked on by multiple bullies. Every single day.

He put his trust in books because they could never say harmful or hurtful things to him nor could they bully him like some of the meaner kids had done recently. Books were his only true friends and they have never ever let him down and they never would. Jacob actually trusted books more than actual living people. Novels were his constant, they would always be there for him, waiting patiently in their respective spots on his bookshelf like any good book waiting to be chosen and read.

His mother was the one who set him on the path of becoming a well read book worm. As soon as Jacob was taken home from the hospital as a newborn baby boy she started reading to him. She continued reading him stories throughout his early childhood every single day and night. Most of Jacob's favorite childhood memories were that of him sitting on his mother's lap and listening to her read a story and show him the pictures that accompanied the words on the pages. It was always magical but at the same time mesmerizing to him. Jacob always cherished those special moments with his mom because she was all he had. His mother had divorced his real father when he was only two because his daddy was a drug addicted, alcoholic, wife beater so he didn't have a father growing up. Jacob and his mother didn't need him anyways because his nana and his mom did just fine raising him on their own.

When Jacob finally learned how to read on his own it seemed like real magic being able to decipher all of those weird squiggly lines printed on thin slices of tree bark. It was an amazing discovery. Even though he was proud of himself for learning how to read he couldn't help feeling like he had betrayed his mother. She was the storyteller so if he didn't need her to read to him what was going to happen with the time they used to share together?

When Jacob reached the milestone of reading he thought that he was going to lose that precious time he shared with his mother since she was no longer needed to read him his favorite books and stories. It turned out to become a role reversal situation. She wanted him to read to her so that she could help him with words he didn't know plus his mother could make sure he was pronouncing every word properly and fluidly. Jacob's mom wanted him to respect the words and grammar and to just make sure that he understood what he would read and really absorb all of the images and words.

During the school year when the Scholastic Book Club order forms arrived Jacob's mother always made sure to purchase a few books for him every time. Although they were slightly poor his mom would sacrifice whatever it took to make sure she had money to get him some books. It was very important that Jacob always got the books that he really wanted. Besides the fundamental reasons reading was good his mother always had something inside her head telling her to always have something new to read for Jacob so he wouldn't get bored and just stop reading. She honestly had no idea why it was so important that he never stopped or gave up on books and liteeature. Something was always nagging her so she just listened to that little voice and with her stern diligence she always had Jacob surrounded by many different books.

Certain specific days became epic days whenever he would walk into the classroom and eye the huge box that was labeled ' Scholastic Book Club'. He knew that he was going home with some new books a long with some new adventures awaiting his discovedy. That extra special box would become the catalyst that would lift all of the burden, stress and whatever anxiety little Jake was coping with at the moment right off of his shoulders. On these special days everything was right as rain.