The Gargoyle King

   Sarah Boyle, an 11-year-old girl, has read another pile of books. And now she’s heading for the library with a small truck, on which she put the books, to get new ones. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? It’s the beginning of the summer and the weather is wonderful in Daresbury. The grass and the trees are so green that for quite some time you can’t believe that it’s real and your eyes are not deceiving you. The sun is shining and the birds are singing (just like in fairytales).
So why would an 11-year-old girl go to the library for a pile of old books with a dust bed on them? The answer is pretty simple, though many of you might not believe it. Sarah just loves reading. And she almost finished reading all the books for kids in the nearest library. Except for one book, which she just wasn’t able to reach yet. That one book is “Alice in Wonderland” by L. Carroll. So, Sarah already knew what she wanted. And when she came into the library, she went straight to the row she needed.
And there it is, the book she wants to read so. As high as ever. Sarah reached for it and her hand was so close, only inches apart. And when she already could feel the book’s spine with her fingertips, somebody behind her bumped into her shoulder, she accidently hit the bookcase and fell on her knees with a pile of other books falling on her head. Sarah, soothing the pain in her head, looked up. The “Alice” is still sitting perfectly in it’s place.  
Sarah, frustrated with the failure, got up to try again, when a voice behind called her: “Never in my life have I saw a girl who is so eager to read”. She turned. Just in front of her was standing a creature. It was stonny, with little wings behind it’s back and big sharp fangs. Sarah recognized it immediately. It was no other than a gargoyle.
So Sarah asked curiously: “Are you a gargoyle?” It laughed: “Not just any gargoyle. I’m the very Gargoyle King”. Remembering the books, Sarah asked again: “Are you old, then?” “I was here before even your grandmother was born”, answered the King. Sarah haven’t quite understood him, but didn’t say anything. The Gargoyle King sighed: “In fact, because I’m so old, I am here right now. It’s the last day of my life and I have one last wish. I want to see the world. Not from the high of the church, as I’ve been observing life for the last few centuries, but really feel everything you people feel”.
“The world?” thought Sarah. “But how are you going to see the world in one day? Isn’t it too big?” She asked him. He smiled fatherly: “But, child, you are traveling the world every day. You should know better than anyone”. And then Sarah understood. He meant the books. She looked all around her. There were all kinds of books: big, small, history books, fantasy books, horror and every other kind you can imagine.
“But will you be able to read them all in time?” she asked. He smiled that warm smile again: “That’s why I’d like to ask you for help. Will you walk me through the world?” Sarah thought about it for a moment, taking her time. And then smiled and nodded.
Sarah looked around her, noting books and stories, worth hearing at least once in one’s life. And it was hard. When a person tells a story, it is worth reading, at least to find out whether you like it or not. Because the writer of the story puts his soul, his loves and passions, his thoughts, everything into this one story. Sometimes even his whole life. After choosing carefully, Sarah decided to tell most of them but shortly.
So they went to the garden outside and sat on the bench. And then she told them all, one by one. She told him about Snow White, whose stepmother wanted her dead, and who was then saved by love. She told him about Cinderella, which tells us how hard work always pays off. About the Beast and the Beauty, where one can find that love is not about the outer beauty, but about so much more, about the beauty of the soul. She told him stories about magic and dragons and places, which were a pure fairytale, about true friendship and first love. Sarah told him all of them, told the very souls of heroes and villains. And in the end all the stories went by as one, one battle of good and evil.  
The day went by quickly. Sarah was finishing, when she looked up and saw the setting sun. The sky was the colour of reach purple, highlighted by the gold of the last beams of the sun. “Oh no. There is one more story to tell. But I haven’t read it yet. And you have no time”, Sarah said, regretting she wasn’t able to tell him this one last story.
The King smiled again, but a sad smile now showed on his face. And he said: “Child, there are a lot of stories worth telling, a lot of love and magic and happiness and even sadness are there. And I’d like to hear them all. But, there is no time. And you did great by telling me every story you know. I feel hope, hope of the stories you gave me. So let this story be the Hope. The Hope for the future, for life, for the better outcome. So let it be something unfinished to think about. My life has been a great one. And it’s ending was just as colourful. Thank you”. He said the last words almost whispering. He was weak, she saw it. They sat there for a moment, looking at the setting sun. He, thinking about his past; she, thinking about the future. The past and the future together, so different… But united by Now. Being there, at the everlasting moment of the setting sun.
“Now, live me please. So I could spend the last few minutes, thinking about my life and my adventures”.
Sarah looked at him, she was sad. A tear slipped down her cheek. “Don’t cry” he said warmly. “But you are leaving” she couldn’t help but cry even more. The warm smile appeared on his face yet again. “We all have to leave sometime. But that doesn’t mean we’ll never meet again”.  She hugged him fiercely and left, looking back one more time. “I hope we do meet again” said Sarah. He nodded. And then she was gone. 
The King followed her with his gaze for a moment. And then he looked at the setting sun. It was a beautiful sunset. The most beautiful he ever saw. It was somewhat sad. He too had a lot of stories to tell and now he was at the end of his own story. But he didn’t feel afraid. He felt hopeful and…calm.
“It was a great life”, he said again and smiled.