The Book Traveler Part 2

I was stunned. I never thought that I, CJ Parker, would be capable of anything magical. I decided to look around more and explore my surroundings. There was some sort of shouting match happening inside of the house. I examined the tree. It was a beautiful tree, and it had something that looked out of place at its roots. I moved closer. It was a book. The same book I had fallen into. I picked it up. “Thanks a lot!” I shouted at it. I never wanted to go on some wacky adventure! All I wanted was to make friends and be happy. Now, I realize that happiness and friends are things that take time to earn. I stroked the books cover. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered to the book. “Sometimes it’s hard to be a human.” All of the sudden, the door burst open, and out walked June, my best friend.

Well, she looked like June. She was dressed all in rags, and she was covered in what looked like a mix of mud and ash. She was also crying. June rarely ever cried. Suddenly, she looked up. She saw me and stopped crying.

“CJ? What are you doing here?” She asked. “What are you doing?” I replied.

“I’m here to tell you that Ms. Qwerty is getting ready to leave the library! Now look at me! I’m covered in poop!”

It was true. In the original Cinderella story, Cinderella’s name is Aschenputtle, and one of Aschenputtle’s jobs is to clean the chamber pots. Chamber pots were like toilets that you could not flush. I glanced around nervously. “June” I whispered. “We should be quiet so nobody who belongs here suspects us as being book travelers.”

“Book travelers?” June asked. “What are those?”

“Uh, they’re us, sort of.” I said in obvious response.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well, we just used a book to travel into this story. So, we are book travelers.”

“Ok. Fine.” Juned loud whispered. “So, how do we get out of here?”

“I think that we need to act out the story to escape it.”

“WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?” June practically screamed. “Are you crazy???”

“Uh, maybe? I don’t know.” I replied, “I just know that we NEED to get out of here.”

“Easy for you to say.” shouted June. “You aren’t the one who will be working their way out of this! I will be cleaning fireplaces and chamber pots, but you get to go lay down on a hill covered in daisies and enjoying your little prank!”

I stepped back, stunned. June had never even raised her voice before this moment. Then, I realized that I had caused this whole mess, and my best friend ended up playing the hardest part.

“June,” I said quietly. “I’m so sorry. I accidentally pulled you into this and now your stuck here working hard when I don’t have to do anything. I didn’t want this to happen. I’m sorry I trapped you here.”

“Oh, CJ!” June exclaimed. “I’m sorry I blew up at you. Its hard to not be jealous when your stuck in a fairytale and you can’t enjoy yourself. And I need your help getting out of here.”

“You need my help?” I asked, “with what?”

“I don’t know how to act out the story.” June said. “And after all, if we’re getting out of here, we’ll have to help each other.”

We stood together there, holding hands, watching the sun set. It was a small moment on a small hill, but it still means a lot to us today.

To Be Continued