How Eveline Saved the World Excerpt

or why grandmas are better chosen ones

As soon as they had reached the bookstore they had both parted ways with a nod. Henry headed straight for the history section to see if there was anything new there he needed to read. Though he wasn't currently working in his field he didn't want to end up behind on the latest news. So he'd made it a priority in his schedule to read all the material that came out. Eveline decided to take a less focused approached, turning right to follow the wall of books all the way to the back of the bookstore.

It was a surprisingly big store. The rows of books going further back than you realized. 'It's almost like a library', Eveline pulled out a leather bound volume that threw up a faint cloud of dust. Which immediately put her into a fit of coughs as her lungs tried desperately to breath in more air than dust. 'Or maybe more like a mausoleum'. Looking down at the large volume in her hands she couldn't say why she had been drawn to it. Eveline ran her fingers over the leather cover, following what seemed to be drawings pressed into it. She couldn’t say what it was about this book but something was so familiar. Wiping away another layer of dust from the front of the book she tried to read the title of the book but the light was too low. As soon as Eveline decided to open it and find out that why the sound of a throat clearing behind her startled her, causing her to drop the book as she spun around.

"Can I help you find something?" A fat short man inquired managing to look both comical and intimidating. He glared at her over the glasses precariously perched on the end of his long beak like nose. A mustache that looked more fitting for a children's drawing then a man ran wild under the beak. It completely obliterated any chance of seeing his mouth as it moved but it did cause his mustache to dance around animatedly. She was actually surprised that the man could manage to get through all these rows of books with that belly without knocking everything from the shelves.

Eveline blinked a few times before her brain clicked back into action, "No I'm just looking around." She bent over to the popping sounds of joints long past expiration date to reach for the dropped book.

"Yes well, I think you'll find what you are looking for by the check out. That's where we keep the penny romance novels." He stood there not moving for what seemed like minutes as he waited for her to stand up again.

"I was actually very much interested in learning more about this book if you would." Eveline held out the leather bound book to him.

The deepest shade of red she'd ever seen slowly spread up from his neck to the top of his head. "If-. You-. I-." Spit flew from his mouth as his bulging eyes stayed glue to the book she had offered before snatching it out of her hands. Taking a deep breath, he tucked it under his arm as he attempted to stand taller. "This book is not for you Madame; it is on hold for a very important customer!" Spinning he trudged down the row away from her muttering under his breath words that sounded like but couldn’t be 'tenacity', 'legend', 'the one’, and 'otherworldly designs'.

Eveline stood there for a moment in shock before resting her fists on her hips as she watched the rude fat man leave. "Why I never!" She stayed that way huffing and puffing about fat store owners and their lack of manners, in a language not suited for this age group, under her breath.

"You all set?" Henry's voice startled her as he turned the corner into her aisle. She was still fuming over the overly rude employee, muttering nasty things about him as Henry pulled out a book from the store bag dangling in his hand. "I went ahead and got you that new book I was telling you abo-"

"I don't want it!" Eveline stomped off back down the aisle towards the store's entrance. At a loss for words Henry fumbled with putting the book back into the bag as he tried to follow after her.

As they left the large and unpleasant employee watched them with an eagle's stare as he picked up a phone hidden under the desk. Hitting the speed dial it hadn't even finished the first ring before someone answer. "I think I've found her." The muffled reply from a velvety voice seemed to make the scowl on his face deepen. "She isn't anything like we thought she would be though... Yes, yes I understand. I'll see to it right away."

A man as tall and skinny as the store employee was short and fat materialized behind him as he hung up. "Follow them and find out where they live." The tall man quirked an eyebrow at him. "Just follow for now, nothing else." Nodding the spidery fellow glided quickly out of the store and down the street.