Canvas of a Book

Linette had bought her books for school and she'd told Louise she wasn't to have extra books yet the elder Puchard daughter had found herself in Whisper Alley at the other bookshop. This bookshop was different to the other one. It was also different to the second hand bookshop in Cheval. She had to go and see it even if she couldn't buy anything.

The fourteen year old stood in the doorway and breathed deeply. Yes. There was the smell of many books. Books for her to read if she dared. Linette stepped in deeper and moved down to the nearest shelves. This place had an aura different to the one in Amethyst Alley. That one was filled with reluctant readers. Students who only bought books because they had to. This place was for people who appreciated books. Who loved to read. Who wanted to read.

She touched the spine of one book reverentially and smiled. She was almost tempted to do Osmund's trick of opening it and sniffing the pages. However, today she would just look and think of the books. Books which for her were a blank canvas just waiting to be read. The witch felt the pouch of money in her pocket. It was meant to be for her new uniforms but she thought if she bought them second hand then maybe there could be enough left over for at least one book. Her father wouldn't be able to tell the difference and she was sure old Tante Patrice was beginning to go blind and thus wouldn't notice either.