The Book

As I ate my breakfast I had the curious feeling that someone was looking at me. My mum and dad had gone to work and Alice, the girl who was taking care of me, was upstairs tidying up my room.

I looked around and saw no one. Only the window, the fridge, the table, the spoons, the forks, the knives, the dishes, the glasses and all those little useless things that mum used to buy just for fun. I restarted eating, trying to think of something else.

I grabbed my spoon and dove it into the milk. I really enjoyed the cereals I was eating, small corn letters with which I used to play was I was not hungry anymore. Suddenly, some letters started to move on their own and danced in the milk. I really got terrified. I heard a noise behind me and I jumped and turned around.

I saw nothing but mum's bookshelves and the cookbooks she had. I relaxed, took a deep breath and I thought I was just imagining things. But suddenly I heard – “Psst!... Claire!... Look up here! Up here!” - I could hardly believe what my eyes were seeing. One of the books, on the highest bookshelf, was jumping and looking at me with two big bright brown eyes that made it look like a cartoon. - “Pick me!” - It said.

- “I can't reach you!” - I replied. - “I'm not tall enough!” - “Use the chair, Claire! Think!” - I pushed the chair near the bookshelf, I got on the top of the seat, lifted my feet a little and... TADAAAA!!! I reached the funny book. - “Thank you!” - It said. - “Now sit down and open me at page five.”

I was only five, I couldn't read yet and I thought it would leave my new friend disappointed. But at least I knew how to count. I opened the book and I felt my feet leaving the ground. I was actually lifting up in the air when something pulled me into the book.

I dove through a tunnel of huge letters, numbers and question marks, made of bright beautiful colours that made me wish even harder that I knew how to read. I saw my dolls in my room and I tried to touch them, but they vanished like the whole setting was made of dust.

Suddenly, I landed. Not in a different place as I was expecting, but on the same chair I was eating my dancing cereals. By my side there was book that had no longer eyes nor could talk. I heard Alice asking me: - ”Claire, dear, are you ready?” - “Ready for what?” - I replied. - “Oh Claire, come on, hurry up! Today is your first day at school.”

Gisela Canelhas
Nº. 28129