Bibliophilia
It had been a productive and really excellent morning. Ali awoke in better-than-usual spirits, and nothing about the day thus far had dampened them. In fact, her day just kept getting better. The twins were as close to cooperative as they know how to be, her return to college was proving challenging in only the sorts of ways she enjoys, and there was a promise of a trip to the zoo with the goslings in the afternoon. She even managed to not burn anything at breakfast.
After putting the twins down for a nap, Ali left their most capable nanny in charge with the promise of returning from her walk within the half-hour. A half-hour that can be stretched indefinitely in the Nexus, to her greater delight; she and Casey took advantage of the fine weather and free time. After a good romp through a charming forest, they wandered into one of the many marketplaces, this one an English-style high street lined with little shops. Several of these shops carried books, the leather- and cloth-bound sorts she most particularly enjoys to arrange on shelves (paperbacks have their uses, but are less charming in her eyes). Even Casey enjoys the shops, because they are full of smells to sniff. Fortunate for them both that he's learned not to chew on books anymore.
It didn't take long for Ali to have an armful of books she just had to have, volumes of ancient poetry and epic adventures, and a few books full of sweet stories teaching gentle morals she intends for the children. And then she sees, on the very top shelf in a back corner of the shop, a thick tome bound in blue-black leather decorated with a great deal of gilt, promising to be full of stories about goblins. "Ooh," she breathes, stretching up on her tip-toes to reach the book with her free hand, "Jareth should love that."
After putting the twins down for a nap, Ali left their most capable nanny in charge with the promise of returning from her walk within the half-hour. A half-hour that can be stretched indefinitely in the Nexus, to her greater delight; she and Casey took advantage of the fine weather and free time. After a good romp through a charming forest, they wandered into one of the many marketplaces, this one an English-style high street lined with little shops. Several of these shops carried books, the leather- and cloth-bound sorts she most particularly enjoys to arrange on shelves (paperbacks have their uses, but are less charming in her eyes). Even Casey enjoys the shops, because they are full of smells to sniff. Fortunate for them both that he's learned not to chew on books anymore.
It didn't take long for Ali to have an armful of books she just had to have, volumes of ancient poetry and epic adventures, and a few books full of sweet stories teaching gentle morals she intends for the children. And then she sees, on the very top shelf in a back corner of the shop, a thick tome bound in blue-black leather decorated with a great deal of gilt, promising to be full of stories about goblins. "Ooh," she breathes, stretching up on her tip-toes to reach the book with her free hand, "Jareth should love that."