Shelf Shock: A Tale of The Library Book

FB - G5 - SH

“Rustle, rustle,” I felt my delicate pages being roughly flipped by a mischievous student who had just wandered in.

Yes, I am a cream-colored hygiene science book, sitting on these majestic shelves in the heart of a prestigious school library.

"Ow! Oh my gosh, being a library book is pure torture!" I groaned, and the other books around me nodded in agreement.

We complain about this life all day long.

I looked at the books around me with sympathy, but there was nothing I could do to help.

Suddenly, we were all tossed off the shelf and thrown to the ground in a chaotic mess.

“I didn’t sign up for a plot twist like this!” groaned one of the novels.

“This fall has me feeling hardcover... my soft pages are no help!” cried the science-fiction dystopian classic.

“That landing hurt so much, I feel like I just gained five extra chapters!" I shouted in agony.

After what seemed like an eternity, we were finally placed back on the shelves. But just when I thought we could get some peace and comfort, I realized how wrong I was.

The space was cramped, musty, and filthy. We were jammed together like sardines, and of course, the complaints started up again.

“Eek! Stop squishing me, you overdue reject!” “No, you stop! Mr. ‘Check Out’ thinks he's special!” “Quit invading my space! Have some shelf-respect!”

I couldn’t help but reflect on how clean and fresh we all were when we first arrived here. Now, the children’s hands were always sticky with germs and bacteria. It clung to us with every careless touch. This is why being a library book is nothing but pure anguish.

Suddenly, a tiny hand from a Pre-K kid stretched out to grab me.

“Here we go again, another round of torture," I sighed.

“Good luck, mate,” whispered one of the other books…

To be continued...