Writing Resources from Fifteen Minutes of Fiction

A Lonely Book

I am a lonely book. You may not think that books can feel lonely, but we can. I have been sitting in this same spot on this same shelf for a very long time. I admit that I am not as attractive as I once was. The once vibrant red dress worn by the little girl on my cover has now faded to a dusty, dull pink. The girl's bright yellow hair is now more of a beige. So, who can blame the children for passing me by? They are too young to know not to judge me by my cover. I understand.

Still, if only I didn't have the memory of being a brand new book, displayed on the center table of the library, then I might not know enough to feel lonely. I was the new, featured book of the month, but my fame lasted for many months. Week after week, I saw another child's face as he first discovered me and felt his warmth as he hugged me all the way home. I felt his excitement as his eyes scanned my words and his sticky fingers hurriedly flipped through my pages. I even left this physical world and traveled with him into his imagination. Who knew that my story, which remained word for word the same, would take me on such different voyages with each child!

Then, one day, the new award-winning book arrived. It had a humorous picture and a shiny golden seal on its cover. The parents oohed and aahed over it. The children laughed and begged to borrow it. I was not concerned at first. There were plenty of children to go around. But then, another new book arrived, and then another. I couldn't compete with their shininess and their novelty. My plastic sheath was ripped in places, my binding loose, my pages rubbed smooth. Then, one afternoon, a beautiful little girl picked me up, looked at my cover, and put me back on the shelf again. I was devastated.

Children have taken me home since that day, but I can never forget the pain of that first rejection. Now, the visits to children's houses are less frequent than ever. Maybe the children can sense my loneliness. Maybe they turn me down the way someone might turn down a puppy that's too sad to feel excited at receiving attention.

So, here I sit in this same spot on this same shelf, waiting. But look! Who is this nice lady? She is looking at me and smiling. She says something and a little girl is now here staring at me with wide eyes. Her mother convinces her to take me home. Hope is not lost! I will let go of my loneliness and give this little girl an adventure she won't forget!

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