The Book

403 WORDS.

Prompt: A stranger walks up to you in a bookstore and hands you a book, then walks away without another word.

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I suppose when you walk into a bookstore you expect a calm, cozy environment, with giant beanbag chairs and grandmas reading small books to their grandkids.

You expect to see young mothers and cute children, old ladies reading books on knitting, and employees making sure the aforementioned cute kiddies don't destroy the paperbacks.

At least, that's what I expect. Maybe a warm cup of hot cocoa. I don't know. Something.

I remember walking into a Barnes and Noble and sitting down in a big, cushy beanbag chair twelve years ago. The chair was green. I don't know why I noticed that, but since then, I have been very conscious of my surroundings. One of the prime rules is: If a stranger approaches you, take a look without making eye contact. If he gets closer... I dunno. The rule stopped there.

That was probably why I stood there frozen when a man in a black jacket and scraggly beard (he kind of looked like Aragorn in Lord of the Rings) marched right up to me, plopped a book in my hand... and walked away.

"Huh?" I said, then yelled, "uh.... Sir? You accidentally left your book here!" An old man glared at me for yelling. "Sir?" I whispered again, but he was gone.

Suddenly I felt unprotected. I looked down at the book in my hand, halfway ready to chuck it at someone. Why? I have no idea. I was about to go and try to re-shelve it, but something stopped me. I ran. Outside? To the safety of the women's restroom?

Nope, I ran after the man. "Hey!" I called, coming up beside him. "You left... your book." Suddenly it got very, very awkward. I stared at the blue carpet like I'd never seen one before.

"I know," he leaned closer to me, so I stepped back. Wow, original words.

I rolled my lips inward and nodded, "Here... you go." I held the book out.

His eyes widened. "Keep it." He darted off, but this time I couldn't catch him.

Seriously, did he ever say more than two words at a time?

I flipped open the book and green fell out. Yeah, green. Green.... MONEY! Seriously, I never expected to see so many presidents without a trip to Mount Rushmore! We're talking $100, $500, $1000 bills here!

I was rich! I could buy food! I could donate! Heck, I could buy GIFT POINTS on WDC! Maybe even two years of Upgraded Memberships! Donate GPs to RAOK!

I could have friends! Fame! Power, at my fingertips! I could buy the WORLD! Take over the world!

I nearly fainted. But I didn't. I gathered up my money, grinning, and picked up some books to buy with this fortune. Heading to the check-out, I waved cheerfully at random people.

The cashier frowned and stared at me, gesturing towards the money. "Counterfeit."

Oh.