Interstellar Bookstore

A few days ago my nephew asked me what I like. With little hesitation I replied "Bookstores!" 

I got a serious look from him.

"Not that." He said. 

"Popcorn!" I thought maybe he meant food. "Star Wars...Pokemon?" 

A few minutes went by and he was quiet as I finished cleaning up dinner. Moments later I was met with an artist's rendition of all the things I like. 

I thought "Wow! This deserves a story." 

Interstellar Bookstore 

        Halfway between Earth and Andromeda there is a single asteroid floating though the star fields on an unknown course. Situated on this lone asteroid is the most wonderful intergalactic bookstore known to the cosmos. What makes this place so magnificent you might ask? Well, there are no fiction sections in the whole shop. There are only locations of distant worlds. The travelers there may find books about Earth and wonder why they aren’t in the fantasy section just as you may wonder why a book on Ossus is in the travel section. It is most confusing to some. With so many books from so many places, the shelves stretch to the ceilings. That is where the resident Bulbasaur comes in handy. Its vines can reach all the way to the highest shelf and retrieve any book you may be looking for. If you can’t find the local Bulbasaur, look for the walking plant with a Darth Vader mask on. It’s his favorite accessory. Check the entry room near the landing pad, he is usually there eating popcorn and watching ships land then take off again.  

            If you do happen to find this secret asteroid, you’ll note that there are far more books from other places. The section of Earth books is quite small compared to those from other star systems. I would suggest looking in other areas of the store. There is so much to offer. In fact, just yesterday I saw the cutest little green guy shuffling away with his new copy of The Little Lost Bantha Cub, a popular title for children from other galaxies. 

            If you’re lucky, you may run into the store’s owner. Not many have seen this illusive figure. The owner is the biggest mystery of all. They say that the owner is able to reach into every universe; the ones we call “fiction” and the ones who call us “fiction”, and then pull stories from every part of every world. That is how the bookstore got so big. But who knows? 

            Just one word of warning if you ever do find this place. Some say that the stories it contains are infinite and a lover of books could get eternally lost among its shelves. One trip and you may never want to return to Earth. So be careful! 

            It may be hard finding the hidden bookstore. Not many from your star system know where it is. Jam won’t take you there, he hates reading. Phina might if you give her some of her favorite Earthling snack. 

 

Pssssst….It’s marshmellows, but you didn’t hear that from me.

 

Good Luck!