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 Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:38 pm
 Card Renewal
Jaster led Saljin to the building he knew was the library carefully avoiding traffic and people along the way. His card was in his pocket but it had expired. He hoped briefly that the person would renew it for him so that he could still take out a book or two.
The large stone pillars loomed over them as they walked to the door. Two huge wooden doors rose in front of them and Jaster shoved one hard to open it. The creak caught Saljin's attention and Jaster had to prod him into coming inside.
Walking forwards to the desk, Jaster stared at the woman a moment.
"Excuse me." he said softly.
She glanced over at him, appraisingly and then nodded. "What can I do for you?"
"My card has expired. I need to renew it but will I still be able to get books out today?" he asked gingerly.
Her eyes swept over him and Saljin but then she smiled. "I can renew it now for you. All it takes is the change of a sticker on the back. I just need your old card. Do you have it with you?"
"Yes." he said, laying it down and pushing it forwards with his fingers across the top of the counter. It was nearly too tall for him to reach across.
Picking it up, the woman read the name. "Let's see.. Jaster Konran." she mused turning to a file nearby. Looking up his name, she pulled a card from the drawer. Placing it in front of him, she asked, "Is your address the same?"
Jaster blinked as he looked at it. "That's my dad's address." he replied. "When I'm with him."
She frowned for a moment and then said, "And how often are you there?"
He shrugged. "I... I don't know. I mean..."
Ijera walked forwards with the books she'd selected. Stopping she listened quietly as Jaster tried to explain about the address. She knew he didn't live there and she knew why. For an instant she hesitated, but then moved forwards.
"Jaster, did you give her the new address? Or did you forget to bring it?" she said softly, ruffling his hair gently. She smiled shaking her head. "Of course you did. This is the address." Taking a slip of paper from the desk and a pen, Ijera wrote down her own address.
"Thanks." he mumbled, watching her.
"Next time make sure you have everything before you leave the house, son." she replied, winking at him.
The librarian nodded. "This works then. If you change addresses again, come in and do it before your card expires. It makes it easier on both of us." Turning she shoved a blank card into the slot of the nearby machine. A few moments later a brand new card came out printed with his name and address.
"This is your next expiration date." she explained, "and you can get the books you need today. Just make sure you return them on time."
Ijera, Saljin, and Jaster turned away at the same time. The boy watched her a few moments and then watched to make sure noone was listening.
"Thanks, Ijera. I wasn't sure what to do." Jaster replied, running a hand through his hair. "I never thought about needing the address."
Her gaze crossed his face searching, then she nodded. "I meant what I said, Jaster. If you need anything, just ask. You do still have my card, right?"
"Yes. I have it." he replied softly. "I have it in my tin at the place I live now."
"What type of books are you looking for?" she asked.
"I need to know how to store fish and to do a few other things." he said, a blush creeping across his neck.
"I see. Let's find those and then I want to talk to you about something else. I could use some help around my house. I'm afraid the garden has gotten out of control and it's more than I have time to do right now. And when fall comes in a month or so, I will need someone to rake the leaves. I can't pay you alot, but I really could use the help." she said, brushing the hair from her eyes. She liked this boy and he needed some help.
He blinked in surprise. "I.. can do that. Is it alright if Saljin comes along?"
"Of course, he's welcome too." she laughed.
"Then it's a deal." he grinned widely. A laugh rippled free. "I have a job."
"I guess you do." she smiled, shaking her head. "Now let's go find those books."
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:39 pm
A Bright Cloud Beckons
Ijera and Jaster spent the better part of an hour finding the books he wanted. She watched him, smiling at his excitement. The boy wanted to be on his own. That would be fine right now, but later he would need more. That's when he would turn to her, asking for help. Perhaps.
When they parted ways, she told him that she expected he and Saljin to be there on the next day. Explaining to him what she would pay him for his work, she had laughed when he thought it was alot. It was not alot under normal circumstances, but when one had nothing, it was a great deal. And she could help him without intruding upon his pride. That was important to he and Saljin that they be on their own.
The undera continually watched them, asking questions when something struck him. He wanted to know it all, but it was because he was simply watching everything. She wondered briefly about him when he had made a comment that had Jaster laughing.
But after watching them, Ijera decided that Saljin and Jaster were very well matched. The undera would take very good care of the boy until he could do so entirely himself.
"Where now, Jaster?" Saljin asked as he drifted along the walkway with the boy.
The stack of books and scrap paper in his arms were getting heavy, but Jaster didn't complain as he held them close. For two weeks they were his. He'd teach Saljin to read also and had gotten one book that was a beginner just for that purpose.
"Well, we will go back home. And fix something to eat. Fish I think since we should be able to catch a few. I think I can clean them up easily enough. Then one book is for you. I'm going to teach you to read." the boy grinned as he moved to the path into the park woods.
"Read? You can teach me?" the undera asked, tilting his head sideways to look at the books Jaster was carrying. "Which book is mine?"
"This one on top." he laughed as a tentacle reached out for the tomes. "I'll let you look at it, but I have to explain a few things first. I also need to make a calendar so that I know when to take them back. I don't want to be late returning them or I get charged for keeping them too long. No money so I can't do that. The librarian said two weeks so if I mark down today, and then make a square for each day, marking the day I need to take them back, I can remember. I just have to mark each day until that day."
"What is a calendar?" Saljin asked.
"A calendar is a way of keeping track of the days, weeks, months, and years. All we need are days." the boy replied. "Just days. Nothing else matters."
"Days." Saljin repeated the word, tasting it. "Fishing first, then eating. Then reading."
"Exactly." Jaster agreed laughing. "That's exactly it."
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:40 pm
The Story Begins...
Jaster carefully placed the books on the makeshift table he had. It had taken nothing to create as it was simply an old wooden box sitting to one side. Everything was off the floor which was what mattered to him.
Saljin drifted to one side, watching everything the boy did with interest. He touched the books gently with a finger tracing the spine and then front of the tome. Pleased by the fact that Jaster had said he would teach him to read, the undera was excited by the prospect.
"Alright, I need to make a calendar." he stated, sitting down on the floor.
It was then he blinked in surprise, glancing at the paper and then around himself. He'd forgotten something. He had nothing to write with.
"Well, darn." he muttered, a scowl sliding across his face.
"What's wrong, Jaster?" Saljin asked drifting nearer to the boy.
"I forgot. I need something to write with. I don't have a pencil or a pen or anything. How am I going to do this?" he replied.
"Write?" Saljin questioned as he touched the paper gently. The texture was strange to his touch and he tilted his head staring at it.
"Yes. I need a pencil, a crayon, a marker, a pen, or something to write with. I can't make one without something." he growled in frustration. Getting to his feet, he began exploring the entire building. Maybe someone had left something behind. Even a stub of a crayon would work.
Moving towards the fireplace, he moved the ashes around a bit looking for something. Shaking his head, he sighed.
"Nothing, Saljin. I guess this will have to wait until tomorrow." the boy stated. "Let's see about getting some fishing bait."
"Bait?" the undera asked.
"Yes. Worms or bugs I think." the boy replied, walking towards the table. There was an old can he'd picked up to put things in sitting in the middle. Picking it up as well as his pole and tackle box, he grinned. "Let's go fishing. I know a good spot not far from here."
"And the calen..dar?" he asked.
"I'll do it tomorrow, Saljin. We will go find a pencil first thing in the morning. I'm getting hungry and fishing will solve that for both of us." Jaster smirked, his stomach growling at that instant. "See?"
Saljin laughed. "Then fishing, Jaster."
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:42 pm
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For the further adventures of Saljin, you need to go to Tajnevaki's journal. He and Jaster have more adventures in the Edelverse. Tajnevaki's Journal
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