Toby's Story

In our small town of Summerville, there's approximately one of everything. One church, Baptist; one supermarket, locally owned so not Walmart; one high school, definitely a nightmare; and one library, pretty much haunted.

The local library is the one place in town that everybody avoids. Owned by the town's local crazy lady, the only other person seen coming in or out is her assistant, a local college grad named Rosanna. The building itself is terrifying, looming over the rest of the town. Like I said, it's universally avoided.

As a local 16 year old boy, I spend the majority of the time at the high school or my house. Never did I think I would end up at the library. As of now, I think I'm the only person besides Rosanna whose ever set foot in that library and I swear I'll never do it again.

To be fair, it started out as a normal day. At least until 7th period English. Like always, I fell asleep.

"Toby, wake up. The bell rang," the girl next to me shook me awake. I think her name is Jade.

I groaned and woke myself up, "Mmph, thanks. Did I miss anything?"

I-think-her-name-is-Jade bit her lip, "Um, just a paper over any classical novel. We need to pick out the book by tomorrow."

"Cool, cool," I respond nonchalantly, "Well, see ya."

She smiled back, "Bye Toby!" She skipped out of the room, seemingly floating on air.

Damn, I had to find a book by the next day. Unfortunately, my house severely lacks any classic novels. In fact, I wasn't sure where I could get one. I meandered out of the school and hopped on my bike.

My house is literally on the same road as the library, so anytime I ride home, I have to ride past the library. Fortunately though, I often ran into Rosanna as she headed to and from the library, so we formed a companionship of sorts. That day, as I rode past, she was steadily walking towards the library as usual. waving at me. After I ignored her, she frowned, eyes wrinkling in concern.

"Yo Toby, everything good?" She paused her venture towards the library.

"Yeah," I hopped off the bike, "Just trying to figure out what book to read for English."

"When's it due?"

I shrug, "We need to pick the book out by tomorrow."

She grinned, "You live right next to a library and you're having trouble?"

She must have caught my grimace, because she added, "Toby, it's not that bad. I know what you heard and it may look creepy, but it's honestly just a library. "

I sighed out an okay and we walked inside the library. The ceiling loomed overhead, walls were filled with books. As we walked in, I took a look at some of the book titles. All the books were the darkest shade of black, with only a name in silver letter on the bind.

Rosanna turned towards me, "If you need anything, I'll be behind the desk. Auntie Tess may come down, but she's super sweet, don't let her bother you any. She'll one hundred percent help you out."

"Uh, ok," I nodded. I began to roam around the library. I found absolutely no classic works, but I did find books titled Joanna McCarthy, Matthew Dickens, and Cody Williamson. Eventually, I came across names I recognized, including Rosanna Taichota. My hand curiously fingered the novel before feeling a hand on my shoulder.

"Finding everything ok?" a voice croaked sweetly.

I turned with a start and found a woman no older than seventy-five with her hand on my shoulder. She had a sweet face wrinkled with laughter and old age. I immediately was reminded of my grandma.

"Um, I just need a book for English."

She nodded. "I've got just the thing. Rosanna!" her sweet voice rang, "In the back room, could you get this young man a copy of Treasure Island? I have a feeling he would enjoy that one." She turned her attention back to me, "Anything else dear?"

"You're... You're Auntie Tess?" I inquired.

The woman girlishly giggled with a nod, "That's me! Would you like to take a look around?"

I started to move, then paused, "Why aren't there any actual books?"

Auntie Tess let out another twinkling laugh, "I have them, but they're in the back. Besides, the stories I have are so much more riveting than any book I've ever read."

"What are they?"

"Just stories... You should particularly be interested in this one," she reached for a volume that read Toby Maguffin in silver letters on the cover.

Confused, I opened up the book. After opening the book, and skimming through the pages, I dropped the book in shock. The book literally contained my life, from my birth, to the time I learned how to ride my bike, and even the time I told my parents in the fifth grade that we had a week long vacation from school so I could go to DisneyLand.

Auntie Tess picked up the book again and gave it back to me, "Read some more, I find the most fascinating stories are our own."

Cautiously, I open the book to November 23rd, 2016. Today.

"Toby, wake up. The bell rang," the book read. Next to line, there was a small number one. The one led to a footnote at the bottom of the page which read, "Jade Green."

"Auntie Tess, what's this?"

She chuckled, "That's the girl who woke you up. If you look next to her name, you can see you're in quite prevalent through the months of August through November. Would you like to take a look?"

With that, Auntie Tess pulled out another black book. Written on the front in the same silver letters was the name Jade Green. I flipped the pages until I got to the first day of school in August.

"The first day of my new school, I chose a seat next to a really cute boy. He's got short blonde hair that reminds me of the sun and blue eyes that captures the sea." I blush and flip forward a couple pages, "The boy in front of me in English is such a good artist. I'm completely mesmerised by his talent. I want to talk to him but I don't know how. " I flip forward some more, "Toby is his name. I see him walking every day in school, but he never seems to notice me. If only he knew how I felt."

Immediately after, I slammed the book shut. I couldn't bear to read another word. Auntie Tess raised her eyebrows, "Everything ok, dear?"

I nodded, my mouth suddenly dry. I wanted to get out of there. "I'm just--just going to grab the book from Rosanna and go."

Auntie Tess smiled, much more sinister than the first, "Alright dear. Remember, you're welcome here any time!"

I nodded again, trying to ignore my perspiring hands. When I reach Rosanna's desk, I whisper softly as she gave me Treasure Island, "Did you know about the books?"

She looked at me quizzically, "What about them?"

"The whole life story thing. Did you know what was in them?"

She laughed rather off-putting, as though she had something to hide, "Toby, I don't know what you mean. They're just books."

"Well then," I said hesitantly, "I'll-uh see you around."

She waved cheerily, "Bye Toby!"

With that, I walked out of the library. And the books, with the stories they hold, haunt me still.