John Gallagher

The White Book

One day Bill got home from his barista job and looked around his small apartment in frustration. “God, today was just the worst. In fact everyday is awful!” he screamed. “Every day I work myself to the bone just so I can barely scrape by. Then I endure a two hour trip through the shadiest part of the city just to get home to a dirty shithole. And! On top of that top, this whole goddamn building is two cracks away from being condemned! God damn it all!” Roaring with anger, he charged into the pile of clothes, books, food and paper in the middle of his living room. Venting his frustration, he grabbed whatever he could and threw them around randomly. In his mad dash he ended up power throwing a book against the wall. Focused on his task, he barely heard it slam. A sudden flash of light got his attention. Letting go of the pile, he stared at the book. It was laying open, emitting a bright column of green light from it's pages. Then the light faded and revealed a small figure. He was about two and a half feet high, with a mop of messy red hair spilling out from a small green cap. He had a red goatee and was smoking a pipe. He was wearing a green coat, green shorts, a white shirt, long white socks and pointed brown shoes. He stepped off the book and bowed. “Top of te morning to you, my name be Aesopaskin. May tis be a fine day for us all.”