It Cost To Know

In a small town mysterious town named Afrodite Falls lived a 60 year old librarian named Faith that owns a bookstore. Faith and her fellow employee Gilbert worked there from sun up to sun down. Gilbert is half human and half frog. Nobody knows his age, not even himself.

One gloomy, rainy day Faith and Gilbert were at the bookstore organizing and relaxing waiting for customers to arrive. Gilbert looked out the window watching the rain pour down heavily against the window pane. He then turns to Faith and sighed. “Another slow day! When will we ever get busy again Ms. Faith?” Gilbert said as he frustratedly paces back and forth. “Is it always like this? Aren’t you concerned old lady?” Gilbert asked as he pouted and crossed his arms. Faith smirks and shakes her head at Gilbert as she rocked back and forth in her wooden rocking chair knitting. “No dear, no worries at all. I’ve been running this business for centuries probably longer than you’ve existed.” Faith answers with a little laugh behind it. “Business will surely pick up again” Faith assured Gilbert as he rolled his big frog eyes to the back of his head. Gilbert walked off to go finish up organizing the order of the books that were previously returned. Faith rises up out of her rocking chair a few minutes later and informed Gilbert she was about to go run some errands and check on her monster baby plants. While Faith was away Gilbert had time to snoop around the bookstore and enjoy his free time. Gilbert then stumbled across a extra door as he wandered around the bookstore. The door was slightly cracked open. Gilbert sat there for a second and contemplated for awhile because he wasn’t sure how soon Faith would be back. Gilbert said to himself “one little peek won’t hurt right?” As he opened the door he seen a long hallway that lead to another door. Gilbert was stuck between turning around and opening the next door to see what was behind it. He goes with his second thought of course and opened the next door. He then came across another door to open. “Are you kidding me?” Gilbert shouts as his voice echoed. He opens that door to and finally there are no more doors to open just a dark room with a little ray of light shinning on something. Gilbert approaches it and noticed it was a little black book. Gilbert bent down, picked up the book, and dusted it off. He stood there for a minute then he realized he needed to get out of there before Faith arrived. Gilbert ran to the front of the library trying to catch his breath and get his composure. “I wonder what this little black book is about and why was it hidden back there like that?” Gilbert though to himself out loud. “Who knows this town is full of mysteries, scary tales, and sometimes fairy tales to.” Answered a deep creepy voice out of no where. Gilbert froze up with his face covered in freight as he slowly turned around and seen a tall lanky man with a hunch back wearing a long black trench coat. The unknown man had fingers longer than a rats tail, he had a very strange ugly look about him and he wore glasses. Gilbert glanced at the unknown man with disgust. “I need that book. Who is the owner of the store?” The random man asked as he closed his raggedy umbrella. “I just work here under Ms. Faith and I literally just found this weird book. What’s so special about it and why do you need it?” Gilbert asked as he clutched the book tightly. “That book is worth $20,000 frog boy. You must not have heard? Anybody that’s smart enough knows to hide it with all the value it holds.” The unknown man explained as he approached Gilbert digging in his pocket to grab his money. Gilbert took some steps back clutching the book even harder. “No that book is not for sale!” Shouted Faith as she bursted into the bookstore unbuttoning her purple rain coat. “That book is worth $20,000 dollars and nobody in Afrodite Falls owns that type of money. My great great grandfather Jody Poe wrote that little black book and told me long ago to keep because it’s very valuable.” Faith stated as she walked up to the unknown man fearlessly and boldly asked “who are are you anyways? Where are you from?” As Faith squinted her eyes.

The unknown man then revealed himself and said “my name is Stewart McGerthy. I am from the other side of Witchitah Creek.” “Hmm, I know where that’s at. You’re from the uppity part where the rich witches and fancy fairies are. How did you hear about my little town and my family’s bookstore?” Faith asked as she folded her arms and began tapping her little foot on the bookstore’s wooden floors. “Well ma’am I’ve been searching high and low. Basically long story short, I’ve been on a 10 year journey looking all over for this book. My mother is a witch and she says this little black book could help out our family. For it has many spells and many other great things in it.” Stewart explained. “My mother is trying to get reversed back into a witch. My father’s mother didn’t like my mother so she casted a spell on her and she is now a 3 eyed frog.” Stewart continued to further explain. “Well I do need the money, this would help me a lot and would also help me pay Gilbert his weekly pension because business has been slow.” Faith said. “But I want to be a real boy!” Gilbert yelled as he interrupted the conversation. “Well if Ms. Faith lets me buy this book I can do that for you too before I head home and bless you guys with the money you all greatly deserve plus extra for helping me help my mother.” Stewart insisted. “Deal.” Faith said as she walked up and shook Stewart’s hand. “But also let the other side of town know about us so we can gain more potential customers. I have more valuable books around as well.” Faith said. Gilbert was extremely excited he was finally going to experience what it feels like to be completely human and not a ugly creature. Stewart made the transaction with Faith and blessed her with the $20,000 dollars plus an extra $10,000 to help her rebuild the bookstore just because. Stewart also reversed Gilbert into a real boy as promised. “Wow this is what it feels and look like to be a human! I love it! Thank you so much Mr. McGerthy!” Gilbert stated with excitement. “Well it was amazing to meet you both I had a long interesting journey and it has now come to an happy end thanks to you both.” Stewart said as he hugged them goodbye. “Farewell my good friend. Thank you for everything.” Faith said as she smiled and waved goodbye. Stewart waved and walked away as suddenly disappeared into thin air to teleport back to his Witchitah Creek.

“See I told you business would pick up Gilbert all you need is faith” Faith said as a big grin formed upon her little brown face. “I guess if it wasn’t for you being nosy today we would’ve never came across that $20,000 dollars and extra money.” Faith said. “You were right you’re always right, now let’s go home and get some rest.” Gilbert said as he put his arms around Faith’s shoulder.