The Room

Isaac spent every day of his seventeen years in Southwest Florida. His parents never traveled outside of Florida. When Isaac was younger, he thought every state had palm trees, flat swampy areas, and alligators. When the temperatures dropped into the fifties, it was winter coat weather. He had heard about snow and even seen pictures of it on television and in the movies but had no idea what it felt like. Ice skating and skiing were bizarre sports he could barely comprehend. In true Florida tradition, his sports were baseball, football, swimming, and fishing.

Entering high school was an awkward time for Isaac. He was slight of build, which excluded him from most sports except track and cross-country. He hated running, so he joined the chess club and band. It didn’t take long for his classmates to lump him into the geek category. What saved Isaac from four years of misery was his love of books. Reading became his doorway to the world. He spent all of his spare time in the school library, perusing the shelves, searching for new and exciting adventures.

It didn’t take long before the school library became boring. The books seemed to tell the same stories and have predictable plots and endings. Subjects that piqued his curiosity, such as history, adventure, and famous people's lives, were in limited supply. Isaac wanted to travel the world when he got older, but before he could follow his dreams in person, he could learn about places and people through books.

The regional library was on a local bus route. At least three times a week, Isaac would board the bus and spend the afternoon at the library. The curators got used to seeing him there and would assist him with his searches. He was the type of teenager librarians wished they had more of. It appeared there was never enough time to absorb all the knowledge available to him. Authors like Mark Twain, George Orwell, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Jack London, and so many more were unavailable at the school library. What amazed him more than the variety of authors was the range of topics they wrote about. He read about slavery, dystopian societies, social injustices, and life on the road.

The things he discovered during his visits actually elevated his popularity at school. As various topics would occur during conversations or in class, Isaac could always add information that the other students were unaware of. Naturally, some of his classmates and a few of the teachers were not pleased about being corrected or outshined by the skinny kid. That was the downside of acquiring knowledge. Isaac didn’t care, he was enjoying his newfound fame.

One day, while wandering through the stacks at the regional library, Isaac came across a door he hadn’t seen before. He was sure it hadn’t been there the last time he was in this part of the building, but it was there now. Curiosity repelled caution, and he tried the doorknob. The door silently swung open on perfectly balanced hinges, revealing a room whose walls stretched to the horizon. Bookshelves filled the endless room.

“Breathtaking, isn’t it!”

Isaac jumped and let out a startled yell. He spun around and came face to face with an elderly man dressed in a nicely tailored suit. The man’s pleasant demeanor quickly displaced Isaac’s fears.

“Sorry, sir! I didn’t mean to yell, but you startled me. Yes, the room is very impressive. Do you know anything about it?”

“I do indeed, son. This room, along with others like it, connects every past, present, and future library on Earth. By stepping across this threshold, you will have access to every library that has ever existed or will exist. I must warn you, like everything in life, this opportunity comes with consequences. Once you enter the room, you can never return to your life here in Florida. The door is open for you now, but it will close soon. You must decide, now!”

Isaac thought about his family and friends and the life that awaited him if he stayed. He stared into the room. It seemed to call his name. His decision was required, now!