~o Falling Leaves o~
On her knees and scrubbing the floor, the raven haired Tanya found herself daydreaming of Edgar. There was something about that young man that appealed to her. But then, she had always lusted after anyone with authority over her. It was always just the way she had been. She was scrubbing the kitchen floor and working up quite the sweat. The kitchen was always tough work. It was still morning, nearly noon and all was quiet in the house. Master Edgar suddenly entered the room and looked around with a confused look on his face.
"What's that noise?"
"What noise master?"
"That noise," Edgar said, "don't you hear it? There is a most peculiar noise coming from somewhere in this house."
"I don't hear anything master," Tanya replied.
"Whatever it was," Edgar sighed, "it is gone now. This is a most peculiar house. Come to my study, I have a task for you."
With that, Master Edgar left the kitchen. Tanya set her rag inside the bucket of water and stood. She washed her face and hands at the sink and then followed. Master Edgar was already in his study looking over the books that lined the walls. He held one in particular in his hand. It was an old book, falling apart. If Master Edgar hadn't gripped the book so tightly, the pages would be falling from the binding. Tanya just stood in the door frame of the study quietly, regarding Master Edgar as he scanned the library. Finally, he noticed her presence.
"Good," he said, "there you are. In town, there is a bookshop on the boulevard. I want you take this book there to be repaired."
Master Edgar handed the old book to Tanya. She took it carefully, not wanting any of the pages to fall out. The book was a collection of old myths and legends from the far east. It had an ornate and fanciful cover design. It would have been a lovely book if it wasn't in such an awful state.
"Myths of Asia," Tanya read aloud.
"It was my favorite book as a boy," Edgar said, "I can't believe this library would have a copy. It's not a rare book but it is uncommon. I used to have such an imagination as a boy, but that quickly dried up."
"Why?"
"It was mostly my mother," Edgar explained, "she was a bitter woman. My father was a man who was weak morally. He would throw his money away on women that he lusted after. Ursula was one of those women. Her leaching is what helped to ruin my father, he had no nerve or backbone to collect all the debts that were owed to him. So my mother and I had to live in poverty. My entire life she indoctrinated me with the beliefs that women and pleasures were a disease of the flesh. I think she was always a fanatical misogynist. It's just that father's weaknesses were an opportunity for her to spew her hatred. Whatever her problems with father she took them out on me. I often read that book as an escape. An escape from either my father's drunken ramblings or mother's mad rants about the diseases of mankind. I grew up in a strange house, filled with both decadence and utter repression. Anyhow, mother did not like her son displaying an imagination. Imagination, as she often said, leads to wicked thoughts."
"Do you have any wicked thoughts master?"
"Sometimes," Edgar sighed, "but you better hurry to town. Remember, the bookshop is on the boulevard."
"I know it master," Tanya replied, "I will leave right away."
Master Edgar excused Tanya and she quickly left for town with the old book. She didn't bother changing. She wore her maid outfit with the short, fantail skirt that barely reached her upper thigh and the tight low cut bodice with it. Her ivory skin and scandalous body were well displayed to the polite society that leisured on the boulevard.
The boulevard was a long stretch of shops, ice cream parlors, white walk ways and flower beds. Tall trees that lined the walk ways gave it a leafy canopy that offered shade on hot summer days. Fountains and benches offered the towns people a place to gather and socialize. The old bookshop that Master Edgar had referred Tanya to was in fact, Specter's Books. It was in the heart of the boulevard as all the finest shops often were. The outside of the shop was pleasant enough, with a nice sign and an inviting front.
The inside of the bookshop was dark and dusty. Tanya sneezed from the dust just as soon as she entered. The owner of the shop must have heard her sneeze, for he appeared quickly after that. He was a tall and lanky man with a gaunt face and deep, sunken eyes. There was something morbid about his manner that frightened Tanya a little. This was Mr. Specter, owner and operator of Specter's Books and self proclaimed expert on rare books. His tall form dominated Tanya, causing her to shrink towards the door a little and closer to the sunlight coming in.
"What can I do for you little girl?" Mr. Specter asked. His voice was as deep and hollow as the eyes that stared down at Tanya. She stammered unable to reply. Her stammers were quickly silenced when Mr. Specter leaned down and peered at the book that she clutched to massive bosom. "Do you wish for that book to be repaired?"
"Yes," Tanya said, "it is for Master Edgar."
