Gideon’s Books for Blogophilia 24.5

this one’s for you Joanie

Gideon and Charles are friends and part of a group I call the Misfits, my current WIP.

The bell over the door tinkled as the soul collector and his friend, Charles, entered what appeared to be an old dark book shoppe. Actually, that’s what it was called, The Olde Book Shoppe. The bookcases on either side of the narrow entrance lent an air of claustrophobia but as the two men continued into the establishment they found it spacious and well lit. And the polished oak floors creaked. How charming. Gideon could never resist the smell of old books.

“I’m always afraid old books will crumble in my hands,” Charles remarked.

Apparently they were the only customers. A bell and a note sat on the front desk. Enter, relax, explore. Ring for service.

Gideon had not been called to a job site and since Phoebe was working, he asked his friend Charles to accompany him to a book store. Charles’ school was having a PD day so he didn’t have to teach and readily agreed.

They moseyed through the racks and found themselves in the vampire section.”Look Gid here’s a new Joleene Naylor novel, Ties of Blood.”

Gideon continued scanning the shelves. “Read it.”

Wandering to the music section Gideon found a recent book for flutes in garage bands. He plucked it off the case, thumbed through a few pages, smiled and tucked it under his arm. His buddies in the band might enjoy some of these tunes.

In the history section Gideon skimmed a few books and found inaccuracies in them all.  No surprise there. “Say, Charles here is one for you, a history on education in the south.” Charles drifted over, read the blurbs, but didn’t keep the book.

“Hey y’all over here, isn’t this you? Your nom de plume for the historical romances? Jenna Jaxon.”

“Yes that is me. If people only knew who wrote these things they might be shocked. This is my latest, Only Scandal will Do.”

In the astronomy section he found the latest book on Mars by his favourite author Marvin Martian. He added that to the collection under his arm.

Gideon heard his friend exclaim in surprise. “What did you find?”

“A book from the 50s. I think Beth might enjoy it.”

“Then get if for her.” And he tweaked Charles’ blonde pony tail.

“Stop being such a trouble maker.”

They both passed by the books about troubadours, knowing Victor already owned any decent book on the subject, in the original.

“Obviously, devil’s agents exist, you and Beth and Victor and Myrth. I wonder if daemons, witches and vampires do also.” The blonde man perused Discovery of Witches “It’s supposed to be a good book. Beth’s friend Sue really enjoyed it.”

“Well we know witches exist. Myrth (another member of group) is one and I used to work with a messenger daemon and Alicia was a vampire, but I have read that the author Deborah Harkness treats creatures very uniquely in her Discovery of Witches.”

Gideon stroked his chin, sometimes missing the beard he wore in 1900. Everyone in our group stands in the sun. No one has to stand a little way out of it.

“And there’s no bullshit within the group, Charles continued the thought, no secrets. Speaking of which have you ever attended bull riding in a rodeo?”

Gideon quirked an eyebrow. “No actually, but I have witnessed bull fighting in Spain.”

They arrived at a the cook books area. “Here Gid this one’s for you. How to avoid fires in the kitchen.” He received a glower for his suggestion.

In the poetry section Charles found a new edition of poems by Laurence Ferlinghetti and put it on top of the growing stack under his arm.

Finished with their browsing, they walked to the front counter. The sign had changed. It now said: Place money in basket. The prices were stamped on all the books so they knew how much to pay.

Both cells rang in unison. Gideon answered. “You are home? I will be right along see you soon my dear ”

Charles answered. “Hey Foxy Lady. Half an hour? I should be home by then. I’ve missed you.”

 

written for

Blogophilia week 24.5 – “Stand a little out of my sun…”

Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2pts):include troubadours and trouble-makers

(Easy, 1pt):incorporate a rodeo event