The She Ghost

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 7

Inspired by true events

On her way, a little bit transparent
The reason for it - so apparent
She has been through a lot of stuff
It felt already quite enough

Something called her all the way
She couldn’t do much but obey
No manual for this existence
But at least she’d mastered distance

Unsure yet that it was real
Unsure how she would appeal
What would daddy even say?
A ghost she was just now, ok?

Something said “the park, the park
The solution’s there and a start!”
Drifting on her way alone
Few blinking lights already shone

Darkness fallen, life had disappeared
Sinking holes had randomly appeared
In the air transparent girl was floating
Amidst the odours so revolting

The new reality on her imposed
So much fear it would cause
Experience till now unknown
When gone were flesh and bone

She knew the weedman very well
Weed to kids he used to sell
Upgraded himself to hard drugs
The neighbourhood’s beloved thug

For some time a family friend
From whom sometimes they did defend
The house, the cars, the children, stuff
Mad, demanding man, so tough

He came for her at school one day
She knew that daddy was away
She was taken by the hand 
In exchange for chocolates, hair bands

These gifts they smelled so good
He kept them coming, plus some food
Would it be lethal in the end?
That she couldn't comprehend

An unexpected feast, vacation
Where sweets arrived without cessation
She liked it quite a lot
And wished that it would never stop

All whims considered with great care
Glad she didn’t have to share
Burgers, ice cream, strawberries and toys 
In exchange for making zero noise

Godfather's house familiar to her
Visiting she’d always would prefer
Important men in need of wits
Each house equipped with space for kids 

They sent them all to someone’s place
When they worked and needed space
Being a kid was such a dream
Proper fathers, they were deemed

Godfather was the designated sitter
He couldn't anyone embitter 
Alone, entrusted with all kids
When they’d be cutting someone’s bits

Or shoot someone, blow up their car
Kids should be away, quite far
Sometimes they brought along their wives
To clean the mess, to clean the knives

Distract the neighbours with some chat 
Or fake eyelashes they would bat
In case the job somehow’d go wrong
Pain was not to be prolonged

Nobody here was a bother
Daddy wasn’t missed nor mother
They never showed up these past days
Had they disappeared with no trace?

Without them peace and quiet 
Otherwise there was a constant riot
So many days of yelling, screaming
Dad hoped in vain for his redeeming

He loved mum plenty and it hurt him
For days he’d feel immensely dirty
Those he talked to weren't nice
And there always was a price

Angry afterwards, resentful
Of course it was their fault - so painful
To terminate their lives - it was unfair
It was an ugly and impossible affair

He would be depressed for days
Emotional, for him so difficult to face
Reality when being sensitive, fragile
He learned to paint, it took a while

Working hard for daily bread
and also other people to be led
in his business to participate
Bad resources meant ill fate

Mistakes were unaffordable indeed
His own advice he had to heed
Planning diligently everything ahead
He did not want to end up dead

So calculations very strict
Whom to drop, with whom to stick
Not everyone could handle heat
They had to be a good athlete

Last time here for a week
When dad to someone had to speak
It took much longer than they thought
The uncle in the end was shot

She wondered what had taken place
Mom had to always dad embrace
Crying on the floor after the killing
These friends of his were never willing

To do his bidding, to cooperate
The inevitable ultimately their fate!
Big man, so strong and mighty
Nobody could ever dare fight him

Mom would sometimes say “Old soul”
Who was pushed into a hole
While cursing their life of thugs
Making him get off the rug

Then proceed to making dinner
Mom said “dad is not a sinner”
He was sorry for his actions
Donated to the church a fraction

Now focus on the screen she did
Under the quilt she also hid
Plunging in the heap of sweets
So bloated from those weird eats 

Smelly mouth and bloodshot eyes
Pjs food-stained, larger size
Mom would never have allowed
Dad would neither have been proud

She didn't have to do the chores
Nor was she ever getting bored
Though to mom he was bizarre
Godfather, truly, was a star!

Days went by - just pure bliss
Please don’t let it ever cease! 
Food arrived on a huge tray
To her whims he did obey

As he brought more candy, soda
The type that mommy loathed
But his finger to his lips he kept
And asked her to pretend she slept

The remote bedroom it was hers
Happy times when the key turned
Raised voices could be nearby sometimes
But she ignored it, it was fine

Recently there’s been a talk about
Daddy’d done it, gone all out
But the community had disapproved
Despite the threats dad was unmoved

The mayor mentioned a few times
who wanted payoff - or just fines
Often these things could be heard
What it meant - each single word? 

Serving fresh food to the pigs?
Or wrapping dollies in some twigs? 
Popping someone on the street
Rotting somewhere in the heat?

Conversations audible at home
Else they were the epitome
Of purity and truth, so law abiding
Except from when they did some tidying

No it wasn't daddy’s fault 
Just fate - that's what was called
She was told not to believe
Soon they might as well just leave 

A bad girl she would never be
But things happened and they did
Daddy's princess was exempt 
Others’ job - his wrath to tempt

Daddy made sure she was safe
Putting others in a danger, grave
A path for her already paved
No need for her to study, slave

Suddenly the door just opened wide
From Johnny - nowhere to hide
Like a mountain over her he stood
He pushed away the sweets, the food

He grabbed her “Aw, it hurts”
Dragged her off the bed, and worse
He grunted “Shut up”, slapped her too
“Listen here, I am no fool!”

Down the stairs to the door.
He screamed “I’ll hit you more!”
This violence she couldn’t comprehend
She thought he was a friend 

“As we go out, do what I say!
No crying, and pretend you are ok”
The heavy door slammed shut behind them
“Let go of me” - she couldn’t fight him

“We're going for a ride, so nice!
A ride Godfather has advised”
Without a jacket, shoes untied
She did her very best to try

To talk to him, and ask him, plea
The arguments were obviously not the key
Getting angry, scarier, much more
Face reddening, contorting, like a boar 

Curses, threats and ugly words
Rained down on her, it almost hurt 
She started crying in her turn
Godfather wasn’t here she learned.

His son just threw her in the car 
Tires screeching on the tar
“Dad” he said “he wouldn't care!
You’re nonexistent and nowhere!”

The beach he wanted quite a lot
So many for it he had shot
Not daddy’s daughter - that was new!
Was that really, really true?

Mommy cheated long ago
Daddy raised her as his own
“What does this mean” - she thought
Explanation somehow sought. 

Of birds and bees so unaware
Way too young for this to care
Bundled in the backseat of this car
“Are we going very far?”

Thrown from one side to the other
Wondering who was her father
On a bridge they stopped abruptly
“Daddy is a bastard so corrupted”

Quiet place, a view so pretty
Somewhere outside of the city
Dragged her out the car and then
He threw her off the bridge and he ran

Plunging down in the unknown
She had never ever flown
A thump, unfelt, she knew she would
She woke up in a pool of blood

No pain, just silence, only peace
Embraced by warm and friendly breeze
What did he do, she tried to shout
A whisper, silent scream came out

On the bridge next to the car
She found herself - “Oh, here we are!”
No effort whatsoever was involved
“Johnny, where are you?” she called

The schmuck nowhere to be found
Empty cars and still no sound
From the bridge she took a peek
Her nonexistent knees felt weak

How do you describe this height?
Huge red blob down there - sigh
Abandoning a part of her
Many strange emotions stirred

The thought of home just took her there
She would have told them to beware
Of Johnny and Godfather, all of them
The hate, betrayal from them stems

Past the mirror in the hall she flew
Oh, no, her life already through!
Transparent, walking through the wall
He sole possession was her soul

The universal truths so clear now
She was 8 no more somehow
With memories her mind was being flooded
To put a stop to it she couldn’t 

Capabilities unheard she now possessed
Though no-one here to inform, impress
The knowledge overwhelming - way too much
She never ever thought of such

Revelations, magic, voices, worlds
Within her reach, a part of her
A feeling strange, and so unheard
But then another thing occurred: 

Revengeful thoughts were coiling
Into her nonexistent mind were boiling
Daddy would be devastated, mad
Mom so absolutely broken, sad

Although she might enjoy time off
Of kids, cause motherhood was tough
She had to do her best to cry
and throw her hands into the sky

Daddy! Mom! They were gone too
The dog, to whom the world was cruel
The cat, the neighbours, the whole world
Like they too in an abyss were hurled

Suddenly she heard somebody calling
“We are waiting for you, dolly!” 
It took a second to get there
A bunch of strangers at her stared

The only people left around
In this disaster, broken ground
They were the chosen, didn’t disappear
They felt immediately very dear

Transparent next to them she stood
A bunch of outsiders, brotherhood?
A knack of hers was knowing things
As well as almost having wings

Each looked at her and said hallo
One had never seen a ghost
Pale, and shaky, backing out
He wondered what this was about

Branches of the bush poked through her being
Otto felt much more like fleeing
“I lost my body” she confessed
Pointed to the knowledge she possessed

“We are all here!” Albert said 
“Let's go” - he said and went ahead 
In his hand a piece of paper
A lot of work for us is waiting 

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Clair the Au-pair

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 6

Inspired by true events

Home alone was also to be found

Otherwise chore-bound

Dark-haired skinny Clair 

Current occupation - an au-pair. 

Devoted to the kitchen, cleaning

The things she did now had no meaning

Contemporary cinderella tired

Vacation needed badly, she wouldn`t risk being fired 

Complaining was out of the question

Reduce the number of facial expressions

To those of happiness, content

Or back to her home country she would be sent!

The host-family was somehow all composed

Of people so emotionally indisposed, 

One day she did things right

The next - it was a cause for fight

A roller-coaster ride - six more months to go

Time passed slowly - but the goal was getting close

Unnerving and exhausting

Dealing with kids in adult costumes

In addition to the real kids

Around them anyone would loose their wits

So she was there saving lives

Appointed as a “second wife”

Her place of origin was scary, dreadful!

The cause of people being disrespectful 

Pecking order - she was at the bottom

Freedom was expected in the autumn

A granny on the street once was very sweet

Nobody nice out there otherwise to meet

The accent was a cause for so much pain

It scared people off and brought about disdain

Anyways this lady was a little strange

A meeting brief the universe arranged

“The world will one day be at your feet

Now it`s just the way it is, bear with it”

To the locals she was means to an end

They were too impossible to befriend

Her cooking was so popular indeed

Preferably if it was for free 

A verbal “thank you” she would get

The money and the time she spent - she could forget

Getting used to hate was taking a huge toll

No tutorial on how to handle it though

All she knew she had a goal

Invincibility against the trolls!

The host family was well respected too

It meant in no way life in it was any cool

Cooking, cleaning, scrubbing floors on weekends too

Exchange of what? “Just stay strong! It will end soon!”

Time for real work it was

The argument that killed all hopes

Pointing out the non-existent language skills

It gave her every time the chills!

Communication was a pain

“You are not able to explain!”

During the spare time she studied

“Spend it with our angels here, you heard it!”

Huge house, kids, a lazy husband

No wonder host mum was quite flustered

It was forgiven to forget the children`s names

The job was so consuming, The argument is lame!

Clair, or Clarissa, she was called

A Clair was more Western, she was told 

Increased the chances of inclusion

All her efforts resulted in seclusion

No chance for privacy - confusion

Cause there were all the times intrusions

No key - imagine living there as a stranger

“Take part in the collective grooming!” Strange nature!

Intimacy levels too high to be required

According to the contract nothing of the sort to be desired

“A family member you are now” was the excuse

“Especially the weekend, when we choose

But not all the time now, no way!

Our marriage would not stay

Exactly stable if you were around

So mind your business this time round!”

A home-wrecker she was not!

Non-verbally she felt accused a lot

Whatever action she would undertake

She had to think about it in advance, avoid mistake

Host father unattractive, overweight and pale

They probably got married when drunk on many ales

First cousins from a village small

That came to larger town to have it all

Clair wouldn't steal her cousin, no

She`d rather avoid meeting them all

Whenever she was done and finished

Host mum`s fears she wanted to extinguish

One day she would be independent

Traveling, with proper job, with experiences transcendent

She would have a man, attractive, love of her own

Asking for permission, bowing down - these times they would be long gone!

Reality so distant, not yet real

So different from the current feel

Dust, debris, screeching, drilling

State of the affairs so unappealing

The bathroom in the house was being renovated

The old one - three years back - so outdated!

Renovation - true obsession

The carpenter - a God, the most revered profession!

He came over a few times

Long sick leaves in this profession too applied

Luckily there was running water during this ordeal

Which was crucial to her own appeal

It took three times longer than originally planned

When would it be done? She could not stand it!

People from her country - they were deemed dirty

There was not bathroom now, but it was worth it.  

The contract never either said “extreme conditions”

Nothing here would help - complaining or petitions

Switching off the water, electricity it happened often

In her country of origin, by which the current blow was softened.

At home this was a drill so regular and normal

Here she never did complain or did anything formal

This is happening in a developed country… so strange!

Especially for her it was arranged 

Taking a shower was her problem sole

Despite the challenges, she managed after all

The matter would never be addressed

No matter how pissed she was, or stressed

Whatever it was happening between four walls

Nobody would bother pay attention to it, no

The family`s twisted choices and behaviour

Sometimes she felt she needed saviour 

Huge mess to clean up every day

While everyone else was away

They still complained upon arrival

These days she felt so suicidal

Right after cleaning kids made a mess

Host mum never seemed impressed

With belittling she was obsessed

And acted like she was possessed

The most liberated country was a prison

Being at the mercy of those deprived of reason

The whims of sick people they decided

The reality was only theirs, all one-sided

The fellow au-pairs they would share their woes

They were regarded as some common hoes

“Stoop to conquer” people once had said

One day the world would be theirs to be had

A new member of the group had joined last night

She managed to sneak out of the house without a fight

Everyone was busy doing something and her chores were done

Although another day went by without seeing the sun

The weirdest stories they were shared 

There were some real weirdos out there

The new au-pair took care of a handicapped child

The story round it was so wild!

The parents had a cunning plan

A kid from a poor country they would adopt and then 

As an eternal caretaker she would be raised

Their problem would be solved, may the Lord be praised!

But mind your business! do not talk!

Forget as soon as possible, and do not poke!

For more details, or anything related to it

The right thing here is not worth it, do not do it!

The stories they were similar, at least the most

Consideration - lacking from the host

They could be left without food alone for weeks 

The hosts were saving, but not from the boutiques 

The au-pairs bought food themselves

But it was often gone for good, what the hell!

No payment back and no excuse

You learn to hide your stuff, if at first obtuse

These stories never made the news

Because nobody would choose

To put themselves in danger and more abuse

Risking their job to lose or getting a bruise

No anger, no revenge, one should be careful

Of what they say, or do, above all be grateful!

Courage, thick skin were required

Of host mum`s jealous glowering she was so tired!

Grumpiness and criticising felt right, rewarding

Instead make sure these people you`d be courting

Home was worse - financial and emotional abuse

She was used to it, impossible to choose

Abuse without the payment, that would be a waste

She was sold in such a haste

And sent off with the following instruction: 

“Make sure you don't fail or fall prey to seduction!”

Endurance was something in her blood

She trained for this since birth and she was good

At coping with any shit that life would dish out

The best things she managed to fish out

Playing your cards well - you will survive

No matter what it takes, it doesn't matter if you never thrive

A golden opportunity indeed

It doesn't matter if you go against your creed

Reminding herself every day

The goals, the shit, the miserable ways

Administering every minute self peptalk so motivating 

Endurance, make sure failure evading!

It was not so bad, compared to others

There were so much worse, and dreadful mothers

“Are you anorexic?” host mum nagging

Being thin - a problem, Clair was afraid of sacking

“But food is so expensive”

Host mum would get defensive

This sentence was exceptionally taxing!

Knowing that you were a burden it was not relaxing!

It stuck in her mind - the trip to the store

Of repeating host mum`s mouth was sore

Obviously here too eating was a shame

They did not buy anything that day

She wondered how to manage without eating

Or sneak in the kitchen, take something without heating

A tiny bite, it won`t be noticed

It was required a great deal of focus

There was this other weird lady

Who tried to bribe her au-pair with some french pastry

Working on a Sunday was not allowed 

Cluelessness could be exploited very well, no doubt

If it was a month`s supply of these she would agree

Indeed the pastry it was good, but it was a tiny bit

Which would never justify 

Five hours of work, she had no right!

Out of the question - saying no

Glowering, and threats, and fits, the package whole

Obeying was the key and so

You had to choose what`s best for you, and though

Dignity was left behind for good

Respect - only when they were in mood

Outside they were exemplary and great

They were loved and well-paid

The hours of the day were slowly trudging by

She would in the wee hours often cry

Remark unpleasant about the youngest kid

Sick for days, they were not worried, not a bit!

They wouldn't take her to the doctor, no way

On the sofa writhing in pain for days

It was expensive the whole affair

She would sleep it off, how do you dare?

It wasn't something to discuss

You were not supposed to make a fuss!

About the fact that the thirteen-year-old

Was not capable of writing, not at all!

It was not her business, it was theirs

Despite this fact they didn't care

The library - safe heaven, quiet, she enjoyed a lot

When dismissal from the family membership she got

The scrawny-looking guy sometimes engaged in conversation

The only local who never seemed impatient

Who wasn't there for her cooking 

Nor did he for other ways of exploitation looking

If she had come here to get married

Of things the locals were so curious or scared 

They asked so often, she was sick and tired

A poster maybe - good idea, answering the questions everyone desired

Meeting a new person was a whole exam

So many questions in a tiny frame, they would be rammed!

The reason why - she never understood

But they wouldn't be ashamed to ask for free food

Learning was impossible in the huge house

She strived to be a tiny, silent mouse

But now for some reason they all were gone

Information of their plans they would never pass on

The grocery store was not so far away

They needed milk and it could not wait

Dilligence and duty, they came first

There were otherwise some outbursts

The rooms were checked on all floors

There was nobody indoors

Food spread on the counters, all lights on

Doors open, objects on the floor, their owners gone

Were they out, the car was here

The yard was also empty, they had all disappeared

Strange vibration went through her body

Feelings of freedom slowly loading

She took her bike and locked the door

Two days of freedom from this home war

She left towards the city

To the island where the views were pretty

The wind that played with her hair

There was no-one around, she wasn't that aware

She hurried to the park on top of the hill

She would feed the ducks and probably just chill

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Otto the Exchange Student

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 5

Inspired by true events

Otto was a student on exchange

With a sleeping pattern totally deranged

He had slept through all these past events

He was soon to comprehend

The past hours had flown by

In the first moment he had wondered why

The past months they seemed like a race

Who would study more and party, and sleep less

He was not sure where he was in all of that

A lot of energy he had, despite the lack of sleep, in fact

A chance unique he had no doubt

To be away from parents, relatives, the stifling crowd

The studies, they were also cool

It was indeed a bit cruel

When he announced that he would pursue that

Mother was about to get a heart attack

Partying was now important too

He met so many people, cool

Genuinely friendly, interested

Though he tried not to be so terribly invested

The girls were many, countless

All he could be was dauntless

He was taking his sweet time, though tempted

By the local cuisine at his disposal rendered

He would carefully choose, make up his mind

A bachelor he would be for a while

No need to hurry, not at all

Now we`re here to have fun and we would know!

Attending every party that he could

It was the time, he felt he should

Good boy, he didn't want to be

It was time to be invincible and free!

Shagging every girl was here the goal

As many as he could, although

He was clueless as to where to start from

It was time to gain experience in this department

A pocket full of condoms, he was ready

The boys were adding to their numbers, which left his confidence a little shredded

Efforts didn`t much pay off

It happened once or twice, quite off the cuff

All he did felt so automatic

But was it right? He wanted depth, but sometimes it was problematic

Something new to brag about was needed

When he met the boys next time around, he would be so impeded

They definitely outdid him quite a lot

They got laid more often than not

He knew he soon deserved a shot

“It`s been a while”, he thought

Last night it was a about to happen, he had hoped

There was a chance to close the deal, but it flopped

The charms were switched on, but to no avail

She turned around, he had failed

Maybe he was coming on too strong

He forced, and it felt a little wrong

Unattractive, yes, it was the explanation

So not to dampen the initial elation

The awkwardness didn't dissipate at once

A drink or two would help it, maybe dance?

He did converse with random people, tried

He did his best to join the fun, no doubt

The booze he brought was way too strong

The idea was to share it, but he did - alone

There would be repercussions to endure

Of this fact he was more than sure

He did not mind additional experience

Nor did he bother much about his own appearance

A bunch of strangers equally drunk, well, some were stoned

That last part, he just wanted to postpone

So he stuck only to his own booze

Not that there was much else from which to choose

A need for something in it to infuse

The shops were closed too, no use

The custom here it was so

Whatever you brought, you drank it alone

Despite the fact it needed sharing so

Nobody would offer, even if you asked politely though

Hospitality was so non-existent - strange!

He learnt the hard way, he swore there would be no revenge!

You were supposed to show up at their door with food

And feed them well, in case they visited, you should!

He didn't do this often though

Last night`s party by the locals thrown

Hence he ended up like that

He usually shared his booze, without regret

A habit that he brought from home

From now on he would heed advice, it should be known!

You are to learn new things when on exchange

Despite the toll it took on your health and it was strange

At any other party it was fine

Last night it was so strange, maybe it was a sign

The locals were unfriendly, weird, were they teasing?

He wasn`t there to get married to a visa!

He tried to slow down, a sip or two

Boredom took over, so uncool

Huge bottle, he gave away some shots

To some other dudes excluded from the lot

In the end he knocked himself out completely

It went so quickly

How he got back to his place

Intrinsic software brought him home, was not erased!

Struggling with inserting key into the lock

That`s when he got a little sober, and slightly shocked

Of the chance of sleeping in the cold hallway

Could he manage it? Well, maybe some other day

A fellow neighbour opened the heavy door

It was the usual chore

It didn't matter if they knew you

Just knocking got you through it

She was going out, sweet perfume - a cloud

There was someone else, wrapping up their night out

Then they sat there, talked and drank some more

By 9 am he was in bed, he should have done that long before

Waking up from a sound of cracking

An earthquake maybe, should he start packing?

Bloodshot eyes as if he had cried for days

No one here to notice anyways

He seemed to have missed a few classes

They weren't so important, he was sure he`d pass it

A hole day of studying was gone

No problem of catching up alone

It was dark, 7 or 8 pm, he put some pants on

Time for dinner came, it seemed something in the kitchen had been going on

He went around the hallway, knocked on doors

Nobody answered these, of course

In his head so many horses running

He would water down some yoghurt, nip it in the bud this headache cunning

The pc and the phone - attempt to be switched on

Nothing came up and he felt abandoned, all alone

Silence for a noisy dorm so uncharacteristic

The neighbour downstairs used to always be artistic

There was singing, screaming at all times of day

The rules unnecessary to obey

The walls were thin as paper, you could hear them talking

You could hear them whisper, make love, walking

He was a bit self-conscious 

And sometimes he was cautious

As he didn't want them to get a bad impression

Especially during his bathroom session

Also when memorising the curriculum before exams

He would hate for anyone to find out about his “hidden arms“

Why do we need thick walls in dorms?

An architect`s decision! Why would it be even warm?

Quarrels, sickness - things like that were guaranteed

But then the students had to pay the price and all the fees

The sole point of living there

Being of your neighbours all the time aware

Endure sleepless nights, unbearable noise

Fail your exams, what was your choice?

It kept the students busy with such petty stuff

They couldn`t lift their gaze off of the above

But student problems they were solved

Staff were hired to be in these involved

Studying had never even seemed to be considered

Noise was present all the time unhindered

He had gone downstairs complaining

Of the annoying girl a few times when this guitar was playing

At all times of night and day

He didn't mind that though it sounded false as hell

He was noisy himself too

He had to admit the crime true

But the night before exam he had to say

Sleep was needed quite a lot, ok!

She didn't bother, never mind

But when he met her she was always kind

She always said “no problem! Sure!”

Poor boyfriend had this clamour to endure

Though she was cute, maybe in some other aspects she delivered…

Probably he would expect death as a result of fever

Anyways where was she now? Silence piercing through walls

“Had all of them evaporated? Where did they go?”

A bowl on the kitchen table half-way eaten

A steak on the counter lying lonely, beaten

Something also roasting in the oven, oh, it smelled so good

Probably the neighbour, who was an exceptionally good cook

Who pursued a degree in Sociology

A waste - the Universe required an apology

He switched the oven off

The heat hit his face, he had to cough

Bubbles of the juice it was bathing in

It wasn't done, but nobody around to watch the thing

He left it off, so let them later be complaining

As fire wasn't necessary, though he feared a little blaming

There was rosemary, and garlic, and some other spices

It would be so tasty, “what a vice!”

Though vegetarian, he made those mental notes and observations

When meat was cooking nearby. He gave it up because it was outrageous

It maybe scared off the girls at every party

He ended up explaining himself, regarded as a martyr

He tried to chase the thought away

And left the kitchen in the same state

Went to check again the rooms around, 

Some doors were open, but there was no life, no sound

Some of them were empty, while others locked

A scary thought he tried to block

Was there any information of this given in the dorms

Was everyone evacuated from their homes?

No leaflet or announcement he could find

Neither on the floor or downstairs in the hall, of any kind

No recollection that would surface in his mind

Was he also to leave here, was this a sign?

“The balcony - I didn't check there”

Two weeks ago - a kitchen meeting, sounded fair

They had agreed to clean it up so they would use it

Drink beer, party, air laundry, you choose it

Lift a finger - nobody did

On the day in question, the kitchenmates they hid 

Alone he could not do a lot

Numerous excuses - too warm, too hot

Take advantage - what it means to share a kitchen

With a bunch of strangers irresponsible, ready to ditch him

Though it was meant for the collective good, welfare

It would have been an example, fair

He was a friendly laid back dude

He never wanted to be rude

Nagging never made a difference

It would only burn the bridges, and bring more indifference

He cleaned his cupboard, and the surfaces he used

In this health hazard of a kitchen, sometimes he had to be excused

He changed a few during the past year

Nothing better to encounter, only what he feared

He could not afford a whole apartment

It was close to uni, it was cheap, it was the standard

It was too much to father random people and it never worked

So he focused on his studies, though health problems lurked

Focus on the bright side, this is a chance unique!

Of all the people he was picked

Dream studies now in his lap

Around nobody`s finger he would be wrapped! 

Though people he encountered here

They had never seen a vacuum cleaner

They were so spoiled, he felt sorry for their mothers

Incapable of living among others

A recent fire in the kitchen 

Though he felt so tempted to pitch in

He chose to mind his business in his room

Smoke was sneaking through the cracks, strange fumes

A pure miracle - no lives were lost

Learning how to function on their own, they were forced

To survive alone through trial and error

They should have brought along the au-pair!

In the city he would look for lodgings 

Diseases all the time he was here dodging

Despite the fact that this crippled life a little

His attitude remained positive towards most people

Shapes standing on the street adjacent to the park

He went down the stairs, the elevators stuck

Three floors down, it did not take long time

There was something there, oh, “a pretty weird light”

Bicycles were spread around

Books and bags, on the ground were found

From behind the bushes he was peeping

In the darkness, pieces of light were seeping

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Narie the Fallen Fairy

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 4

Inspired by true events

Walking up the road in the dark

They were passing by the big park

Situated in the core of the dead city

It used to be so full of life, it was a pity!

Suddenly a strange noise occurred

They stood and watched, a great commotion stirred

In the dark silence something taking place

Giving birth to something out of space

A cloud of light and sparkly haze

It was mysterious in any case

Fear, curiosity inspired

Random objects in the air also being fired

Away, they hit the trees around

And fell down useless on the ground 

The sounds - unearthly, causing a headache

As if out of ashes life was trying to awake 

Maybe they should run away

Their feet refused this to obey

Its intentions were invoking fear

But it only managed to interfere

With the tanglements of Eva’s hair

Of which she wasn't very much aware

It was angry, yes, it was

To show its anger, wrath, it chose

It seemed to it that everything was so unfair

To move nobody even dared

The cloud of light had numerous objections

It felt contagious, almost so infectious

Strange shape out of thin air emerging

Someone was of something purging

“Show yourself!” said Eva with impatience

During this perpetual rotation

To it, whatever it was called, the stuff

It started quite a lot to cough

A smoker’s cough, it sounded so

It fought for breath, or did it have a cold?

Patting on the back it could have helped

No going near it, though they felt compelled

Completely understandable considering the screaming

The angry words of “wisdom”, obvious resentment teeming

Instead they sat down on the nearest bench

It used to be so beautiful but now there was that stench

The city’s guts were spilling out onto the streets

They had to watch their steps indeed

The sea could once be seen from here

Now everything was shredded, it appeared

The light emitted noise much louder

Behaviour familiar, how did it find them?

Eva looked at it with some anticipation

A plan for action was devised before this insolent invasion

Whatever it was, its time was taking

Was the anger meant for them? They weren't shaking!

Not yet, at least, they’ve seen it all before

The anger, the resentment - it was not their fault

“Why are we still here?” a question muffled by the sounds

The chilly and nocturnal lace had settled down

Lights flickering in buildings that were still intact

Reflections in the wet tarmac

Broken, sinking here and there

Nobody to call, they were aware

She said “let’s stay and see what this is all about

Something new from this might come out

That would help us solve the riddle

We could wait, well just a little”

“Where are we headed anyways?

I hope we won’t be chased!”

“Now we are waiting here for a while!”

No complaints now could be filed

A bundle popped out of the cloud of light

It jumped up and down - a strange sight

Unfolding in a way they never would have thought

It maybe needed help, it should be caught

Sparks and pieces of dark and light matter

Or what was it? The ground shattered

They felt the tiny mild earthquakes

When would it stop, for God’s sake!?

Which God, Albert was confused, unsure

Eva maybe knew, a thought so premature

He didn't dare say the word

What he feared it would not be heard

For help at some point all the parts in chorus asked

Danger would involve embarking on this task

A glowing blob of light and matter

So many pieces of itself around it scattered

As it was about to bump into a stop sign

It stopped abruptly, screamed “I’m fine! I’m fine!”

A woman sat exhausted in the middle of the road

She sighed and laid down though it was cold

 Legs were lifted with some effort a few times 

As she tried to get up, roll to the side

Eventually she sat up and looked around

”Where is my crown?”

Which appeared on her head with popping sound

An extra body part, without which she could not move around

A final touch that with her total looks was clashing

Getting up - more sparks and flashes

Grunting, panting, how to get up from the ground? 

On her knees, she was at some point crawling around

She held on to the stop sign tightly

The urge to help, they never felt it, even slightly

She was determined, not going to resign

She stopped to take a breath, repeated she was fine

In the middle of the process

Which required various embarrassing poses

Standing - finally! Hand on her back and panting

As if she’d run a few miles, preventing her from ranting

The sight was so cringeworthy, it was painful

The level of this entertainment - quite so shameful!

The haze around her didn't dissipate

Huge lantern casting so much light around, no shade

Blinding like the sun on a bright day

Made them squint and shield their eyes and look away

An aura full of colours, wonderful amazing spree

Was there UV-light in there, creeping in?

Keen interest in them it had also taken

Discernible, a finger at them being shaken

“What are you doing here, both of you!!”

Snapping at them, it was needed too

She waved a hand, to add more drama

To the already overwhelming panorama

“You lad! Just shame on you!

You lost the only thing that in this Universe was true!

How dare you ban all the gods away?

Nobody to rule the world, it`s such a shame!

They are gone to a place of torture

A place so scary, that is full of vultures

Their enemies prepared for revenge

They might be being suffocated by a terrible stench

They might be drowning, stuck in shackles

They might be hit by thousand knuckles!

They might be turned into unholy pigs?

They might be even getting sick!”

She sighed, one more inhale

So many things to make you pale

Impressive was the way she cared

“Who are you again?” our Albert dared 

“There could be anything, we should be fair

…or partying somewhere without a single care”

He added to the list

Unnecessary drama made him pissed!

“Doom and gloom`s my thing I have been told”

Admitting to herself and to her current audience so bold

It was the right thing to be gloomy,

There maybe was a reason too “it feels like that to me!”

She came a little closer, looked at them

Assumed a friendly tone - “Narie is the name”

Short-lived of course

And surely with no remorse

“Judgmental” also was a name of hers

After all they did deserve the blame and curse

Reprimanding was a healthy thing

For both the source and the recipient

It was the father of exemplary behaviour

The mother of endeavour, the sole saviour

Of the wicked, those who misbehaved

Unless she deemed they could not be saved

She felt in charge, important, big

Appearance and volume - meant to make them sick

And she relied on that, it was a force

It was oozing from her pores

She was there when things needed correction

To point a finger at it and improve it to perfection

Correcting the mischief in sight

It was so worth it, such delight!

She herself, she didn’t have to lift a finger

Just raise your voice and let it linger

Which found its way to the victim`s ears

Reawaken the deeply ingrained fears

The sight of her, she hoped that it was scary

Despite the fact that her current occupation was a fairy

She did inspire awe, respect

She made sure everyone it did affect

Her presence, her now masculine stature

Sweets they made her look so immature

Caught between two worlds, it was her fate

Which also made her overweight

It did indeed, there was nothing she could do

The reason she was so mad about, no way to soothe

To have to find the God that once had promised

To keep her lean, sophisticated, sexy, they would pay her homage

A bother that was currently enormous

Entailed a pressing urge for sweets, bad for her performance

A crutch was needed too

And even help to get herself all the way to the loo

It was something she`d forgotten

Now she had a body, and it was rotten

Unfortunately these were the repercussions

If the Gods were here, there`d be no discussions

Instead all this was back

What could be done is find the one behind this ugly hack

The things were not supposed to be this way

To the thrills of being human to obey 

Once she was slim - just a few hours ago

What had happened, probably she´d never know

The deal she had with the Gods in question

It took away her indigestion

Helplessness was real 

When they didn't do their part of the deal

A mighty beautiful creature in past tense

The grief was too immense

The greasy skin, the pimples

Were all back, gone were the cute dimples

The short fringe, dirty blond hair

Surrounded her round face, with warts and hairs

The pain was back, it was hard to walk

She used to be someone who would be stalked 

Priding herself on this, she knew, it wasn't fair

To all the women who suffered out there

A shadow of an image so exemplary

The ultimate woman through the centuries

The deities would fall for her

Feuds would be incited all because of her

The old self she used to so much to hate

It was forgotten, so was her fate

There hundreds thousands years of good looks

About her they wrote books

Now it was all revealed, it was gone

She was what she feared, and they had won

Guarantees provided once for her

That nothing of this sort would have occurred

No way for this to be prepared

She never thought about it, never dared

Although she knew that some time it would happen

She thought she had a weapon

The deal was broken, despite the sacrifices she had offered

Expensive and impossible - she had sold her own daughter

She had no idea whether she could manage once again

She was mad, now everything was just in vain

She was so ready for revenge

As she could not live with this change

These two were here at fault

They brought her whole existence to a halt 

The faceless and the son of that old cow

Who was originally very well-endowed

Why would she have it in the end?

He never knew his mother, her old friend!

She had chosen on the earth to stay

She was in love, she chose to obey

A man who left her all alone

Who wouldn't even bother to call

Why did Albert end up as the Gatekeeper

Was it more reliable and cheaper?

To pick a human, offering predictability

The Gods they had no such abilities

They never did a thing all day

All they did was make everyone else pay

For one thing or another, so unfair! Narie thought

But was it worth the shot?

Would they do what was required?

Was there anyone else to hire? 

Suddenly there came a sound 

From behind the bushes that were round

The special ones that needed so much care

The janitor would run after the kids and scream at them “Beware!”

There was a dude with some dishevelled hair

Yawning did the silence tear

An open posture, friendly smile

They hadn't seen a human for a while

With strong accent came “Hallo”

The three craned and one of them said “oh”

And put a hand on his stiff neck

Who`s this guy? What the heck?

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Albert the Librarian and Eva

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 3

Inspired by true events

In the dark he stood there frozen

He was the one, he was the chosen

Whatever happened now he would defend himself

Another matter was more interesting, that he could tell

What was wrong with her - difficult to say

Century old chills they made their way

Through his heart, and belly, where they would stay

A tightly wired machine ready to explode away 

Looking at the shape in front of him

Mutually exclusive feelings brewing in

Discerning was in vain

He knew he didn't want to be in pain

The matter soon was dropped dead

He focused on the silhouette ahead

“Hallo! I’m Eva. Don’t be scared!”

She thought her name she had to share

A proper icebreaker badly needed

She felt protective, but no longer could she shield him

She felt so sorry for this poor man

She watched him for a while now, he had no idea when

She wished they never had to meet this way

She hoped that he would like her one day

Unbearable vibration kept on going

Teeth chattering, head felt exploding

His brain and mouth were intersected

By the sight of her, he was affected

She grabbed him by the arm

He hoped she wouldn't do him any harm

He was guided into an unknown direction

Soon he realised that he needed no protection

“This way, that way” she spoke so softly

His heavy breathing made her stop abruptly

“A break? - No problem” uttered Eva

Despite the web of danger somebody was weaving

The world’s become a dreadful place

Dangerous and treacherous, and hard to face

Helping was the thing to do, a strange devotion

That would surely bring about distortion

A certain death was what it was

It was her decision, she threw herself under the horse

And here she was - the only companion

To the one who’s making the decisions of the millennium

She too was lost - had no idea

Had read the legends, hoped they weren't real

But who’s to say, who’s to believe

The sayings of a grandma, who looked more like a thief

Poor, broke, of hunger so out of shape

A prophet counterfeit

Not many people tended ear

To someone in a shabby clothing, weird

They would just all of them ignore

Point a finger at her - “crazy whore!”

For years, centuries - they’ve been forbidden,

Forgotten, in a dusty basement somewhere hidden

Yet she found them, read them, yes

It was time for them to be addressed

The knowledge has become her core

It was now stronger, more so than before

The scripts were true, she wouldn’t doubt it

How would she tell the others all about it?

Albert obviously was “awaken”

But he was doubting too, well, now he was too shaken

At least he didn't much resist

She hated if she had to much insist

They had a common goal indeed

He was so easy here to lead

She didn't want his trust to abuse

She was afraid he was confused

“We can stop now, just a little”

She said. lips moving, non-existent

There was a clear space, and galaxies! between her ears

Inexplicabilities too many - the only normal thing was fear!

Albert softening, but still a little numb

In his throat resided the huge lump

He swallowed many times to make it go away

A feeling all too well-known, it’s all the same. 

Now he could see the truth and if there were any woods

He would have run for them, he would

But there were none around

Just concrete, cracking up, and shaky ground

He took a deep breath as so instructed

Was he a guinea pig in an experiment being conducted?

Men were useless, that was the impression

They would fall apart, under the right amount of pressure

Would he prove her wrong? There was no chance

Experience has been sufficient, no offence. 

Prejudice was something that she hated

But here we go again, it went as she anticipated

“Another one” he tried his best

Unusual affair, definitely, he confessed

Confusion and fear fought for space 

And questions too, so well interlaced!

Strange circumstances strange as well as the encounter

There was no way around her

It was an understandable reaction after all

He was still cooperating, standing tall

Would anyone as him had thus behaved?

Like Roger maybe, Sylvia, would they have stayed?

Or kicked and screamed, and cried like babies?

Would they have cooperated with this scary lady?

One without a face with galaxies! between her ears

They would have run away in tears

He looked at her and took a breath without instruction

The scary thing here was seduction

There was no chance for such a thing

He had never had a fling

Awkwardness was part of his approach

But on the out-worldly matters he was the best coach

As far as he remembered he had to deal

With things that had much less appeal

He knew his ways around indeed

“Just follow your heart and your feet”

As Mama usually said. 

The times when she was not upset

Or angry or depressed

“Life will always put you to the test”

Scolding would be in the next sentence

There was usually no repentance

He was used to it and wondered

Would Eva get into a mood, was she out of order…

Countless fears would be invoked anyways

You didn't need to have galaxies and space

Between your ears, which was instead of face

You had to be of the unpredictable race

He was brave, but it took a toll

He liked to stay at home alone

Which direction was she staring in?

She knew she did not have to fill him in

It was only known to her

Unpredictability was easy to infer

He remembered that grandma once told him

Among the times when she would vehemently scold him

They were copies of each other

Mama claimed that she was different, made you shudder!

Anyways, the people with no face

Once belonged to the human race

But nothing more, that’s all she said

It seemed somehow now as a thread

Something to hold on to, or explore

Were there now more elves than before?

“Who are you” he said with some impatience

She wanted to explain, but hesitated

Maybe not. “I’m Eva” said she, a little bit annoyed

“I got that, thanks. With whom are you employed?”

“What’s with your face?” he also ventured

A question that entailed some danger

The truth was hard to swallow

He struggled here to follow

An “elf” she said, no hesitation

It felt like mockery, an imprecation

Again he asked “What’s with your face?

Are you one of those who lost it in the race?”

Who decided to come back alone

Abandon everything, despite the threat of being thrown

Into the pit - another place so mythical that nobody would mention

A threat without intention

The gravity of this remained unknown

If you were bad enough, or out-worldly, to you it could be shown

“It’s better than the dumpster, yet

The pit, I wouldn’t mind, there would be no regrets

But I decided to come back myself

My help was needed here, it’s what I felt

It was a naturally constructed consequence

By those in power, they decided on the most appropriate sentence

Your grandmother was almost one of them

She followed in my footsteps, she would have been the same

I did convert, I gave my all

They took my soul, they made me crawl

I was supposed to integrate

No matter what I did it was “too late”

I wasn’t good enough, and I was blamed

They looked down on me, called me names

I never even had a proper conversation

With anyone of them, you see I brought about inflation

They saw me as a threat, to them I was insane

I was not allowed to marry any of their men

I was a disgrace, big skinny well-dressed shame

I was too wild, or I was too tame

A few centuries I managed to endure

All I did was seek a better life, a cure

For my inability to fit in anywhere

As a human before that I did not care

I was broke and hopeless

As a human I was jobless

I was broken and abused

I was useless here, so I did choose

To be an elf, and forget about my life in this dimension

But as an elf, I saw no better, there was always tension

As an elf, I was in isolation

On top of boredom, there was terrible degradation

Centuries had passed, no change

My life could here better be arranged

So I ventured back, and here I am!

I may have violated protocol, it’s all the same!

I’m suffering the consequences

If I go back, yes, I will be sentenced

To being thrown into the pit

I am sure there too I would feel unfit

I don’t have long here, it`s my fate

Punishments await me anyways

You see I was a fool once long ago

Being an elf made no difference, no

It doomed me more to isolation

Incredible and painful degradation

Your grandma she was wise

I used to show myself to her in a disguise

Because I was her Great-grand mother

I had to warn her that she should not bother

You see, we are related now

Nobody would have told you anyhow

About a relative who failed, no doubt

So I’ve come to warn you here and now

And help you clean this mess somehow

Be sure it’s not any of your faults

You were unlucky, and so you must be told”

It was getting late and he was tired

Overwhelmed he was uninspired

“For me you’ve come here all this way?”

“Eh, no! It’s for me I’m here today!”

“The reason why I`m here” she went on

To get my face back and my human life alone

I was told that all this helping you involved”

There was more, but he wouldn’t be now told

They continued walking in the night

In silence, although each of them had tried

To start a conversation light

The food for thought was interfering tonight

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Albert the Librarian and the Magic Marble

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - Part 2

Inspired by true events

He was looking nervously around

In his head - so many sounds

Confusion, terrible headache, ears ringing

In his stomach there was a tingling

Alone he stood among the shambles

Dust, broken shelves that someone should assemble

There was no time, it was almost six 

How could all this get fixed?

Why was it broken? It was not that way!

Who left the library in disarray?

No one was around to say

Are the others too okay?

No sound from them was to be heard

No feet were sticking out, no words

They were all gone, it seemed so

He went through all rooms, all halls

The storage too, he didn’t miss

They disappeared all of them in an abyss

Concern, and worry taking over

As far as he knew he had been sober

It was a Friday night, he thought

The weekend was ahead for this to be absorbed

Whatever happened here short time ago

Why did they have this way to go?

Those gods, are they responsible for this?

Or maybe someone else is?

Back to the place where he’s been lying

And looked around some more, just sighing 

All the more, the whole point of this mess?

There will be charges pressed

If they were particular about the books

The state of this place, it just looks

As though here passed a hurricane

Like those that get those weird names

How could this be explained?

To his superiors and to his friends?

To the readers, who would never come again

Nobody would believe who here came!

And why it ended up like this?

There was something here amiss! 

He wondered where to start from

How much could he tidy up alone?

Damages - as far the eye could see

Albert felt a nagging urge to flee

And so he did, as it was late, 

Time to go home, no debate!

The camera was always on, he knew

They will be caught, though now - no clue!

Desire surging for someone to phone

But then the only option - it was gone 

There was no one he could trust

He had to hold on, yes, he must

A thought of calling the police

Probably they won’t believe, and start to tease

Black screen stared back at him, although he tried

A wind of panic blew inside

The empty ruined place was locked

The phone tucked back into the pocket

There was no one the street

The ground was trembling under his feet

There was such terrible vibration

All the way into his brain, it felt like cutting on a few occasions

A building was collapsing

Like on a movie screen, time was slowly here elapsing

Twenty minutes far from home

Walking on the trembling pavement all alone

Huge cracks through buildings getting wider

Huge chunks detaching, lights flickering inside them

It seemed the occupants had all departed

Like an apocalypse had started

Empty cars and busses standing in the middle of the road 

Some crashed into some other cars, others into walls

Albert walked completely undisturbed 

Things were different, his mind inferred

But clouds of hunger nestled in his head

The contents of his fridge he thought about instead

“Time had stopped” a distant thought

It lingered and it left, uncaught

It didn't matter much at all

His mind was like a concrete wall

Broken glass strewn on the ground

Strange that she was not around

The old lady who usually gets so mad

Maybe a relief, of not having to explain instead

He went in, up the crooked stairs

That now seemed worse, but who would care?

His home was usually well-maintained

Constant improving was a pain

The door was stuck, so difficult to open

After few attempts, he was afraid it would be broken

In the end he managed

Hoping that the fridge would not be damaged

Albert found the cheese, the butter, bread

Should he cook? No. This would do instead

He sat on his beloved chair 

At the corner of the table, it was fair

He wouldn’t take a lot of space

He was taught this idea to embrace

The invisibility, the low importance

Reminding him of his deficiencies, of his shortness

Of all desired qualities all others had

He was never even close to have

He was the designated loser

Mama always told him, she was an abuser!

A conclusion that he had arrived at

From himself sometimes he tried to hide it 

To think of her in terms like these

Not these thoughts, they had to cease!

He chewed with patience the dry food

Strength was coming back, it felt so good!

Should the world need any saving 

It had to wait, first came his cravings!

Aside were pushed - the hard feelings

A choice he had, although he felt like stealing

Never mind, he was a work in progress

At this age a life he was forging

When he finished then he washed the plate

He left it then to dry, a need for some update

Cause there were more cracks and holes

It seemed much worse than he had thought

He fumbled for his phone

Again attempt to switch it on

Black screen, maybe it was broken

Not long ago on it he had spoken

He tried to charge it, nothing happened

The pc too, no, wait a second!

The window didn’t offer any better view

The buildings they seemed crooked too

Now he remembered: Where was it?

The reason why the world seemed sick

It maybe was a huge mistake

But Mama said “Keep it safe, for Goodness’ sake!”

“If it was gone, unspeakable disaster would occur

A big mess it would stir. 

Don’t let it end up in wrong hands

Your life on it, it should depend”

But did he leave it somewhere indoors?

Or maybe it fell on the street or in a corridor?

Earlier the shambles searched a little

He failed to honour his commitment

He wasn’t sure, but he knew

It was in his pocket he had put

He had considered better ways of safe-keeping

Making up his mind was difficult, he felt like weeping

Because he had to take a pick

Too many options make him sick

He had vowed to decide on one

Now it was gone, it can’t be done

He put his head into his hands

Oh, no, they’d never understand

One day they would demand an explanation

He had none, just quiet desperation

He never even thought that it was true

It was Mama’s gibberish, and nagging, and ado

He was loosing all his marbles, oh!

Not just the one, all of them at one go!

It was the legend, the prediction

Which sounded like a pure fiction

Why did she have it in the first place?

What was the meaning in this case?

“The world will fall apart

If you don't keep it well-hidden, you will be a part

Of its destruction, you will blame yourself

Especially if you give it to an elf!”

This was an old forgotten saying

No destruction would it be conveying

Furthermore, no elves were here involved

So this matter should be solved

Why would even elves be mentioned?

What was the intention?

They never did exist

People like those things to twist

It must be still into the library somewhere

He never did believe in this, nor cared

But he would like to have it in his pocket

He would even do his best to lock it

In case the world depended on this little thing

He wouldn’t want his carelessness to bring

About destruction, though he failed to see the true causation

He had some more noble aspirations 

Though Mama was already dead

One had to do as she had said

It was a rule, a way of living

Or else he would be suffering, cease being

He was afraid, he knew she watched him

With her words she would have scorched him

And sent him death, or maybe hired an assassin

But it was not an issue he now felt addressing

Everything around him looked so scary

Soon under debris he would be buried

A piece of wall was still detaching slowly

The ceiling, it seemed the gravity was calling

He didn’t feel like staying here

He knew he had to interfere

With what was taking place, unknown

Emergency supplies he had to pick up, go

Money too, shoes, and jacket plain

In case that it would rain

Preparation was of use

There was no harm and no excuse

He had to find the dumpster earlier in question

The rumour said it was part of the librarians` profession

Like the above-said, no, it wasn’t true

Librarians around the world all knew

It was something that they learned one day

Another legend here to stay

A prominent librarian long time ago

Was on the verge of breaking the unwritten law

Some books were thrown away

To curiosity he did obey

Then hell broke loose

He was aware, yet confused

The knowledge came into wrong hands

The world on darkness since depends

The humans had a lot of powers

With divine knowledge were they endowed

With skills that now would be considered weird

However, now they are despicable and full of fears

“Oh, yes” he thought, ridiculousness seeping

“This is just gibberish”. as water from the ceiling started dripping

You wouldn’t set a foot in this forsaken place

Especially for a librarian it would be a disgrace

It was a place of horror, torture

You wouldn’t find there any fortune

The lord would flatter you to death

No chance for you to save yourself

If you are lucky, you would leave the place

But soulless, empty, with no face

You’d be a vegetable, zombie hypnotised

Ready to believe the lie

A lot of darkness - a huge storage

To go there takes a lot of courage

It was nothing like the ordinary thing

“Dumpster” was a euphemism, nobody would dare think

The word was good enough description 

The horrors were excluded from its encryption 

Or probably forgotten, non-existent

Doubt creeping in his head, persistent

He tread on, a little bit unsure

About the exact location and whether it would cure

The current situation, please the gods

He slightly felt again like a big shot

The city usually cold, now seemed abandoned

It was spooky, empty rendered

“Was it about the marble? … No chance”

Maybe it was just coincidence

But if it was about it, what would he do?

This should be considered too!

There were so many doubts

A red-haired girl screamed at him “Look out!”

He looked around a bit surprised

Followed her pointing finger to the sky

Then ran instinctively to the far side

Of the street that now was full of empty cars

It was a miracle, it was on time

The thing smashed into pieces fine

His heart was throbbing, ready to explode

Lying on the ground, “this didn’t happen, nope!” 

The only person on the street

Scrawny-looking, neat

But it was very poorly lit

No face to see, it`s good someone to meet. 

There was something strange about her

The only person in the dark to lurk

He timidly approached her and said “hi”

Only to suppress a terrified cry

Frozen, scared, stuck

His manners left him all alone, and so his luck

“It`s ok” she said, “this is a normal reaction”

“None of us will be experiencing any attraction”

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth

Albert the Librarian and the Gods of Paperwork

The Adventures of Albert the Librarian - part 1

Inspired by true events

The book is something holy, out-worldly

The book worms hate to see the pages curly

It is a sacrilege, a sheer crime

Against something so utterly divine!

Among the worshipers there was

Our friend, who to the naked eye seemed pretty lost

An employee at the library, a local branch

Who was a book worm, totally entrenched

The library it was the place to be

Where else he otherwise would want to be?

He was a nerd, so just in case

He felt he had to always justify his ways.

By coincidence he thought he got the job

The best for which one could ever hope

Or so he thought, he was convinced

It didn’t matter any more, not ever since

The books were all he wanted, ever needed

Making friends with villains, good guys, he succeeded 

By random conversations and small talk

He felt improvement, which came as shock 

Sometimes he had to rub his eyes

When he heard those mournful cries

The fairies would fly by, not all of them were slim or fine

Characters from different books, sometimes confined

In castles, towers, tombs

And sometimes, caves, and scary mountains loomed

It was so weird, they were centuries apart

Somehow it happened here, pure art?

It was a haunted place, a place of wonder

Sometimes he’d swear he could feel a thunder

Incredible it was indeed

Or maybe his imagination the reality unfit

But he could never tell about it

They would just mock him, they did without it

The frequency of occurrences, it was stunning

He was used to it, he often thought it funny

No longer visiting a doctor was considered

He hoped the universe would rather more deliver

A fellow crazy person, or a sign

that he was alright, he was fine!

He prided himself on his wild imagination

He read all books here, with such patience

Through many sleepless nights, and all vacations, 

The Guardian, the Knowledge keeper

Unlike the rest of them - a sleeper

He was awake and he was here

Hoping he inspired awe and fear

Somehow important, so he thought

Like a cog in a machinery, a big shot

So he was told when he was “christened”

When the previous employee retired, which was recent

The sighs of great relief and joy, unforgettable

Albert thought that this display was almost unacceptable

It was a blessing, freedom, well-deserved

Leaving this post he felt so purged

Albert, he had accepted straight away 

Finally among friends, to his great dismay

It was like a wonderful vacation

Pure relaxation, incredible intoxication!

He did so diligently all his duties

He oftentimes forgot his food was cooking

People would come out of the kitchen yelling

Laziness in others was sometimes compelling

From then on he would bring a sandwich in his bag

At least a few big packs

Cause he would sit and eat next to his best friends

His lovers, children, on his life they would depend

He would protect them tooth and nail

He would do his best and never fail

And so the days went by, the nights as well

The others were so bored as hell

But he enjoyed himself a lot

Popular among the people, he was not

So he enjoyed the silence full of meaning

Often times he could hear whispers, screaming

Sometimes he witnessed big fights, weddings

Jousting knights and mournful ladies

All dressed in costumes, out of place

As if a theatre was on display

And he was an audience unique

The only one entitled to critique

One evening, as he was about to lock the door

There was a “swoosh”, and “boom”, and thud and “Oh”

Some sparks, some smoke, a man was lying on the floor

Looking startled, and a bit sore

Before he managed to react to the offence that on his face was showing

Off the shelf more books were falling

A booming voice came from behind the shelf

“Oh, man, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring the relatives as well”

A thick book fell on top of him, then a few more

Albert rushed to help, the man was breathing after all

He stood up, dusted himself off, his eyes roamed 

Then books flew back to their rightful homes

Although too scared, Albert managed to stay still

Another one of those weird library thrills

For which there was no explanation

Not even by the latest possible breakthrough in innovation

The booming voice from behind the shelf

Brought along a sturdy self

Who came closer, looking grave

Now, he was to explain himself, okay

There was a visitor two feet away, 

Open-mouthed, shaky hands, book down on its way

Towards the wooden dusty floor, 

But the man was quicker, from his hands he tore

The precious object, placed it gingerly onto the nearest stand

And then proceeded with a rant

Albert’s understanding skills needed much rebooting 

Especially when he was on the spot and needed soothing

Aggression, it was something that he could not handle

He was afraid he would be left in shambles

Contents were unintelligible here

This man was huge, a lot of reasons here to fear

The feeling of this strangeness sneaking in

He wasn’t ordinary creature, so it seemed

He was tall and handsome, masculine, not thin

What Albert’s mother wanted so for him

Except the height maybe, he too was tall

Compared to the ladies that he never managed to enthral

Yes, indeed the man was trying to explain

And obviously was a good negotiator, well-trained

But Albert had so many questions, welling

It was so weird, but compelling

“Look man” continuation in a friendly manner

“We have a problem here” his eyes two scanners

“The library”… “disaster”… “dumped”?

Albert’s heart was in his throat, huge lump

You cannot do this to the books? He said

“We think you know the truth” instead

The man proceeded with his booming voice

“Tell us, or else” - a chance for multiple choice

Being scorched to death by lightnings 

Or chewed alive by lions, both sounded frightening

But he could be creative too

As to the way he would want to lose

His life, and his possessions

Unless he offered his confessions

You can help us get the perpetrators

Those mindless, dumb invaders

“Me” squeaked Albert in a sheer desperation

“I don’t know, no chance!” Frustration.

He somehow had realised 

And swore to himself that next time

He would maintain a longer conversation

For the sake of obtaining more information 

He was intrigued, though, who could do this?

They had framed him, just like this!

A vehement discussion in his head

There was so much to dread

Another swoosh and boom and thump 

Which broke his train of thoughts, now he was stunned!

There was a lady young, petite, 

Just conjured herself up, she did

She looked foreign, as if she came from mars

Around her many floating, sparkling stars

Cancel the optician visit yesterday

Was it a good idea, anyway?

“Whats going on, my husband, dear?

You should have waited for me, do you hear!

This is my business, I have found this mishap

I will have the pleasure of talking to this nice chap ”

The husband scratched his head, not a word

His booming voice now pretty much unheard

It seemed that if a murder would have taken place

He would have nodded “yes“ into her face

The nagging was monotonous and dull

Occasionally you could hear a sulk

A dedicated woman, there was no doubt

And the guy was not allowed. 

Albert remembered his to-do list

Although, threatened, he felt also pissed

He had to lock the door, and clear the books away 

And go and switch the lights off, then check the trays…

She saw the lady turn to him, fist clenched

Last thought - hanging like a dead leaf on a branch 

Of women Albert was so petrified

Instead of talk to them, he would have rather died

Anyways it was too late to flee 

The option left - a tearful plea

A pair of determined blue eyes pierced through him

He felt a painful sting within

“The books” she said, he felt so cold

“You know who threw them in the dumpster, I was told “  

“Was that it?” he swallowed hard

No way he knew, is this a good start?

But she was adamant, of course

In her eyes there was no remorse. 

He was to drop dead on the floor

Would anyone come scoop him, would he be ignored?

Or maybe they would do, 

Already he was dead to them, it was the truth

He felt sorry for the books

A corpse would never do them any good

The “gatemen” thoughts came back to him

“No, no way he didn't mean!”

“Oh, yes” she said, answering his silent question

He wished it was a joke, the job, the fuss, and tensions

It dawned on him, it all made sense

No wonder the relief of the old chap was so intense

It was his job, it was his calling

Death will not be so completely boring

One day he may get a memorial

His life might be someone’s tutorial

So anyways, he was the one here on the spot

He tried to stand upright, he hoped he looked somewhat hot

If something happened, nobody would miss him

A tiny hope that they would at some point release him

All the senses opened up to her

Sobriety, and fearlessness, that randomly occur

Collectedness sometimes appeared out of the blur

He took a breath, demanded what the problems were

They were all gone, they disappeared

Exactly what he feared

A place nobody spoke or thought about

A place nobody went nor even joked about

But anyways, there was a “why”

Her features now inspired much less fright

Ready to negotiate, oh, yes, he was 

Explain, and serve, whatever else they chose

Among the gods, who would have thought?

But he still felt so caught

He felt in danger, scared and confined

This unpredictability and lack of time

The Gods of Paperwork, their strange attention

Although so flattering, induced severe hypertension

A newly found and felt importance here emerged

To win her - a determination also surged

Ears, eyes, they opened wide

Such eagerness, so hard to hide

“Relax” the husband said and so

though it was late, they were still standing in the main hall

“Ok” he said with hesitant determination

Although he noted her impatience

He felt his stomach rumble

“Could I have dinner first?” he asked a question humble

Awkward exchange of glances, silence

Approval materialising, and much needed guidance

“Tell me what to do and I will do it”

Ventured Albert, the Gatekeeper, so willing here to prove it

On his watch it all was done, they had insisted

He was guilty too, he had to be enlisted

In the search party of one

It was his job, and it had to be done

Of so many things he was unaware

“We will go slow” she said, amplified care

“We know that you are new and you don't know us”

We are the ones that you can trust, you can call us

The thing is, we cannot go there

This is the underworld, you just beware

The pass embedded is in your position

You are the chosen one, the one with mission

To protect, and care, for the books and papers

You are the one to fight invaders 

Intruders, wicked thieves

destroy those intricate, deceiving webs of lies they weave

You are our first choice. we cannot do without you

 Courage must be found inside you”

Astonishment resided on his face

How did he end up in this place?

This wasn't part of the job description

Why no information on such conscription?

Suddenly, a cloud of dust had risen

She was back yelling at her husband, “Listen”

Spots of muffled conversation

Thuds, and thumps, and booms they came, invasion

The sounds of pots and pans hitting the floor,

How did they end up in the library at all?

When he woke up, he just found

Random items lying spread around

Probably appearing from an unknown storage

Cleaning Friday night? He felt discouraged

All body parts seemed to be in place

In addition, large painful bump onto his face

He patted pockets various and searched

At some point he found himself on a shelf perched

But it was nowhere to be found

It had disappeared, no use to look around

Copyright ©thescribblerinthebooth