the road to the wicked city - 5. the little book

by jeremy witherington

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one evening zucky found a little book which had fallen down behind one of the tall bookcases. she showed it to alexa, when they were in the kitchen chopping weeds for the evening soup. “it’s a book. it wasn’t on the shelf, i found it on the floor behind one if the bookcases.” “i hope it is not the book with the cure for what ails our friend.” “no, look at the title.” alexa took a couples of whacks at a particularly tough weed and tossed the pieces into the boiling soup. “just read me what it says.” “the title is “52 ways to write a novel.” “pooh. what do you want to write a novel for, aren’t there enough of them already in your silly library?” zucky shrugged. “i have been thinking of writing one anyway. it might bring us luck.” “yes, bad luck. and work a little faster, will you? can’t you chop weeds and talk at the same time?” “i’m working just as fast as you are!” but zucky started working a little faster. they both worked in silence until the boiling pot was full. alexa gave it a few stirs and they left off for a while and sat back on a couple of the smoke-blackened old wooden chairs beside the stove. “all right,” alexa asked, in a friendlier tone, “what are you going to write your book on? do you have any paper?’ zucky hesitated. “no, but i found a few books with blank pages in them.” “you mean they were completely blank?” “yes.” “you never told me that!” alexa exclaimed. zucky shrugged. “you never asked.” “i bet they have invisible writing in them! magic spells! who knows what?” “no, they are just blank. they are diaries, that nobody ever wrote in.” “huh! i would still like to look at them.” “you can look at them. after we dine.” “all right. so what exactly is in this little book you found? what are some of these 52 ways to write a book? “ zucky paused. “well, one way - the first one in the book - is to use a deck of cards.” “huh.” “do you still have that deck of cards you found?” zucky asked. “you mean the one you didn’t want to play gin rummy with me with? yes, i still have it.” “i’ll play gin rummy with you,” said zucky. “if you let me use it to write my novel.” “why, i would be delighted,” alexa laughed.”playing gin rummy, writing books - this old place is just getting to be a buzzing hive of excitement.” “i think the soup is ready.” said zucky. 6. the magic books