Awakening, Part 11

A large spoon stared at him at the breakfast table. His father had been so proud of him recently, that Billy was allowed to have breakfast with them in the morning, again. He would have to excuse himself to Simon later. Billy was bothered by what Simon had told him that day when he'd first met Meryl. He had said to meet him later and later it had been. Simon had waited outside the library that day but Billy hadn't come out until seven thirty because he'd decided to help Francine put the books away. Away wasn't the right word. They put the books in random places where they fit in the library. That day, Billy had been confused about the weird location of the vending machine. The big black thing was attached to the wall, according to Francine, who said it was there when she'd acquired the property. She had just put shelves around it to make it part of the scenery. Billy had been confused as to how to use it that day, too. The machine didn't have a number pad or a coin slot or a dollar bill slot. He couldn't even see the candies. The glass was tinted. Even if he put his face close to it, it was unclear what was in the machine. Francine said just to kick it. He kicked it and a candy bar, clanged to the bottom like it was magic or something. He put his hand through and was surprised to see that it didn't get stuck. With other fat people, it was a gamble. With Billy, it was fifty-fifty but that time he'd been like a skinny person, who just took his hand back out of the hole wit no hassle. It was a cookie chocolate thing that tasted a lot like bon-bon dipped in peanut butter. He didn't even see a name on the wrapper. It was a clear black-gold wrapper. The mystery of the vending machine would have to wait. Then, he met with Simon, who was in a suit. Why did Simon have a suit?

He met Simon beside a dumpster outside. "Hey," said Simon, his old chirpy self returning, "How are things, big guy?"

Billy shrugged in pain. "You wanted to talk to me, right?"

"Stop being cryptic."

"Well," Billy said, "It's just I just had a long day, Simon."

"Tell me about it. Did you see the old man?"

"The old man?"

"This is what I came to talk to you about. At around noon, an old man appears in the library. I didn't believe my aunt when she'd mentioned it to others but, yes, he appears there."

"So," Billy said, confused, "This isn't about the void."

"That?" Simon asked, "That's simple dimensional science, Billy. It's part of the whole that makes Space Dreg a reality. I would have thought you knew that."

"Yea," Billy said, "But this is the real world and there is a big difference."

"Yes," Simon said, sighing, "We'll leave that part of the discussion for another day. But let me tell you about this old man."

"You really believe he appears there? Fracine is a joker. She might just be messing with you."

"I seen it with my own eyes. My aunt brings him tea."

"You skipped school?"

"Called in sick, what does it matter, I'm a straight A student."

Billy blushed. "So what?"

"He knows what's happening."

"What do you mean?"

"It's too hot, not even the summer here."

"It's California, Simon," Billy said, "It could be hot here in the winter."

"No. You're not making sense, Billy. You could enjoy the Easter dance with Meryl next week because of this guy."

"What do you mean?"

"He says he's here because he needs to keep dimensional stability."

"And what does that mean?"

"Don't you see?" Simon asked, brightening up. "He says that people are traveling from one dimension to the next and this is what's causing the books to appear, a dimensional break, which allows for books to be stolen. Here, in this library, is where the bad guys are coming to."

"Someone's stealing the books?"

"And they're going to come here to take them back," Simon said.

"We'll need to talk to this guy one day."

"Saturday," Simon said, smiling.

"But Simon, the library is closed on the weekends," Billy said.

"The library is closed every day, that doesn't stop you from coming."

"Well," Billy said, "I'll think about it. Meryl invited me to go fishing with her family."

"Meryl? That girl again? Please, Billy, listen to reason, she's evil."

"Evil?" Billy had asked him, feeling a little betrayed, "C'mon Simon, try and act cool around Meryl. Look we said we'd help each other out no matter what."

"Fair is fair," Simon whispered at himself, as if it was a curse.