“Hey, hey. I wanna hear a story. A stooooory.” A small child of about seven years in age tugged incessantly on the arm of a wizened old man.

“No. Now’s not the time child.”

The child pouted. “You always tell me there’s not enough time. Meanie.”

The old man sighed. “Meredith, just wait a bit longer.”

“I’ve been waiting forever!”

“Then wait a little more than forever.” The old man laid his hand on the child’s head and gave a wry smile.

“Hrmph.” Meredith shook the old man’s hand off and turned around with much ado. Peeking to make sure that the old man was still watching, Meredith straightened his back and folded his arms. A silence stretched on for a couple of seconds… and then a couple more…

Finally, Meredith’s energetic nature got the better of him. “Oh fine! I guess I’ll wait a teensy bit longer. But you’ll tell me one when you get back right? Promise?”

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The old man chuckled. “I promise.”

Meredith looked suspiciously at the old man. “Pinky promise?”

The old man’s face crinkled into wrinkles as he smiled. “Yes, yes. I pinky promise Meredith.” Meredith stuck out his pinky and the old man hooked it with his own.

“Okay then. You better come back.”

“When have I not?”

Meredith paused in contemplation before lighting up. “You’re right! See you soon.” He held his arms out expectantly and the old man lifted him up with surprisingly little effort. He spun Meredith around a couple of times before setting him onto the ground. “I’ll be off now. Be good while I’m gone.”

“Okay!”

The old man started his trek across the marble landscape, and Meredith watched him attentively. However, as his figure grew distant, Meredith’s attention soon turned elsewhere. Plopping himself down on the ground, he began to sift through the thousands of books strewn around him. The books had titles like The Complete History of Trolfador and War Unto War Upon the Continent of Worgs. None of these seemed to appease Meredith, though, as he tossed more and more of them behind him. His face turned into an impatient frown as the stack of rejected books grew larger until one particularly colorful book caught his eye. It was a leather bound one inch thick book titled, The Rich, the Richer and the Abused. He broke out into a grin as he read the title. Tucking the book under his arm, he carefully navigated his way through the dunes of books until he reached his favorite reading place, the base of the gigantic crystal which towered above any and all surrounding land. He snuggled himself into a crevice and cracked open the book.