Previously - https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf3/outpost42/posts/110171/

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Two hours later.....

Chloe walked up and down the rows and rows of books. Places like this were few and far between in San Francisco. In the age of digital books, store like this were obsolete, still everything came back around given enough time. Where once consoles lined the walls, now shelves of PaDD’s dedicated to stories filled the racks. It was a quaint idea. A single PaDD with a single story or a collection of stories gave a feel of the old days when paper printed books lined the shelves. Even more rare was the scattered collection of real paper printed books mixed among them. Companies had began the retro read as the media was starting to call it. Classics from history were the main stays with Alice in Wonderland, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Odessy were a few titles that Chloe’s finger tips traced as she walked up and down the aisles.

She needed a distraction from comparative anatomy. They had been studying here for hours because it was one of the few library type places one could talk, study, and eat. Finals at the academy had all the private study areas reserved weeks in advance. Dorm rooms held too many distractions, so the small shop always saw a boon in business for several set weeks of the year.

Almost to the end of the row, Chloe’s fingers found a fabric-bound book making her stop and look harder. The binding did not hold a title which made the book even more interesting. It was also considerably smaller and covered in the brightest of red fabrics. Using her fingertip, Chloe titled the title so that it fell from the shelf onto her hand. The title struck her as the most surprising of all things. It was not ink printed but hand written in black marker. This was easily recognized due to the slight bleeding of the letters. It was also in blocky capital letters as if the novelist had quickly written the inscription Go Ahead and Open Me or Don’t. What’s your choice? Flipping the book over in her hands, Chloe could not find an author. Glancing over her shoulder she looked about wondering if this was some kind of joke or prank. It would not be the first time someone had created a surprise to liven up the dreary hours of studying before exams. Closing one eye, as if she expected a canned fabric snake to spring from the innards of the book, Chloe was more than a little surprised to find nothing but text.

“It looks like you found me, in a sea of print you picked up the one book that seemed out of place. Congrats, you at least seem to at least be able to notice unusual patterns in stacked books. This places you in a world above most others, who look but don’t really see what is around them. It’s Christmas time, and there is holly and jolly all around, but not all smiles are real and not all hearts filled with the cheer around them.

Closing the book, Chloe flipped it over several times looking for anything identifying an author. Not finding any she went back to reading.

So if you are someone who feels that this Christmas, just feels a little different and wonder if the cheer has been gone and you don’t understand why, I offer you a challenge. It’s a simple one, but if you want to see what can be done to break from the mold, I hope you play along.

“But I like Christmas,” Chloe stated out loud leaning against the other rack of books behind her. It was not that she expected a response from the book, but so far she did like the holidays. While most however would have shut it and shelved it, Chloe was more intrigued on why this person did not seem to hold the giddy happiness the holidays brought. Turning the next page she continued to read.

So, the challenge… find each word by completing the clues. Everything can be found here in the store, you just have to know where to look.

__ ___ _ __ _____ ?

Question one, this one is simple… the first letter belongs to the music that never stops playing in the store. Even this time of the year, they find songs to match the theme of their very soulful vibe. Can you figure out bands like The Darts or The Orioles connect?

Chloe stood still and listened to the songs playing. It was Christmas but it could not be that easy. Everywhere was playing holiday tunes. What was special about this music? Closing her eyes, her lips moved along with the song playing. It was considered a classic but even more than that it was old even when music like this was novel. The fifty’s soda pop shop do wop suddenly echoed through clearly.

“Do wop,” she said out loud Looking down at the pages she pulled a stylus from her hair. As a nurse, their stylus had a small ink component to help write names on individuals or indicate what body part was supposed to be treated.

Do __ __ __ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ __ __ ___ _ _ ____ ___

Filling in the first blank, Chloe looked at the net clue.

Number two, this one can be found in the kids section. My father tried to read it to me, teaching the sins of want and thirsty rodents. If you can think of the title, it only takes the second word to find the word you seek.

Chloe walked with a smile toward the small children’s section. She had an idea of the books there but it was better to look than start writing down names. “Stuart Little, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Give,” she stopped immediately laughing. Part of her had realized she was thinking way to classical literature. What ever the plan was with this, the writer was either a young kid or had children of their own. “If you give a mouse a cookie,” she said out loud looking at the cover. “Yep, there is a cup,” she shook her head smiling shifting the book behind the notebook she was carrying. Carefully she filled in the next word before reading the third clue.

Do You ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ __ __ ___ _ _ ____ ___

So, you are still playing, I commend you. Hopefully you are having fun, and be sure to get a cookie on me, tell the Barista Buddy said to give you a treat. Before you ask aloud to yourself, no that isn’t my name. Next, part was always important to my family, but I always had my moments of uncertainty. This book can be found in the religious section by a Jennifer Michael Hecht. That might seem a little easy, but the trick is… I always had the opposite of her book, even if I didn’t always go to church. Some might say I felt in my heart Santa, and more, was always real.

Chloe bit her lip-reading this passage. Her family was religious which in itself was unique however they were more of the Connecticut religious where one claimed they were religious rather than showing up every Sunday in the pews. Her family showed up for all the important events like Christmas, Easter, and fundraisers once Chloe and her siblings aged out of Sunday School but not all the Sundays in between. A fat weekly credit transfer stopped any questions as to why this was as with most of the other families in the town. She pondered hard on this question about religion wondering where the mystery writer stood in his beliefs. Scanning the selections by the designated author, Chloe settled in on one title in particular immediately. A History of Doubt.

Chloe re-read several sentences of the clue to herself. Next, part was always important to my family, but I always had my moments of uncertainty. I always had the opposite of her book, even if I didn’t always go to church. The opposite of doubt was faith only that word did not fit in the blanks he left. As part of her brain ran synonyms, the other half contemplated the author’s intent. Did he believe in, “Believe” she yelled out figuring out the next word. The sound of her voice startled her slightly causing Chloe to laugh as she scribbled down the word in the book.

Do You Believe __ __ ___ _ _ ____ ___

The curiosity of his faith or wavering faith at times was forgotten as Chloe moved onto the next clue.

Okay that one might have been a little on the nose, might have even confused you. But you have to have faith, I know what I believe in very strongly. So the next answer, is in that last sentence. You just have to look between the lines.

“In,” Chloe found the word easy enough. “Do You Believe In ___ _ _ _ , What do you believe in my friend,” Chloe asked rhetorically tapping her stylus to her lip. She continued reading hoping for more answers as she answered each question.

You made it, somehow you didn’t get turned away from non sequitur rants of faith, cookies, and classic music. I’m impressed, but this last part there is no hints. If you know what the last word is, and I believe you just might, take the mic and wish real deep upon a star you might just find it there is more to come if you only believe.

“Do You Believe In Magic,*”, she read the last sentence as she wrote it out as she read the last instruction in the book.

If you do believe, and want to keep playing the 12 days of Christmas, challenge me back with the book nestled next to the original singers album at the record store across the street. If not, place me back where you found me and have a Merry Christmas.”

Chloe closed the book and walked back to her table with a smile. Her leg stretched had turned from a distraction to a mystery. There was no way she was going to be able to study now. Strolling to the coffee counter, Chloe rested her elbows on the bar. “Hey you have a cookie for me,” she asked the barista with a smile.

“I might,” he said pulling one from under the counter. He had no idea if this was the chick he was supposed to give it to but the guy didn’t look like he was hurting. If she wasn’t the right one oh well.

Seeing the cookie, Chloe wrinkled up her nose. “Can I pick my own,” she asked.

“Um sure,” he said raising an eyebrow.

Looking over the case she pointed to not just a cookie, but a cookie that was more a piece of art than the simple chocolate chip Nathan had designated. “That one,” she pointed with her finger. Chloe’s cookie was confectioner’s art. The snowman sugar cookie had a peanut butter cup hat with perfectly piped white icing sprawling all over the base as if it were melting. The body of the snowman was a homemade marshmallow topped with a braided peppermint sugar scarf. The crystal sugar stick arms glistened off the lights as he removed it from the case.

Taking the coffee, Chloe moved to the mic and tapped it twice with her finger making sure it was on. Hearing the feedback, Chloe cleared her throat and began belting out the challenge.

Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it’s magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie

After the song, Chloe sat down and began her entry into the book. An hour later, she gathered up her books. There was one last thing she had to do before going home. Crossing the street, she entered the store and slipped the book next to the album by the Lovin’ Spoonfuls.

Hello,

Before I start I have to say that cookie was one of the best cookies I had ever had. Now that I have said thank you, time for me to see how clever you are. Christmas is a time for giving. You said you have faith but have doubted before. Doubted what? Doubted Christmas? Doubted faith in something? Doubted people? I am not sure what you doubted but let’s see if we can change that huh. ”

“Go to the corner of fifth and Market at four pm. Outside you will see something that always annoys me. Take off your hat and beat them at thier own game until you reach thier hourly goal. Depending on how good you are will determine how long you have to remain there but time is of the essence. Just like the magic that turned Cinderella’s coach into a pumpkin, you are on a time limit. When your cup runneth over from your task pack up your belongings and head to the abandoned parking lot on McCreary Street. Use your holiday gains to purchase the most expensive item there. If you are short, work off the difference. Do not use your own money to make up the difference. It’s not about how much money you have but how you use it. If you have to beg, borrow, and steal to get the biggest item do it. Sometimes a wrong does make a right. ”

“Once you have the biggest item head to Bayview Drive. You will know the building when you see it. Go in, drop the item off, and leave the book with the receptionist.”

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Fifth Street and Market Avenue
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The corner streets of Fifth and Market met placing someone in the heart of the downtown shopping areas. Large stores decorated with colorful ribbons, bows, and greenery created a sense of the holidays. People bustled about with bags as they shopped for gifts to give family and friends. The area had an energy to it with people laughing and passing greeting smile after smile. Above all the bustle however one could hear a bell ringing up and down the street. A man with a large kettle clanged out a steady beat asking for donations to his cause. While the sign stated the money would be going to a well-known charity, many knew only a small portion of the funds being donated actually went into the hands of the people it was intended for. To Chloe, if you were giving money to a donation it should go to the people it was intended for and not for high-priced advertisements or the large salaries of CEO’s who could strut around talking about all the work they did for others. A sign held a thermometer which indicated the amount it wanted to raise every hour. This hour the goal was three hundred credits.

Chloe Kendrick