Prologue
“My life sucks! “I shouted. Frustrated I threw my backpack across the room to my pile of dirty gym clothes. Nothing exciting ever seemed to happen around here. Why no one cares to talk to me except my girlfriend and my parents is beyond me. Why my girlfriend likes me is a mystery unto itself.
Sure I’m glad that school is over and I won”t have to sit in those overcrowded, stuffy or freezing, class rooms for a few months. The problem is that now that my junior year of high school is over I’m not completely sure what I’m going to do for the whole summer. I asked my parents if I could get a job like a normal kid and they told me no. They said that I should work on studying to become smart, and genius like so that I can get a full ride scholarship to some weird European college I’ve never heard of before. The bottom line is that I’m not sure what to do with myself besides study all summer and go hiking. My girlfriend and her mom went to London to visit family. I’m not sure what else I’m going to do for the next few months. I hate summer vacation. My parents never seem to let me do anything fun on my own. It’s like I’m a priceless piece of china they are afraid to drop.
I let out a sigh of annoyance and flopped in front of my desk and pushed the power button on my new computer dad had just bought. As I watched windows load I realized just how lucky I am to have a computer with internet.
I put my hand down where my mouse was and realized it was sitting up higher than the desk. Upon closer examination I realized under the mouse there is a slightly tattered book. It looks like one of those books everyone at the public library has checked out and read. It looked rustic and new at the same time.
Being a book worm and curious as to where the book came from I removed it from under the mouse and examined the front cover. There was no writing or pictures. It was just brown, plain leather. Even the spine of the book was blank. Curious I opened the front cover and a folded up sheet of paper from a yellow legal pad fell gently onto my lap. Making sure it was nothing of importance and being slightly nosey; I carefully unfolded the piece of paper. The creases here stiff as though the paper had been folded up for years.
Carefully I scanned the writing for any indication as to who had written the note. The writing appeared hard to read. It reminded me of something I had seen of writing from the old days. It was even fancier than the Declaration of Independance's fancy letters. It didn’t look like the writing of anyone I know. I quickly decided that it didn’t matter if I read it. No one would miss this strange note. Slowly I began to read the paper.
Dear reader.
I assume you are Thomas, for whom this letter is intended for.
If not please return this book to the local library. The head librarian knows how to reach me to send it back. If you are Thomas please continue reading.
A long time ago I befriended a wonderful young lady who seemed as though her kindness could change the world. It did. She is going to be forever known as the hero of the human race. Of course none of the events in this book are known by the world as you know it. The vast majority of the world isn’t ready to know the events of her life. Most would believe this to be a work of science fiction or fantasy. I assure you it is not.
This lady friend requested that upon your finishing of your junior year of school that your parents give you this book to read. I know that this all sounds rather a bit odd, but once you finish the book you will understand.
Thank you,
H.K.T
“I’m confused.” I uttered out loud. Thinking about the letter and what it said gave me goose bumps, and one of those unexplained chills that runs up the spine. Many questions ran through my mind. How could such a strange note and book have made its way to me? How did the writer know my name? I don’t know anyone with those initials. Why did my parents have to wait to give me the stupid book anyways? It’s just another book.
“Ouch.” I said touching my head. Carefully I made my way to the bathroom across the hall and searched for my migraine pills. I grabbed a disposable Dixie cup and filled it with water. I swallowed the pill and the water all in one great big gulp.
Feeling rather dizzy from the horrible migraine this strange book caused from racking my brain I made my way back to my room and without a care in the world for anything else I plopped down on my bed and put my head under the pillow to keep the light out. I could examine the book more tomorrow if I feel like it. At that particular moment I felt extremely thankful to have the house to myself and to have the peace and quiet. Somewhere outside I heard a crow. Its call echoed as it dimmed into the background. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my breathing.
I woke up later that night having had a strange dream about the odd book. It was like the people in the book were calling for me even though I didn’t even know what kind of characters the book had. It was so dream like. I could see myself asleep and the book calling to me. It was like I was a on-looker to my own dream. It was creepy.
Annoyed by the dream and now suddenly scared of my darkened room I got up quickly and turned on the desk lap. I angled the corigated neck so the light could shine on my bed. Without a thought of hesitation I grabbed the book and plopped back onto the bed. I realized I still had my school clothes on, but didn’t care. All I could think about was reading the book. A strange voice int the back of my head told me nothing was going to be the same again, but the book would call to me in my dreams until I read it. Odd, but that was the only way I felt like I could explain the sensation.
I opened the old oil-scented leathery brown cover. Part of it fell off in my hand from not being oiled recently. With a more gentle movement of my pointer finger I turned the blank page and read the title.
“Memoirs of Emmeline Ann Stratton Grover Miller”
This biography is a compelation of Emmeline’s Journals and by the memories of close friends and family.
Unexcited by the title and description I figured this would be the most boring book I would ever read. Little did I know at the time that I would be proving myself wrong. I flipped the page and began to read.Emmeline told me once about how she felt prior the the inclosed events...
H.K.T.
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