Fragment Friday – Chapterbuzz 10k challenge edition

This month I am participating in the Chapterbuzz 10k challenge.  The idea is to write 10k words this month, but I am also inviting comments from readers along the way, as the story is written.  Fragment Friday this week is from the story I am working on.  It has a working title of Jungle and is about two children that find an amazing book.  If you want to catch up on the story so far, CLICK HERE.

Here is a fragment of that story.  If you wish to have a fragment of your work here, just get in touch.

“Can we see inside?” Ellie spoke in hushed tones, as if to speak loudly would break some kind of spell that the counterman had put on them.

“Not in here. I’d really rather you didn’t.”

“Why?” said Flynn. He was finally intrigued. “What will happen?”

“Nothing.”

Flynn looked disappointed.

“Probably.” The old man finished.

“What does that mean? Might something happen?

“It might. Just don’t keep it open for too long.” He chuckled and stepped back from the counter.

 

Mrs Lawson turned back and reached for her purse. “Thank you sir, I think we’ll just take it. These two will have nightmares if you carry on. “How much will that be?”

The counterman looked at her, then back at the children, then back to Mrs Lawson. “What do you think kids? Can I trust you to take care of this?”

“Yes!” shouted Ellie. “Can we get it mum? Please?”

“Again, sir. How much?”

Stepping around the counter, the counterman bent forward, hands on his knees bringing him eye to eye with Ellie. He stayed that way for a moment before standing up. “It’s yours. No Charge.” He slid the book off the counter and handed it to Ellie. “Keep it safe. If you need to read it, do it when you get home.”

Mrs Lawson made several attempts to pay for the book, but the counterman would take no money. Eventually the trio left the shop with the book tucked tightly under Ellie’s arm. Mrs Lawson was glad the book had been free. The children hadn’t even looked inside.

For the remainder of the shopping trip, Ellie didn’t stray from her mum’s side. She continued to clutch the book tightly under her arms. The anticipation of opening the book was almost too much to bear. The old man in the shop had made the book even more interesting than it had looked in the window. The urge to open it for a look – just a quick one, mind – was great, but she resisted and bounced along beside her mum and brother and imagined what she was going to find when she did open it.

If you wish to keep up to date with this story, you can follow along on this blog, or you can get all the currently written parts HERE.

If you would like to share a fragment of your own book / story, along with details about yourself / your work, head over to the CONTACT page and let me know.