The Library After Dark

The most spectacular place I have ever seen is the library. I was born within these papered walls. The deep blue and burgundy of the floral wallpaper blends into one another making the walls look almost black. At dusk the sun’s rays reach through the west-facing windows and bring the walls to life. Golden hues swirl around the flora revealing mysteries that are hidden to the outside world.

At night, I am the only one left to explore the stories hidden here. When the wallpapered room ends, book-filled mahogany shelves continue in never-ending rows. As I run along the paths between shelves, I find myself stopping to smell the old books. The ancient covers are made with stiff leather in an array of colors from red and blue to white and every shade of gray. These aren’t the books I am hunting for though.

Silently, I scurry along the waxed wood floors, hugging the baseboards the way my mother taught me. My favorite books are newer. They have a fresh sort of smell to the crisp white pages. The covers are made from colorful thick paper, which I love tearing from the books and collecting for my home. It’s dark now, but I don’t need light to know that my books are on the next row. My heart races with excitement knowing I am so close. My row ends with a long window that has the perfect view of a twinkling skyline. A rainbow of lights from the window reflects off the wood floor. It’s a magical playground for someone like me.

But what is that smell? It’s something new.

Mixed in with the scent of freshly printed ink on beautiful paper is the scent of Swiss cheese. This has to be the luckiest day of my life. Someone has left my very favorite food on the shelves with my very favorite books. I can’t help it, a squeak of happiness leaves my body as I reach the perfect square of cheese. The wooden plate is a little big, so I have to climb onto the platform to take my prize. This contraption of metal and wood is a masterpiece for displaying my treat. My whiskers twitch, my nose wiggles and my tongue flicks against the cheese to make sure it’s real. It’s REAL! Leaning forward, I sink my teeth into the…