The Bookshop and the Barbarian

by Morgan Stang

The bookworms slowly drew closer, and Maribella leaned in to see better. “What do you think will happen?” asked Clarence. “They will fight,” said Asteria. “This is display of force over territory. Such things happen among moose. This is so.” Closer and closer they got. Ever closer. And then. They kissed. Maribella lit up in a smile. “Look at that! Oh, but how romantic, isn't it? They're hitting it off so very well.” Townspeople scrunched up their faces and watched as the two bookworms continued to kiss. “They progressed rather fast, wouldn't you say?” said Hargle. “Well, perhaps bookworms have short lives so they need to work quickly,” said Maribella. “Whatever the case, I think it's beautiful. Magical, even. How likely was it that poor Mr Cumberbutton, locked away up in his room, hidden away from the world all day, would find true love like this? I think it's a wonderful lesson to learn from these two. Love is always possible, even when you think it's not.”