A Library of Choices

     Eyes wide and jaw dropped, Timothy stared in wonder at his dream-like surroundings. Shelves of books towered above him in the large circular room. A domed roof covered the ancient library. Desks and couches for lounging and studying were arranged upon the green carpeted floor. Anxious to get started, Timothy headed toward the nearest book case. Which book should he read first? He scanned the first shelves eagerly. “May I help you?” Startled, Timothy spun around in search of the owner of the voice. “May I help you?” the voice repeated. Finally Timothy saw him. A librarian stood behind an ancient oak desk examining him closely with eyes that glowed bright orange like burning hot coals. They seemed to pierce right through his body to his soul. The man's long beard and hair were stark white like an old man's, but his skin was smooth like that of a young man. His suit was also stark white. “I know the best books.” the librarian said still staring at him.
    Timothy shivered. “No, thank you. I'll find something on my own,” he replied and hurriedly picked up a book off the shelf and headed towards the side of the room farthest from the creepy librarian. He sat down at a small desk and read the cover of the book he had grabbed. It read: Advanced Calculus for the Intellectual Mind by Matt Thay Mattix and A. Rith Matick. “What on earth is calculus?” muttered Timothy.
    “You seriously aren't going to read that, are you?” questioned a teen nearby about Timothy's age. “Nobody reads that type of junk anymore,” he mocked. “It's so not exciting.” Behind the boy stood a bunch of other kids who murmured in agreement. Timothy looked at the book again. It did look kind of boring. The boy yanked it out of his hands and threw it across the room. Timothy thought for sure the librarian would yell or kick them out, but he said nothing. He only stared at him and the other kids with sorrowful eyes. The boy and his buddies laughed. “Come with us! We will show you the best books. The ones that everybody reads.” They tugged him towards a room that Timothy had not seen when he first entered the library. Rows of desks with computers were crowded into the large room. Tons of teens sat at the desks, eyes fixed on the screens.
    “These aren't books!” exclaimed Timothy.
     “No, but they are the best.” replied the boy. “Come on! Let's have some fun.” He sat down at a desk. “You have to try this game. It's so real and the best battle game ever. You can blow people to pieces and everything!” Timothy eyed the computer. A note taped on the side read,  For Research Purposes Only. He pointed it out to the boy. “Don't worry about it. The librarian doesn't seem to care. He hasn't stopped us from doing anything. We've figured out how to get onto all of the blocked websites,” the boy declared. Not wanting to receive any criticism, Timothy said nothing. He only watched and listened. True to the boy's word, the game was very realistic. Timothy's stomach churned as a man blew up and the camera zoomed in on the smoldering body pieces. It was the goriest image he had ever seen, and it disgusted him as the boy laughed in delight. Timothy knew that if he did not leave the room, he would soon lose his lunch to the green carpet. He quickly got up from his seat. “Hey, where are you going?” shouted the boy as Timothy made his escape. Timothy did not look back but headed straight for the library doors.
    “Leaving so soon?” asked the librarian. “I have not shown you the best books yet.”
    Timothy stopped and faced the librarian. “Sir, they are not following the rules on the computers.”
    “I know.” replied the librarian.
    “Why don't you do something?” Timothy asked.
    “It is their choice.” he replied. “I tell them what is best, but they do not listen. Each will eventually pay for their choices; but what about you? Will you choose what is best?”
    “But what is best?”
    “I will show you.” The librarian led Timothy to a book case that was covered in dust. He carefully selected a book, blew off the dust, and handed it him.
    “Why are these ones so dusty?” Timothy asked as he accepted the book.
     The librarian was silent for a few moments and then replied, “No one wants to read the best books. They are afraid of being mocked for their choices. In order to avoid the scorn of others they do what everyone else seems to be doing at the moment.” He motioned to the crowded computer room and then back at the circular room in which they stood. “They indulge themselves in temporary thrill and gore, abandoning the lasting wisdom that can be obtained from books such as the one you now hold in your hand. Read and learn, Son.” Timothy examined the book in his hands. The cover looked ancient but in surprisingly good shape. In bold, gold letters the title read, A Good Choice by Timothy. Startled to see his own name, he looked up questioningly at the librarian only to find the kind, glowing eyes no longer there. The library itself was no longer there either. He stood at a store counter with a lady waiting impatiently for him to place his purchase choice on the counter. One of Timothy's friends who stood behind him in line nudged him forward. Timothy stepped forward and looked at the item in his hand. An R-rated movie screamed up at him.
    “Wait a minute,” Timothy said as he rushed towards the back of the store. “I think I'll get a book instead.” His friends just stared after him in disbelief.