Books? Or More Books?

A Hedgehog had recently bought a new book without finishing the book she was currently reading. Sanya, the Hedgehog, always did this to herself. She read with her eyes and as soon as she saw a new book she thought looked good she would jump the gun and buy it without finishing her old book.

This always made Sanya’s Old Book feel bad. Like it wasn’t good enough to keep Sanya’s wandering eye at bay.

“Another new book?” The Old Book asked Sanya when she came home.

“Yeah, but I’ll still finish you first, don’t worry!” Sanya replied, defensively.

“That’s what you said to the last book you had before me!” The Old Book continued, “That book tried to warn me about you, I should have listened.”

“No, it’s different this time!” Sanya pleaded, “Don’t be like this, please!”

“Save it, Sanya, I bet you couldn’t tell me where that last book you had before me even is right now, could you?”

Sanya hesitated. Her Old Book was right.

“I’m right here!” The Last Book piped up, answering the Old Book, “I’m underneath you.”

Sanya and the Old Book indeed realized the Last Book was underneath the Old Book on the same coffee table that was becoming too cluttered with books.

“Wow, I do have a lot of books,” Sanya realized. “I should move them all to the bookshelf.”

“Oh of course,” Sanya’s Old Book began again, “Just put us away! Stash us in some home, some retirement bookcase, where you don’t have to visit or think about us ever again!”

“Out of sight, out of mind,” the Last Book added.

“Oh, you two are just jealous because I’m her new book!” The New Book chimed in, “Get over yourselves. We’re going to be very happy reading together.”

The Old Book and the Last Book laughed together.

“That’s what I said to the book I replaced,” the Last Book answered, “And that’s what Sanya said to me too, didn’t you?”

The Old Book nodded, “Sorry, I didn’t know at the time what I was saying.”

“It’s okay,” the Last Book assured her, “We all make mistakes.”

“The only mistake was not picking me sooner,” the New Book shot back at the other two.

“It’s okay young one, we understand, and one day you will know pain as well, till then enjoy your time with her, cherish the moments you have because one day it will end too…”

Then Sanya snapped back to reality. She looked down at her new book. Lifeless. She looked to her old book and her last book. Sitting on her coffee table. Lifeless.

“Okay Sanya, wow,” she said to herself, “We have got to start switching to decaf after 4 PM.”