Giants in the Earth

       The book stood out to Katie because its cover was the least faded. She glanced over her shoulder, but the nose of the lady at the counter of Ursula's Used Books was still buried in a newspaper. Katie squinted at the date. February 23. Four days ago! Was nothing up to date in this store? Even the transparent shade made the light yellow and dimmed- just like the pages on the books.
       Katie returned her gaze to the book in her hands. The beige print that was once a title had faded completely and the edges of the royal blue cover were beginning to fray. She squinted at the bottom right corner and just barely made out the words: Harper's Modern Classics. Katie laughed out loud. The lady at the counter coughed and turned a page. Katie opened to the title page. Giants In The Earth. She set it back on the shelf. This wasn't what she was looking for.
       "Do you have any biographies?" Katie asked as she shuffled to the counter. She noticed a name tag which read 'Malorie'.
       Malorie shrugged and tucked some of her greying hair behind her ear. "I'm sure we do. Check under non-fiction."
       Katie sighed and grimaced at the crates, bins, and piles of unorganized books marked 'non-fiction'. Frustrated, Katie turned back to Malorie, whose face was already hidden behind the out-dated newspaper. "Why do you work here if you don't even know what kind of books you have?" she spat.
       Malorie set down her paper. "Why are you here and not at the library or one of those fancy book stores with the electronic books?"
       "Answer my question first." Katie crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
       Malorie mimicked her and said, "Okay. I know exactly where our biographies are kept, but I've found the letting people search themselves often brings them to the book they really need." She uncrossed her arms and softened her gaze. "Your turn."
       "I'm here because the last time I was at the library, I spilled juice all over the librarian and I hate those book shops because half the space is taken up by stupid coffee shops. I hate the smell of coffee."
       Malorie raised her eyebrows and pushed the paper aside. "Then I think we have something in common."
       Katie stood very still. Maybe it was the tone Malorie used or that she answered Katie's questions directly. Whatever the reason, she liked Malorie. But she didn't want to let on. No, she wouldn't make it that easy.
       "What do you want with a biography?"
       "School." Katie answered flatly.
       "You have to read a biography for school?" Katie nodded. "Have you ever read one before?"
       "I read My Story by Rosa Parks last year."
       "How did you like it?"
       Katie shrugged.
       "What was the book you were looking at before? The blue one?"
       Katie pointed to the shelf. "Giants in the Earth."
       "Hmmm..." Malorie picked the book up and glanced from it to Katie and back again. "Well, it isn't exactly a biography, but..." She tossed it to Katie. It took all her energy not to gape. Throwing a book? Things like that could get you lectured in school. Books were treated like glass figurines: breakable and priceless. "Seems this is the book you need." Malorie grinned as she slid back into her seat behind the counter.
       "How much?" asked Katie prepared to haggle.
       "I'll make a note. You can pay later. I've a feeling you'll be back."
       Only then did Katie allow herself a half smile. "Thanks." 
       She sprinted out the door and braced against the cold wind, clutching the book in both hands. She would be back.

SWC

Summer Writing Challenge:

Write an inspirational speech (the thesis may be general of specific) using as many cliches as possible. Just let them out. Don't go back to edit. Make it horrible. Describe everything as either awesome or stupid. Use weak verbs, passive tense, and- like I said- as many cliche idioms as possible. My theory behind this is that if you get out all your bad ideas ahead of time, there will be nothing left but good ideas. Makes sense, right? Tell me how it goes!