Chapter One…THE LIBRARY

Meg and her grandfather were standing in his very large and extensive library where the shelves ran all the way to the ceiling and were packed with books that had mostly leather bindings of various shades of green, red and brown.
“You really should read more Meg Dear. Most of the world’s great authors are represented in this room. What kinds of books do you like to read the most?”
Meg loved her “Papa” as she called him but she really, really did NOT like to read books. She’d rather play electronic games or even play soccer with her neighborhood and school friends or, her favorite thing of all…watch TV.
“Sorry Papa, but I just don’t like to sit down and read. Especially old books about the past.”
“Hmm…well…I was like that when I was young too. But my parents forced me to read at least thirty minutes every day and also I had to practice the piano thirty minutes too. I resented what I thought to be a waste of time back then when I could have been playing with my friends.”
“But as you can see…now I LOVE my books and I thoroughly enjoy playing the piano whenever I want.” he added.
“Good Papa…I’m glad for you but I just don’t…”
Her grandfather gently interrupted Meg…”OK…OK… I get it. But I think that I have the PERFECT book for you. It is the easiest book to read that you will ever see and I promise, you will enjoy it. Will you try it at least?”
Sensing that she had convinced her Papa of her dislike for books she agreed. Add the fact that her favorite TV show was coming on in four minutes, she smiled and happily agreed to her grandfather’s wishes.
He climbed the library ladder and selected a book from the very top shelf. A small and narrow book with a yellow binding and no title. He climbed down and handed the book to Meg, then left the room.
Meg watched him leave and then opened the book to the first page and it was blank. And so was the second and the third. In fact, as Meg thumbed through the little book she found that EVERY page was blank and then laughed out loud at the apparent joke that her Papa had played on her.
But just then the book started to tingle in her hand as she held it. She reacted to this strange event by dropping it on the floor. It fell open and on the page was a picture of her that looked older than she was and then the picture started moving and the “older” Meg turned and looked at the current Meg and then waved and smiled and said “Come on…let’s have some fun!”
Meg rubbed her eyes in disbelief and when she reopened them “Older Meg” was still on the page, hands on hips…”Well…what are you waitin’ for? Let’s Go!”
“But I’m way too big to join…WHOOOOAH….” Meg felt herself being drawn and shrunken and pulled down onto…no INTO the page.

Chapter Two…A WILD ADVENTURE

Instantly Meg found herself standing next to the most unbelievable person that she could have ever guessed that she would be standing next to…HERSELF!
This was way beyond strange! Meg had heard people say that you have to like yourself, but this was ridiculous!
“Isn’t this just the coolest?” Older Meg said as she took herself by the hand and guided them both farther into the depth of the little yellow book.
“Oh…I’ve got so many friends that I want you to meet.” Older Meg said in a very excited voice.
Meg was still in a bit of shock and pure disbelief as she let the older version of herself lead her to a large old brown house with a wrap around front porch.
There was a gentleman standing on the top step smiling down as they approached.
Meg thought that the man’s mustache was the biggest one that she had ever seen in person or in pictures. He had a very wooley head of hair and was wearing a white suit.
“Well…hello there Meg…who did you bring with you today.”
“Well Mr. Clemens…it’s kinda…younger me!”
“Hello Meg…ah “junior”…a distinct pleasure to meet you. I’ve been friends with the older you for a while now. She..ah…you remind me of one of my favorite characters, Becky Thatcher.”
Older Meg introduced Samuel Langhorne Clemens to her younger self. “Of course he’s better known by his pen name “Mark Twain”.
Then Meg and Meg and Mr. Twain sat in rockers on the porch and the girl(s) listened spellbound as he told them stories of his time growing up on the Mississippi River in Missouri.
“We must be on our way Mr. Twain. Lots to do.” Older Meg said as they departed.
“Remember me to your Grandfather Meg. He really loves books and I appreciate that very much you know.”
“We will.” Both Megs answered simultaneously.

Chapter Three…MORE FRIENDS THAT MEG DIDN’T KNOW SHE HAD

“You won’t believe who you are going to meet next Meg.” Older Meg said.
“Let me guess…William Shakespeare!” said Meg.
“Oh no…he’s tucked away in his Stratford-Upon-Avon home working on a brand new play…well, new for him, around 1600. You see literature, you know “books”, never get old really. But that was a good guess.”
Then Older Meg guided Meg to another page in the little yellow book where there was another brown house where a famous female author lived.
Older Meg knocked on the door and it opened just a crack and an eye peeked out at them. Then the door swung open “Meg…how wonderful to see you …is this your sister? Come in.”
“Well…it’s an unusual story…” began Older Meg.
“Oh I LOVE unusual stories…tell me” the woman excitedly said.
“Well…Ms.Louisa Mae Alcott allow me to introduce you to…ah…ME…younger me that is.”
“My that IS unusual. Have a seat in the parlor. Would you like some tea and shortbread?”
“Thank you Ms. Alcott” Meg said.
“This is the house that you grew up in and wrote your book “Little Women” about isn’t it Ms. Alcott?” Older Meg said.
“Why yes it is…the very one.” she replied.
“My Grandfather has a First Edition of “Little Women” Older Meg said.
“Well a Lady doesn’t like to tell her age but I will admit that the book is rather old now.”
Ms. Alcott and the Megs had a delightful chat and tea and then the girls headed off to another page in the little yellow book to meet yet another of Older Meg’s friends.

Chapter  Four…AUTHOR AND ARTIST AND SCADS OF RABBITS

The sign read “Hill Top” and it was at the entrance garden of a rather large old greystone house. And as Meg arrived, there was a woman leaning against the edge of the door holding a big straw hat.
“Meg…how wonderful to see you again Dear.”
“Hello Ms. Potter…I’ve brought a very unusual friend with me.”
“Yes I see…very unusual indeed…it’s you, about…I’d say three maybe four years ago. Welcome “Also Meg” I’m charmed to meet you.”
The woman held out her hand to younger Meg…”I’m Beatrix Potter…how wonderful to meet you too. And I perfectly understand why you are both here.”
“You do? We don’t.” said older Meg.
“Oh my yes….you want your younger self to realize what you now know and you don’t want her to miss even a day of enjoying the pleasure that books can bring. Won’t you both come inside. I want you to meet a few of my unusual characters from my books.”
We all entered the house and went past the living room and dining, and other rooms until we got to the rear of the house where there was an artist’s studio set up.
There were easels and paintings both framed and unframed and one sketch which was unfinished that was sitting on an easel in the center of the room.
Ms. Potter pointed to the largest artwork of all. “That’s Peter Rabbit. He’s the star of course. And there is Mrs. Josephene Rabbit, Peter’s Mom and those are his three sisters Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail.”
We thought we heard a very faint “hello” coming from one or more of the paintings but couldn’t be sure.
“I’m currently working on a drawing of Cousin Benjamin Bunny but that can wait until after your visit.”
Meg and Meg and Ms. Potter then withdrew to the dining room where a beautiful lunch was served. Meg did notice two small trays of carrot sticks on the sideboard but thought it un-guest-like to inquire about them.
After the Megs were back outside of Hill Top younger Meg said “Literature is such a wonderful world isn’t it?”
Older Meg just smiled and said “I think that you are ready to go back to the library now.”

Chapter Five… A WISER MEG RETURNS

Young Meg closed her eyes and heard a “whooshing” sound and felt a tingle in her hand. When she opened her eyes she was holding the little yellow book and her Grandfather was standing at the doorway to the library.
“Meg…aren’t you going to miss your favorite TV show?” he smiled and asked.
“Ah…well…I thought that I might just look at one of your books or two Papa.”
Her grandfather pointed to the small round table in the center of the room.
“I’ve selected three that I could recommend for you Meg and put them there.”
Meg went over to the table and there were the books “Tom Sawyer”, “Little Women” and the “The Tale Of Peter Rabbit” all sitting and waiting to be read, which we all know is the very best thing to do with books.
THE END