7.

Yeah, in the lead up to what was, is, and could be ... Judy's story. There are a few things you may need to know.

I knew about three people within the school walls when I first walked through its main doors about thirteen months before that day in the library. When I say 'knew' I really mean 'knew of'. One of these three people was an older boy, Peter I think his name was. He would have been about two or so years older than me. He and his family lived the next street over from where I lived. I had seen him around but didn't really know him at all.

Peter was nice though, anytime I passed him the school corridors, or anywhere else for that matter, he always greeted me. There always was a 'hi' or a 'hey' and I liked that about him. I was hardly a month at that school by the time Peter and his family moved away. Had he moved away though?

I don't know where they moved to or why they moved though it is odd, very odd, that I didn't see Peter again until that day, the day I met Judy. Yeah, odd, isn't it? I thought that he and his family had moved away, and they had but Peter had come back, momentarily as it would seem. He specifically came to see me that day and he seemed to have a good reason to too though I wouldn't have known exactly what that reason was at the time.

When he had been around before, there was never more than that 'hi' or 'hello' then out of the blue he is back at the school, at the library no less. It was as if he knew to find me there, as if his purpose was to find me in that moment. On that particular day, I had two free periods before lunch, so I spent them in the library. I was more than surprised to see him walk through the door. He simply walked right up to me and spoke his familiar 'hey'.

I returned his 'hey' with a 'hey' of my own. I wanted to ask him then and there as to how and why he was back, but I didn't. I may have just been fifteen years old though I could see that Peter had his reason to come visit me. What he next said to me didn't really make much sense, it didn't really back then. Even with knowing what I do now I still struggle to put it all together. At least now I understand to some degree.

What was it that Peter said to me? Well, it was simply 'when she comes in today, remember to talk to her.'

'She who?' I asked.

'You'll know when you see her.'

'Alright ...' I responded for the sake of responding while being very confused.

'Remember, you are the gatekeeper.'

Peter then simply smiled turned and left the room. Being as confused as I was, I actually went towards the door and looked out into the hallway. I looked both left and right and could not see this Peter fellow. I was sure that in the amount of time it took me to get to that door that Peter could not have got far enough that I would no longer be able to see him. He was gone however, and that was clear.

What else was clear or what I hope was somewhat clear is that the 'her' he had spoken of was Judy, I knew this as soon as I saw her, and of course and as we know I did talk to Judy that day. Gatekeeper though ... really? At the time he made that reference I had no idea what Peter was going on about. I thought he was more than a little crazy or something like that. Now I understand, still even in the here and now so many years later, it still can be pretty mind bending.

Now, I wonder as to the possible existence in some other kind of alternate timeline to there being a day where she came into the library on that Thursday afternoon, and I had said nothing. If I can create an alternate timeline, then will I know I have done such? Would things be destined to happen all over?

The second of three people I kinda knew at school that first day I entered its grounds was one of the teachers. Mister Kennedy, the geography teacher, was and is a good friend of my father's. To be honest I am not sure, even now I am not sure, as to if Mister Kennedy owed my father something or as to if he was just being friendly or out of some sort of kindness was looking out for me but he saw me standing all on my own that first day in the school assembly hall. For some reason or other, he done something really nice for me that day.

I love books, I always have. Did Mister Kennedy know this before he first came to me? How could he have? I am not the sporty type or the physical type; I don't fit in with groups or things like that. I got the impression from Mister Kennedy that he knew this, for he more than just greeted me, he set me up with that position I was to have in the library.

There soon came the time when I knew exactly what was in the library and as to exactly where each and every item too, in terms of actual books that is. I knew what books were out on loan and I would even be able to request items to add to the library collection. Usually, and as long as I wasn't trying to take advantage, my requests would be granted.

In class, especially geography, I made sure I behaved, not that I ever misbehaved or anything, such a thing was not in my nature. I made sure to listen, I made sure I put in the work, and I made sure that I was the best student I could be. Was I trying to impress Mister Kennedy? I don't know to be honest. I guess I didn't want him to have any reason to feel disappointed with me or feel let down by me. I think I more than accomplished that but then again. If only he knew the truth, the whole story, maybe he did and maybe he did before I even did. Maybe he did have his reasons to get me into that library. I still wonder too, as to if it is for the very thing I now consider, but seriously ... can that be possible?

The third person within the school walls with whom I knew of on that first day was someone I wish I knew nothing about. His name was Abe, and he was the school bully. His reputation preceded him, so I done my best to avoid him and I managed to do that for some time but time itself caught up with me and so did Abe.

Six months it was for me being at the school before we had our first encounter. Abe was looking for trouble and he found it in the library. It is because of him that I found my power, well maybe not my power but a power that would come my way. Then again, if I were to think about it, what did Peter and Mister Kennedy know? They knew something, I am sure of that. They could have as much to do with all this as Abe did, Abe himself had no knowledge of it when that encounter came round.

As I mentioned, Abe was looking for trouble the day he came into the library, and I just so happened to be in his way. Being followed by a couple of his buddies, this Abe fellow walked over to one shelf in particular, a random shelf surely, and knocked a couple books or so to the ground. I watched this happen, but I did not react to it.

I most definitely did not like the laugh these three shared. Yeah, they thought knocking books to the floor was funny. They had no respect. When it happened for a second time, I could not remain quiet. The place, the library is my domain, I cannot allow anyone to come in and treat it with disrespect. I walked briskly towards the three then politely and firmly spoke.

'Excuse me, can you please pick up those books ...'

The three bullies just laughed again as Abe gave each of his buddies a brief look before placing his right hand on my chest and pushing me back a step or two.

'Or what?' he snarled, 'you gonna make me?'

'Please just put the books back, they are the property of the library.'

'They are the property of the library' he spoke twice with a high-pitched jeer.

Once again, his buddies laughed. It was enough to make my blood boil. It got worse too when Abe knocked books to the floor for a third time. For some reason or another and like a gut reaction, I grabbed a book off from the shelf closest to me and shoved it into Abe's chest.

'Please just leave' I said at this point.

Abe stared me in the eyes for a moment, then turned to his friends.

'C'mon, let's get outta here, there's no fun to be had in this place ... it sucks.'

Abe did leave with his buddies, and he left with that book I had shoved into his chest. Strange thing is that Abe went missing that day; never to be seen or heard from again, not in school and not around town, well not directly anyway, though he would show up of sorts somewhere else. There would be brief moments in reality too, especially at times when things seemed wrong or out of place.

Funny thing is, or maybe not funny, is that the book he left with was entitled 'The Vanished One'.

Odd huh? Anyway, I am getting a little off the mark here, a little bit off track. As I have mention on more than one occasion now, this is not my story. It is Judy's story. So maybe a return right now, is in order ...