A Dagger Through Dimensions - Chapter 14

You’ve never heard of Veronica Lake?

Author’s Note: This is a webnovel. First 10 chapters are free to all Substack subscribers. After that, you can access the FULL ongoing chapters plus receive access to the digital file at the end of each arc by becoming a paid subscriber.

Start the story with the link below.

Chapter 14

I walked along Main Street, then took a turn down Depot Avenue, heading to the Stull Junction Public Library after getting Alice’s directions. On the way, I noticed a quiet train station with several cars parked in front of it. Curiosity got to me as I wondered how many trains passed through the city and what cities you could get to from here.

Stifling in the suit, my mind wandered back to when I wore tee shirts and blue jeans for my classes. And the classrooms had air conditioning. It reminded me I haven’t encountered a place with modern cooling.

And they always say the good old days!

Getting thirsty, I looked for a refreshment stand when I came upon a Kress 5-10 store. In the window, I spotted a big cooler with an ad for Dr. Nut soda. Going inside, it took me a while to figure out how to use a bottle opener since no one invented twist tops yet. Laughing at myself, I remembered a movie where Marty had the same problem.

While drinking my soda, I looked over the displays. I noticed firecrackers, and they even sold ammunition in an area near the toys section. Wondering about all the code violations the store would have in the era I lived, I shook my head in amazement. Saving myself a nickel, I placed my empty glass bottle in with the others on the rack and walked the remaining distance to the library.

The place wasn’t hard to find with the name Stull Junction Public Library engraved in the pediment above the entrance. After stepping up the marble steps and going past the columns, I entered a building that smelled of old, musty books. A wave of nostalgia swept through me. Hanging around the library stacks at high school and college was one of my favorite pastimes. After all, I’m a bit of a loner by nature with a thing for reading, so the library seems the perfect spot for me.

That was until I went to the counter and met a woman who looked like the Wicked Witch of the West without the green face paint. The only difference that I see is she’s not wearing the pointed cap. Anyway, her stony expression softened when I asked about the reading room for the latest news and a map room.

I wound my way up a flight of stairs to the next floor, where I found the map room. For some crazy reason, I didn’t expect to find the city on a map. But the first thing I saw on the wall after going into a room filled with flat shelves was an old map of the original town layout.

Intrigued by the wall image, I went over to a map of the U.S.A. hung on the wall behind a cute young lady standing at a counter.

She glanced at me, then smiled. The girl is a brunet with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her dark blue dress is simple, and she’s wearing a thin sweater. While I admired her pretty green eyes, her smile revealed crooked teeth which didn’t disturb her looks. I guessed that she’s just out of high school. Still, I wasn’t familiar with getting such attention.

“Can you show me where Stull Junction is on the map behind you?”

The girl turned around and I’m distracted for a moment at the well-built figure outlined inside her dress. Then, I follow her hand as it moved to the state of California before she placed her index finger on an area in between LA and San Francisco.

“It’s right about here,” she replied while cocking her head back to see my reaction.

“Great! Now, pretty lady, where can I find a map of the cities for the state?” I gave her my best smile.

Now, I’ll admit it felt good to see her reaction since I never got such responses as a student in high school or college. I’m not ugly, but no girl in her right mind thought of me as hot. The way I looked at it, I’m married, but that’s a way of getting me out of here. My ego enjoyed knowing that a girl found me interesting. After all, find me a man who doesn’t like the attention of a pretty girl and I’ll bet he’s gay or some stupid beta masochist.

Blushing, she turned back to me and pointed to rows of flat shelves by the back wall.

“All the state maps are over there.”

After I thanked her and turned away, the girl spoke up.

“If you need anything else, my name is Mandy.”

I grinned and looked back. After giving her my name, I remembered to note her name in my little black book.

Discover all my books at the link below.