Book Wyrm

“Alexandria, help me out here. This token's only for thirty pounds and I can't decide which book I want,” I say, bouncing the books in my hands as if their weight will help me decide. My wyrm lifts her head up out of the books she's been sniffing and scurries over, her purple scales changing into a whirl of colours as her feet make contact with the book covers.

“Why don't you get both? We've got the money, and we deserve a treat after putting up the trellis,” Alexandria says, leaping forward to land on my shoulder and wrap herself around my neck like a warm, scaly scarf.

“Ian and I put up the trellis. You just traumatized next doors cat,” I reply with a huff. I think I will get both books. Urgh, why couldn’t I have done the sensible thing and bought a purse that seals itself shut when it senses an oncoming bad decision instead of a book loving wyrm?

“And you’re very welcome. Don’t give me that look, you’ll be thanking me on your knees once the plants go in. No more cat poo and oh, a book on the history of the Welsh language.”

“No,” I reply, pulling her back by her tail before she can go for it. Alexandria hisses and blows smoke at me before flying down and burrowing herself in my bag. Coughing away the smoke, I pay the grinning cashier and hurry out of the shop before anything else can catch mine or Alexandria’s attention.

“Can we at least go to Oxfam bookshop?” Alexandria asks as I start the walk home.

“Not today. I can almost hear my bank account sobbing. Lets go and put these in our library.”

Published 19th of September 2023