The Curious Case Of… Miser Snoot and the Bibliomaniacs

By Charlie O’Shields

Amanda, Jonathon and Sam, the sleuths of Curious Cases, Inc., have been looking for a mystery to solve. One day their teacher, Miss Imagine, suggests they try looking for mysteries inside their local library. The three detectives are skeptical at first, but decide to take the case. There, they meet Miss Preface, the mysterious librarian who starts them out on a fast-paced journey to a magical place known as Information Aislelanda land full of books where nothing is quite as it seems.

The three sleuths soon learn that Miser Snoot, the evil bookkeeper, has stolen all of the Aisleland's books and it's up to Curious Cases, Inc. to get them back. As they meet the strange inhabitants of Information Aisleland, they collect new clues and soon discover that the key to stopping Snoot lies in learning the importance of reading the very books they are trying to save.

This Curious Case unravels the secrets of reading and proves that even a local library can be a great place to start an adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 23, 2002
• ISBN: 9781469794341

Charlie O’Shields

Charlie O’Shields lives in the center of America in a land called Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. O’Shields has a B.A. in Studio Art and has been writing, designing, and dreaming up crazy ideas for over 12 years. He currently works as a Creative Director of interactive communications.

Book preview

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Writers Club Press

San Jose New York Lincoln Shanghai

The Curious Case of . . . Miser Snoot and The Bibliomaniacs

All Rights Reserved

© 2002 by Charlie O’Shields

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

Writers Club Press an imprint of iUniverse, Inc.

For information address:

iUniverse, Inc.

5220 S. 16th St., Suite 200

Lincoln, NE 68512 www.iuniverse.com

Illustrations Copyright © 2002 Shane Tanner

Nicole Sandage, Editor

Any resemblance to actual people and events is purely coincidental.

This is a work of fiction.

ISBN: 0-595-22250-1

ISBN: 978-1-4697-9434-1 (ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Dedication

A Note From the Editor

Chapter 1-

Looking for a New Case

Chapter 2-

Miss Preface

Chapter 3-

Introducing Text

Chapter 4-

Starting with T.O.C.

Chapter 5-

Who is Miser Snoot?

Chapter 6-

The Paper-Thin Place saver

Chapter 7-

Amanda’s Contest

Chapter 8-

Jonathon Sees the Doctor

Chapter 9-

Sam Goes to Court

Chapter 10-

Meeting Niggle

Chapter 11-

The Land of the Lazzarones

Chapter 12-

Ramble Helps Out

Chapter 13-

Reference Resort

Chapter 14-

Welcoming William One

Chapter 15-

B.E.W.A.R.E.

Chapter 16-

Bibliomania

Chapter 17-

President Dewey Decimal

Chapter 18-

The Eleven Chambers

Chapter 19-

Finding The End

Chapter 20-

Curious Case Closed

About the Author

Dedication

To the wonderful team at Lookandfeel New Media who provided me with constant motivation and inspiration

To Shane Tanner for his wonderful illustrations and Nicole Sandage for agreeing to be my editor

To Mom and Dad, who never questioned my dreams, no matter how crazy they seemed

And to Andrew, for years of patience, love, and continual support for all my crazy ideas

A Note From the Editor

Imagination is a gift. Like any treasured gift, we need to take care of it.

But unlike most gifts, imagination must be nourished with information in order to survive.

Welcome to the first adventure of Amanda, Jonathon, and Sam—the founding members of Curious Cases, Inc. Get ready to join these three detectives on their exploration of Information Aisle land and help them take the mystery out of their story.

This Curious Case unravels the secrets of reading and shows that even a local library can be a great place to find an adventure! Good luck and remember, the only thing you need to pack for your trip, is your imagination!

Nicole Sandage

Editor

Chapter 1-

Looking for a New Case

Once there was a girl named Amanda, a boy named Jonathon, and a boy named Sam. Separately, they were merely students from Miss Imagine’s fifth grade class. They attended school each day, with shameless reluctance, and returned home in the same tiresome fashion for what seemed like a small lifetime.

Even the club they had formed seemed dull and uninteresting. Surely the only three members of the not-so-famous Curious Cases, Inc. could find something exciting to do.

The sign, after all, was clearly posted outside their headquarters, which looked suspiciously like a storage shed, and several flyers had been carefully placed inside neighbors’ doors, on cars, and even, in desperation, attached to the flea collars of wandering pets.

Of course, they did receive a few cases, but the young detectives were getting discouraged. Only seven files were placed in the musty cedar chest labeled Cases A-Z. Unfortunately, six of these involved old Miss Amnesian’s missing cat and the remaining case was merely a rather ludicrous account of Sam’s search for his Spiderman underwear.

On a dismal four week anniversary, however, something very peculiar happened that was anything but uninteresting.

The amateur sleuths finally received a brand new assignment that seemed at first to make the missing cat look intriguing. After repeated complaints of boredom, their teacher, Miss Imagine, suggested they go to the local library for their next investigation.

Amanda, who was constantly reading book after book, found the idea to be quite ordinary. Jonathon, who only read when he was required to do so, thought the concept was less than appealing. Sam, who never read if it was at all possible to avoid it, found the suggestion to be somewhat unnerving. But Miss Imagine seemed convinced the library housed a multitude of investigative opportunities.

Times were tough and the work was scarce, so the three detectives agreed to take the case. The library was only a block away from their homes, but they had never thought of it as a mystery. It was a rather large brick building with two large glass doors underneath a sign that read: Greenfield Public Library.

See, grumbled Sam. I knew there was nothing here. Let’s go!

Wait a minute, Sam, said Amanda. We haven’t even gone inside!

We know what’s inside a library, said Sam, crossing his arms with indignation.

Well, maybe something different is there now, suggested Jonathon, who could barely remember what the inside of the library really did look like.

But before they could discuss their options further, Amanda threw open the big glass doors and marched inside. Sam and Jonathon stared at each other for a moment, looked at the doors for a moment, stared, muttered, and looked again before reluctantly joining their fellow sleuth.

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Once inside, the threesome simply stared in amazement at the endless shelves filled with various books. There were also several people sitting at tables reading quietly while others roamed the aisles, searching for books. As they were standing there, a girl carrying an armful of books dashed between the three of them, almost sending them toppling to the floor.

Breaking out of her trance Amanda said, She seems to be in a hurry. I wonder why?

They watched as the girl plopped her books onto the front counter with a huge smile on her face. A gray-haired lady walked over and took a card, which the girl had placed on the top of her books. Producing a long silver pen, almost from thin air, the lady waved the pen across the card and returned it to the girl.

She then took the books one by one and waved the pen across their covers until all the books were stacked as they were before.

The girl snatched up the books and soon disappeared.

Case closed, said Sam with a smug grin. Oh, this was truly exciting. Now can we go?

Not yet, Sam, challenged Amanda. Look over there!

Sam watched as a tall woman with long black hair in a bun, sat down at a desk and began frantically looking through papers. She wore a long black dress and glasses, which seemed too large for her thin face. After searching for several minutes, she stopped and began writing but only for a short time before stopping once again to continue her search.

I’ve never seen that librarian, remarked Amanda. She must be new.

When was the last time you were here? asked Jonathon with a smirk.

"Just yesterday. I read all the time! Amanda glared at Jonathon for what she believed to be a sufficient amount of time and then continued speaking. I wonder what she is looking for?"

Who knows! said Sam, trying not to sound interested as he stole quick glances.

It’s getting late, said Jonathon. The library is closing.

Well we could have gotten here sooner if Sam would have stopped stalling, said Amanda, glaring at Sam.

I-I wasn’t stalling, stuttered Sam. I had to clean my room!

Your mom just told you to clean your room, not color-coordinate your wardrobe! said Amanda. You have never been neat in your entire life!

I can be neat! Sometimes I just have different ways of putting things in order and… started Sam, but he was interrupted.

A shaky, singing voice grinded out of the small speaker system announcing: "The library will be closing so be making those final literary choices! Don’t forget about our special feature tomorrow as we bring you Zelda Zimmerman, author of Oh My, You’re Boring Me Again!, a look at modern dinner conversation. Not to be missed! Once again, only five minutes until the library closes. Thank you!"

A short jingle followed which sounded like a large choir singing Old MacDonald Had A Farm, but the words went something like this:

When I’m down and feeling low,

I read, I read,

I read Greenfield Books is the place to go

And read, and read, and read.

Found a good book here

Another one there

You can read anytime, anywhere

And you can even read at home,

So leave, please leave, please leave!

At the end of the announcement, the strange librarian gathered up her papers, shaking her head sadly and ran into what appeared to be a closet.

People began slowly leaving while the gray-haired woman, who had apparently made the announcement, hopped around scanning card after card and book after book until everyone had been properly served. Soon the library was quiet and empty and Amanda, Jonathon, and Sam simply stared at the closed closet door in amazement.

May I help you?! shouted a voice.

Standing in front of them was the gray-haired librarian, peering down at them as she tapped her foot nervously. Her eyes were extremely large and her nose was pointing directly at them.

Uh… n-no ma’am, stuttered Amanda.

Who is the new librarian? asked Sam.

"There is no new librarian, young man! Are you suggesting that Prudence Nonfiction is no longer capable of serving her library!" answered Prudence practically in tears.

Jeez! No! returned a shocked Sam. I was referring to the lady in the black dress who was sitting at that desk over there.

Sam pointing to the desk where the mysterious woman had been sitting just moments before.

Well, I have no idea, said Prudence, who took out a handkerchief and blew her nose loudly. There is no other librarian working here today. Now, I really must ask you to leave.

But we saw her sitting at that desk, pleaded Jonathon.

Then where is your new librarian now, young man? asked Prudence.

Jonathon looked at the others and hesitated before answering.

Uh… well…. she’s…. she’s in the closet!

Prudence simply stared at the three detectives with an overly friendly smile and muttered something about overactive imaginations, while she gently pushed them out the door.

I was just leaving myself, she said as though she were speaking to her pet. Come on, let’s leave now. You have been here a long, long, time haven’t you.

Outside the library, Prudence locked the door and asked the children if they needed a ride home, obviously hoping they would decline the offer. They did, and she dashed around the corner to her car, and drove away, leaving the three confused detectives under the pale glow of a street lamp.

What do we do now? asked Jonathon.

I wish we could get back in there, said Sam peering through the glass doors into