Chapter 3: Episode 3: Research and Religion

When I returned to the shop, I wasn't surprised to see the front was as empty as I left it. No one would wait for a bookstore to open in the cold when it wasn't tourist season.

'I think I'm the only person in this town that prefers the library and the bookstore.'

Everyone else was always clogging up the mall and the movie theater. Though, you could still see a few odd souls who would brave the cold and have some fun on the beach.

Closing the door behind me, I found the shop was no warmer than when I had left. I took a sip of my coffee knowing it was going to be a long afternoon. Setting my bag down on the floor and my coffee on the counter, I turned my attention to the box of new books that I had haphazardly tossed together before I left.

'The best course of action is to inventory and shelve the easy stuff before diving into research for the two unusual finds.'

I grabbed the shipment manifest and double checked the number of books to what was shipped and compared it to the number of books in the box, but it didn’t match. I checked it three times, but each time my total was two books more than what was shipped.

'Did they send us too many of one of the books?'

I sighed, annoyed. I was going to have to check off every book then repackage the extra and send them back or have Mrs. Hartford cut a check, but I noticed something even more unusual.

According to the shipment manifest, Mrs. Hartford had bought the books from a liquidation warehouse. They were trying to get rid of stuff from sites that close forever. Even with us having gotten extra they wouldn't want it back. I shook my head.

'I'll figure it out later. I have work to do.'

Inputting in the system, tagging, and shelving the books only took about two hours. I found every book on the list; except the two odd ones I had noticed earlier.

'So much for using the manifest to find out the book's names.'

Returning to my front counter, I pulled out the two unusual books. Opening the Virgin Mary book, I found on the first page it said ‘Wicca’.

'Is this one of those new books added to the bible?'

I knew there was a controversial book about Mary, but I hadn't heard of this book. Mrs. Hartford wasn't the type to go after anything even mildly controversial, but at least I had a name, something I could look up.

I pulled out my phone to look it up because our internet could take ages on the giant 90s era computer. I sipped my coffee as I waited for the results to load, but immediately regretted my decision. I choked on the beverage when I saw the result.

Wicca: a form of modern Paganism, especially a tradition founded in England in the mid 20th century and claiming its origins in pre-Christian religions. Its belief is in the Goddess, respect for nature, and they hold both polytheistic and pantheistic views. Some sects also believe in metaphysical items and/or locations, mental and physical abilities, as well as the ability to commune with gods/spirits/other entities. See also: Witch or Witchcraft.

'There is no way in Hell Mrs. Hartford would have ordered that book. The lady thinks rock music is the Devil. A book about witches or witchcraft would give her a heart attack.'

On the same page, I saw the moon symbols. It was called The Triple Goddess.

The Triple Goddess: A deity or deity archetype revered in many Neo Pagan religious and spiritual traditions. In common Neo Pagan usage, the Triple Goddess is viewed as a trinity of three distinct aspects or figures united in one being. These three figures are often described as the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. Each of which symbolizes a separate stage in the female life cycle and a phase of the moon. It also often rules one of the realms; Heavens, Earth, and Underworld. In various forms of Wicca, her masculine consort is the Horned God.

I looked over at the black book that had the odd shaped cross with worry.

'What secrets does it hold?'

I tentatively put down my coffee and opened the cover of the black book. Inside it had one word: Kemetism. I went back to my trusty phone and looked up the unknown word.

Kemetism (also Kemeticism, Neterism, or Egyptian Neopaganism): A revival of the ancient Egyptian religion and related expressions of religion. A Kemetic is one who follows Kemetism. There are several main groups, each of which takes a different approach to their beliefs, ranging from Eclectic to Reconstructionist. However, all of these can be identified as belonging to three strains, including: Reconstructed Kemetism (adopting a philological and scholarly approach), a Syncretic approach (a mixture of old and new age ideals and practices), and a more novel synthesis tending toward monotheism, Kemetic Orthodoxy.

I was blown away. We had gotten two books on other religions that would have made Mrs. Hartford shit a brick if not die from shock. On the same result page, I found the oddly shaped cross. It was called an Ankh.

The Ankh: An ancient Egyptian symbol which symbolizes the many aspects of life, including physical life, eternal life, immortality, death, and reincarnation. The symbol is a teardrop-shaped hoop with a cross connected directly below it, to represent the sun making its path upward and over the horizon.

I was stunned and intrigued. I felt the books almost calling out to me; begging me to learn their secrets. I knew we didn't order these books and I also knew Mrs. Hartford would have them tossed in the trash or possibly even destroyed. I hated to see a book of any kind ruined for no good reason. I debated on putting them in the system and ringing them up as a sale for myself, but Mrs. Hartford had shorted me on my last check, and we didn't have any security cameras.

I stuffed the two books into my bag as payment. She wouldn't miss something that was given to us for free and wasn't listed on the manifest. It wasn't her cup of tea anyway. I sipped my coffee. Only a few hours to go until my dinner with friends.

comment 0 comment

Vote

SEND GIFT

next chapter

Load failed, please RETRY