Tell me a bed time story? Once upon a time in a far off kingdom lived a young girl named River. Her favorite day was Saturday because that was the only day Monsieur Dupont came to town. Monsieur Dupont was an astronomer who lived up in the tower at the edge of the kingdom. He only ever left his home to buy more supplies and to teach young River the stars. He would teach her for two hours each week and left her many books so that she could read them while he was away. She spent all her free time reading and painting stars on her bedroom walls. Oh, how she dreamed she could live among the stars and paint their beauty in more depth. She had already painted her room over twice and was going for a third! He parents were well off so getting the paint was easy, but her parents disapproved with her studying the stars. They believe a young lady should be learning the arts so that she is prepared for suitors. But River didn't care. She was going to find a way to leave her home and be with the stars. One Saturday, she was waiting by the door for Monsieur Duport, he was late, per usual. She waited and waited, well into the evening, but alas, he never showed. "Maybe he realized a young lady should spend her time elsewhere than with a book," her sister said. "He probably lost track of time, sweetheart," said he mother. Though he'd never done that before, River was awfully tired and hungry. She ate dinner and went to her room. She lounged over the windowsill with her favorite book, "A History of the Universe," by John Smith. The novel was long and a bit choppy (honestly, he broke off into new topics too often), but it contained more information about the stars than any other book Monsieur Duport gave her. It was like this man lived among the stars. Glancing out the window, she noticed smoke coming from the edge of town near Monsieur Duport's tower. She panicked and ran towards the door. Citizens of the town were just making their way to the edge of the clearing around the tower when River got there. Just before it collapsed, Old Man Jenkins stumbled out the front door supporting Monsieur Duport. He needed weeks of recovery, and spent them at his aunt's home. Two weeks after the fire, the apothecary determined there was too much smoke in his lungs and he would die soon. River wept at the news and rushed to see him. Crying at his bed, he said to her "Fillette, do not weep for me. In time, we all pass. Now please, I need you to do something for me, and I haven't much time. The large book I gave you, it was written by a man named John Smith. There is word that he has traveled the stars. Please, little one, find him and ask him how, for me." River wiped away her tears and agreed. She hugged him and left. Making her way about her room, she found the book under the window. She searched the book for any information on the author, but all she found was a photo. Her only hope was that someone in town would know where he lived. If he lived far away, she could always mail him a letter. She started with her neighbors. No luck. Next was anyone and everyone she saw on her way to the closest bookstore in the town. She asked the owner for any information regarding the book and the author, but there was nothing that could help River find John Smith. She made her way to the only other bookstore in the kingdom, again, asking everyone along the way if they knew John Smith. When she reached the little building that was the bookshop, she stopped in her tracks. The bookstore was no loner there. It must have moved, but where? There was no note and no one around for assistance. She began to walk home with the fear that she may not find John Smith in time. Each step made her feel worse an worse. What if John Smith moved to a different kingdom? What if John Smith isn't even alive? She sunk to her knees and began to cry. "Poor Monsieur Duport! He'll die before I find John Smith!" "Calm down, little one. All is not lost just yet." said an old woman. "Why not? I have searched and searched, but I cannot find him." said River holding up the photograph. The old woman smiled and helped River stand up, "My dear, it has been a long time, but I remember this man. Oh yes, I remember him quite well. I will send word to him that you are looking." "Oh, please do! And hurry! It's for my friend, Monsieur Duport! His dying wish is to live among the stars. He wants to know how Monsieur Smith was able to do so." "I will let him know. Dry your eyes and lets get you home." The old woman walked with River to her home and said good night. If the old woman was able to contact Monsieur Smith in time, then all was well. With that weight off her shoulders, River drifted off to sleep. The next day, River visited Monsieur Duport. She told him about her day, "And the old woman said she would find Monsieur Smith! I'm sure he'll be here in the next day or so, Monsieur Duport!" "Please. There is no need for formalities, River, not anymore. My time since the fire has been spent evaluating my life. I haven't any friends except you. So please, call me Lucas. I am sorry for your troubling day, and thank you for your help. Now all we can do it wait." The next few days, River and Lucas spent together talking about astronomy and passerby;s in the street. As each day passed, Lucas got worse. It had been five days since the encounter with the old woman. What if she forgot to mail the letter? What if John Smith was no loner where she thought he was? The next day, Lucas wasn't doing so well. He could barely breathe or speak. Lucas' aunt made him supper and River carried it up to him. She turned up the steps and felt... wrong. Something wasn't right. She was up the stairs when she realized, she didn't hear Lucas wheezing. She ran to his room and saw him. He wasn't breathing. She called for help and ran to his side, "No, no, no, no! Wake up! It isn't your time! Monsieur Smith isn't here! Please! Lucas! No!" A hand on her shoulder pushed her out of the way. A tall man with crazy hair was standing over Lucas. "What are you doing? Who are you?" River cried. "Hold on, hold on! Come on, Lucas, stay with me! We're going to see the stars!" The man, who River realized was John Smith, began shaking Lucas and pounding on his chest, "breathe!" He tilted Lucas' head back and breathed an orange air into his mouth. "I knew I was still cooking." Lucas jolted up and began to breathe again. "Are you... euh.. are you John Smith?" Asked Lucas. The helped Lucas out of bed and lead him to the door, "Yes and no. You can call me the Doctor." The Doctor opened the door to reveal a large blue box and lead both River and Lucas inside. It was bigger on the inside. "But this box..." started Lucas. "Yeah, it's bigger on the inside" the Doctor said with a wicked grin. "Now... where to first?" I hope you liked it. I should write more to the ending, but this took me over an hour to write and I'm getting hungry. I'll finish it in a new post later.