Chapter 39: Bargaining and Books

Millie and I had a good time reading through her illustrated pony story. I honestly admitted that it was the best book I remembered ever reading, and was amused each time her father peeked around the shelving units to check on us.

“So you really have to go?” Millie Goode’s eyes were upturned and a little sad.

“Now, I’m not sure I can say I ‘have to’ go, nor should that be what I leave you with. Same as you, you don’t ‘HAVE’ to do most things, but there are consequences. I choose to go, because I’m pretty sure I’ll learn more if I do, and if I don’t go, I might make trouble for myself or other folks.”

The pigtails swayed as she shook her little head. “I always have to do things!”

“Do you do them because you have to? Or do you know that it isn’t worth it most of the time to say no?”

The defiance weakened into confusion for a moment. “Nope, I HAVE to.” Defiance came back to the front.

“What do you have to do?”

“Do my lessons. Go to bed when I’m told. Read boring things. Be nice to my brother. Be polite to customers. Eat my vegetables. And I have to brush my teeth when I wake up and before I go to bed!.” Her eyes drove into me as if demanding I back down from my stance.

“And what happens if you don’t do those things?”

“No dessert! Or less time with my toys, or more chores or…” Waving my hand, I caused her to pause.

“Those are consequences, Millie Goode. They don’t make you do things, they are things that happen because of your choices.” I ponder for a moment. “If you don’t eat for a long time, what happens?”

“I get hungry.”

“And if you keep not eating?”

“Er… I get more hungry” Her eyes looked up before she faintly shrugged.

“You might get weaker, you might get unhealthy or sick, you might even die if you don’t eat enough.” Millie’s eyes got really big when I mentioned dying. “Those are consequences, they aren’t ‘have to’. Sure, you can say, I ‘have to’ brush my teeth or I don’t get desert. But if you don’t know the consequences, you might not be making a choice. You might just be agreeing because it is easier.”

“But, I, But…” Millie Goode stuttered to a standstill.

“Millie Goode, you made choices so it was better or easier for you. And that’s okay. But remember you had a choice. Sometimes you might not have a choice.” I smiled with my lips a little bit tight. “Do you want to hear a secret?”

Millie’s eyes widened as she nodded slowly.

“You know about bargaining and haggling, right? Negotiating for the best price?” She nodded, but her eyes held a little bit of confusion.

“You can bargain about other things than just buying stuff. What do you not like doing the most? Like, from your studies, or chores or bedtime or anything.”

“Doing math!” It was an almost immediate response.

“And what do you like that you never get to do enough?”

Millie’s head tilted as she pondered, after a few seconds her head leveled out and she looked straight into my eyes. She spoke, and there was a wistful quality that I’d not heard from her previously. “Playing with other kids, the ones that play at the front square. Sometimes they play with a dog!” Her eyes became downcast and heavy, but the weight in her words hit me right in the heart.

I leaned into her ear and whispered to her for a little while.

“Papa, I want to ask you something.” Millie’s voice carried over the shelves.

According to Friday, it took a full 12 seconds before Benjamin Franklin Goode emerged from around a shelf and looked over. “Yes Millie?”

“Papa wants me to do my math work every day, right?”

The shopkeeper looked over at me for a few seconds before returning his gaze to his daughter. “Yes Mil-mil, I do.”

“Papa. I want to play more with the kids in the square.” Millie said, as serious as Buckle pinning the taz.

Her father looked up to the rafters for a few seconds. “Everytime your tutor gives you a pass for one of your math sheets, you can get 10 minutes to play in the square on the weekend.”

Millie’s eyes widened and she looked like she was about to respond when I tapped her knee. She paused and tilted her head to present her ear closer to my mouth. I whispered again.

“Papa, maybe… If Tutor Paul passes 4 of my sheets I can play in the square for an hour on Saturday mornings, but if he passes 7 I can play at lunch time for a little bit during the week?” Millie’s voice was wistful and hopeful at the same time.

The father nodded at the daughter. “Okay Mil-mil. If you pass 7 in a row, you can take a picnic and play at the square one day during the week. If you pass 14 in a row, you may invite someone for dinner, or we can talk about a… sleepover.”

Millie’s eyes snapped wide and darted between her father and myself, not sure where to land. I patted her on the head lightly, and caught a quick wink from Benjamin Franklin Goode before he slid back between the shelving.

“Your father cares about you, Millie Goode. He doesn’t want to make you do things, he wants you to grow. Maybe he wanted you to learn to bargain for yourself instead of having me get you to do it, but maybe he is okay with you taking my advice.” I smiled at the girl, before I gave a little sigh. “I should get on my way. I’ve more things to do, and I imagine your tutor might have a math sheet for you.”

Millie grinned, “I already did my math… Oh no” The child’s eyes snapped wide. ”I didn’t double check them… Bye Monday March, I hope I see you again.” Her hand fluttered at me as she clutched her book to her chest with the other arm and raced away. Then turned, ran back and hugged my arm briefly, then waved and raced off again

I spent a few seconds waving after her and watching to make certain she didn’t suddenly race back. Hoisting myself up off the sacks we’d been using as seats I went to find Benjamin Franklin Good, it took me about 2 seconds before he popped himself out from behind a nearby shelf.

I nodded as I addressed him. “I hope I wasn’t out of place in advising her. She is a clever child, but might not have had enough varied experiences.”

The shopkeeper nodded at me. “If you’ve ever a need for a recommendation as a nanny or a tutor, let me know. I’m a little too close, and forget she needs more time with children of her own age.”

“Thank you, Em. If I decide I do want a weapon, where might be a good spot to check? Or where might you recommend?”

A short conversation later I walked out 24 dollars less in my pack, but the multi-tool, a survival kit, and a shopkeeper’s goodwill carried with me. Well, those things and the memory of a happy child.

Before buying a weapon, which maybe Bluebird might provide, I returned to the Circle and Stick. Elenore was still playing chess in the front room and looked a little confused at my presence. “Pardon me, Monday March, did you leave something behind? I didn’t notice anything…”

“There wasn’t anything, Elenore. I simply wanted to actually avail myself of the services. Shopkeeper Goode mentioned that it is only a brass an hour to peruse the books. Is that correct?”

Elenore responded with a slight correction. “Printed materials on the first floor and the second floor are only a brass an hour, those in the basement or the 3rd floor are 2 brass an hour.” Looking at the pin she had attached to me not so long ago she continued. “While you can access any floor of this Circle and Stick, be aware that the first floor is available to any customer, the second requires a copper pin or higher, third requires silver and the basement requires gold.”

“Aside from the pin requirements, what are the differences?”

“This floor doesn’t have anything that would be concerning even for a small child. The dream consoles are only loaded with simple games and events, often encouraging learning or cooperation, and the stories tend to be basic, the non-fiction basic. The second floor has more games with consequences, stories and programs are more complicated or involve violence and more themes with conflict. Floor 3 has a bar with alcohol, some more involved games of chance and gambling and is often a quieter spot away from the noise, programs from the first 2 floors are also available there, but more mature interactions are possible.” Elenore looked me up and down. “Maturity is not morality, and options of programs and the like in the basement can play in grey areas. Of course very few can access it, so those that can often find it a quiet space to enjoy.”

“Oh. Well, here’s a brass. I’m planning to look at books and stories on the first and second floor to start. If I move to one of the other floors I’ll let you know.”

Elenore shook her furry head and declined the coin. “No need, Your pin will be tracked inside and I’ll know how much to charge you when you are leaving. Do you need me to let you know after a certain amount of time has passed?”

I thanked her, but declined before entering.