This Old Man Book Novels & Stories

Sometimes it was better to let things play out. “Mm. Old man Cabbage asked me to come over today. He says the weird noises are back.” Old man Cabbage was the oldest man in the village at ninety-three years old, yet he was a fit as a fiddle. He lived alone in an extremely old house that creaked even more than the orphanage. His wife died a long time ago and unfortunately they never had any children of their own. After Anderson and Carson went over a few times to help fix certain things in his house, he took a great liking to them both. He considered them his children and grandson. Understanding that, both young men could not bring themselves to charge the old man. The old man insisted on payi

Hesitantly, I follow a herd of people, stopping when the entire ground quakes beneath my feet. “What is that?” Someone asks. “People call them angels, but they look like monsters...” An old man replies. I squeeze between two old men, gaping when I spot the largest boy I’ve ever seen in the town square. He must be over twenty feet tall, easily dwarfing the men from the army even when he is down on his knees. There is cloth around his mouth to keep him from speaking, chains to restrain his clumsy movements. “MOVE!” A man from the army yells.

“Hey… about what you saw earlier.” She jumped, clutching the book to her chest. “I—I didn’t see anything. I swear. I won’t tell anyone.” I smiled softly and stepped even closer, backing her gently against the shelves. “Relax. Professor Harlan and I… we have an understanding. But I saw how you looked at us. You didn’t run away because you were scared. You ran because it turned you on, didn’t it?” Her cheeks burned brighter. She shook her head quickly. “No… that’s not… I’m not—”

he muttered, prying it open just enough to reach inside. His fingers brushed against something thick. He pulled it out. A large, leather-bound book. Adam stood up slowly, turning it over in his hands. The cover was worn but solid, darker than the dust-covered room around him, like it had been hidden on purpose. Protected. “Who leaves something like this behind?” he said under his breath. For a moment, he considered tossing it aside. It wasn’t his business but curiosity had already taken hold. He leaned back against the counter, flipping the cover open.

"Sherly, he's your grandfather; why are you treating him like a stranger?" Sherly didn't speak and just looked at him. Meanwhile, Mario faced him and gave him a bad look. "Shut up," he said. Lilia immediately stopped and felt irritation in her heart. He didn't know why that old man didn't like him when he had helped his family a lot. As for Lilia, she couldn't wait for this old man to die. Mario held Sherly's face and smiled. "Sherly, my dear granddaughter. How have you been?”

He asked and I almost chuckled. I haven’t checked up on her since our arrival and I didn’t intend to. She has been thrusted into a world of guns, blood, and revenge, so she either fits in or gets herself killed. “She’s fine.” “Don’t forget to consummate your marriage tonight, Vincenzo and bring the evidence over to the clan. The other members of our clan would be waiting to see.” With that said, the old man hung up, leaving me speechless. I have been surprised too many times today and I wouldn’t wish for that shit to happen ever again.

“Chill bro. It’s just… not what I was expecting ” He shrugged, flipping another page. “I keep telling you not to judge me with your assumptions.” “I'm sorry if my assumptions don't fit your personality,” I said, taking the seat across from him. “Why this book?” I asked, stealing the opportunity to know what the real Kael is like. “I like books that… make me think. And this one does.” “Think about what?” I asked, hoping my curiosity wasn't obvious. “Is this some sort of interview?” he asked, placing the book on the table without closing it.

— I ask at once, unable to contain my anxiety. The old man laughs some more, showing several empty spaces in his mouth where there should be teeth. — Of course, of course. Look. He takes some kind of book out of his thick coat and puts it on the sand for me to pick up, then steps back. — Girls from the continent like it a lot — he says. I reach down and pick it up. The cover is hard and there is a painting of colorful flowers.

Just as he entered the room, he halted as he noticed the old man going through his shelf of numerous books. He turned quickly as he noticed Ben, and dangled a piece of literature in his hands. "Ah, this used to be one of my favorites back in the day." The elderly man's hoarse voice echoed through the room, and a faint smug appeared on his face as he let his hands down, seemingly perusing through the crisp pages of the hardcover. "I noticed your books are re-arranged alphabetically, that's an odd way to organize books, That's this many."

Then back at the book. "How much?" The old man smiled. "You can keep it." I blinked. "What?" "You heard me." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Are you sure about that? I can pay?" "Nobody reads them anymore either." Fair. "Take it." I hesitated. Then slowly picked up the book. It weighed far more than I expected. "Thank you." The old man simply waved me away. Like he was already bored. Which somehow made the entire interaction even stranger. A few minutes later, I was back outside.