The Bookstore was written for a Flash Fiction competition in the space of 55 hours. The rules were:

• A max. of 500 words.

• Your story must take place in a LIBRARY or BOOKSTORE (you can choose which)

• Your story must include AT LEAST SIX of the following 20 words:
  •    BROKEN
  •    MUSIC
  •    AROUND
  •    MECHANICAL
  •    SMELT
  •    GRUBBY
  •    GAME
  •    COFFEE
  •    BEIGE
  •    HANDS
  •    TWELVE
  •    LETTERS
  •    BACKPACK
  •    NAMELESS
  •    COWBOY
  •    OPERATE
  •    CUPID
  •    TRAIN
  •    PUNGENT
  •    UNTOUCHED

After reading the criteria, I was drawn back to the story Machine Three which I'd written a few months previously. I decided to write The Bookstore as a story that would follow on from Machine Three. I hope you enjoy it.

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