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Description
Inside the walls of a small human home lived a similarly small borrower family. They were the last ones to stay in this home. All the others had moved on to other homes for different reasons. The borrower family was caring, and loving just like any other, but still their son Jacomo felt lonely. Often comparing himself to the human child growing up in the home. She would have friends over, and often talked about them with her family.

Over the years he learned the ways of being a Borrower. His father a good teacher, and his mother always supportive. It was the man's job to go out, and borrow. His mother stayed in the home they had made. It resembled the human's home with chairs, tables, and beds. Still everything had it's own little differences. Their library was small, but made of miniature books. Still they were quite cumbersome, but easier to read than the full versions. The beds were stuffed with mostly cottonballs, and the sheets were sewn together scraps of fabric from miscellaneously borrowed socks, and clothing the humans discarded.

In their little home they managed to reroute some water for washing, and cooking. Makeshift oil lamps were used to light, and cook. Sometimes even heat up the area during very cold nights. Candles were more easily missed, as well as cumbersome, compared to the olive oil that fueled their lamps.

It was good to be creative when building a home. The humans provided no lack of supplies for them as long as they were open minded. Match boxes worked as drawers, and even under bed storage. The possibilities were endless with all the knickknacks these humans left around.

Borrower families were often given a name by where they lived. Young Jacomo's family was known as the Cedar's since they lived under the cedar closet. There were multiple closets, but this one had some of the least foot traffic.

His parents knew that he was lonely. Both of them grew up in homes with other Borrowers. In an attempt to keep him busy they taught him how to read at a pretty early age. Reading was a basic skill, but not usually fully mastered by Borrower. Jacomo had it down pat by the age of ten. It was his main window to the outside world. On occasion he could catch a TV that was on where he could view it from the safety of a crack in the wall. Moving images of the screen showing such a big world out there.

It was bad to fill his head with ideas of traveling around. Great care was taken to make sure he understood that he could not be part of the human world. Their world was very different. They lived off the humans, but must never come into contact with them. If one of them is even seen then they would have to move. This is why mastering borrowing was so important.

At the age of 12 he was considered an adult by Borrower standards. His dad took him on his first mission. A simple one of just getting some sugar from the kitchen. His entire life had been lived inside the walls, and under the floors. This was the first time he was really inside the house.

His father taught him how to scale walls, and move silently. Borrowers had good night vision, and it was a great advantage to have. Beans were normally asleep at night so this was the best time to move. Jockomo carried the container for the sugar while his dad carried the main gear. It was rather uneventful, but still seeing the house from a different perspective was incredible.

They both made it back home safe, and sound. His mom was enthusiastic wanting to hear every detail of his first borrow. Proudly he talked of scaling the counter that reached half way to the sky, and the giant items that laid around the kitchen.

Over the next few years his dad took him on missions almost every day taking one thing at a time. They couldn't carry much, and being out for too long was risky. One day in a corner on the floor he found the hook of an earring that had broken off. Looking to his dad he asked with his eyes if he could take it. With a nod the young borrower picked it up, and hooked it on his belt. It was his first lost item borrow.

Most missions consisted of food, or necessary supplies. This was something he could use in one way or another, but was his own. With his father's guidance he shaped it into a sort of grappling hook with a sharpened end to better grab onto surfaces.

It only took a few months before he had mastered his grappling hook. Using it to scale furniture, and even on fabric. With a sturdy rope, and the strength he had developed during his many lessons it became second nature to him.

When he turned 15 he was trusted to go on missions alone. The solid rule that he must never be seen deeply drilled into his being. With his missions at night this was rarely an issue. The sleeping humans rarely got up in the middle of the night. They also required more light so they would flip these switches making the room light up, and leaving a trail of light easily visible to a borrower's keen eye.

Most borrows took place in the kitchen. Once in a while something was required from another room, but again it was quite rare. Time passed for the young borrower just as it should. He remained unseen, and focused on only going out to get what was needed.

Not long after his 17th birthday the young human came into the kitchen late at night. Jacomo was on the kitchen table, but didn't bother to get down from it as he heard the floor creek. The girl was quicker than the human adults. He had only seen glimpses of her since running to hide was common. Rarely did he get a full view of her.

Hiding behind some items on the table he watched her approach as the room filled with a blinding light. His heart racing from the excitement, but he knew he was safe. Midnight snack trips were not unheard of, but quick. As she passed by the table she placed something down, and proceeded to the fridge. Looking at the item it seemed almost like a tent. Curiously he tried to identify it.

His jaw dropped realizing it was a book. Actually it was one that he had read so many times just bigger. H. G. Wells could be seen on the cover that faced him. These humans had books as well. It had not occurred to him that they would have them. Of course after thinking it over it made sense. The miniature books he read must be human creations, but why? Also did they have more?

A grin formed as the fridge door shut drawing his attention back to the human girl. She looked tired, and disheveled. Effortlessly with one hand she lifted the book back up keeping a finger on the pages that were open. Her other hand held a snack that he wasn't interested in. Envy struck him for the first time. These humans could effortlessly hold a book in one hand.

Once the room became dark he moved out from his hiding place on the table. Thoughts raced through his head about there being more books than just the ones in his home. He had to see them. He had to know about what else was out there. Right now though he had to finish his borrowing, and return home to his waiting parents.