“Hey Dad?” Joey walked over and leaned against the arm of the chair where his Dad sat reading. “You know, all I really want for Christmas this year is a copy of The Chestnut King.”
Mr Gooben set the copy of Alexander the Great down in his lap and peered over his glasses at his son. “That’s all you want, Joey? Are you sure?” He asked. “Because the book doesn’t come out until January 26th. It won’t be here for you on Christmas day. Hey…where are you going?”
Joey quickly ran out of the room and returned holding his copy of 100 Cupboards. “Remember the year you put a special thing under the tree to tell me I was getting this book for Christmas? Can’t you do that again? Then I’ll have all three books. Last year for my birthday you bought me Dandelion Fire.
“Let me check with your Mom,” Mr Gooben replied as he stood up and set his book down on the coffee table. “I can’t remember where she bought it.”
“Oh Dad,” Joey laughed and hugged him, “You don’t remember? She bought it at Canon Press. You can’t get a signed bookplate anywhere else.”
“That’s right,” said Mr Gooben. “And there were only a limited number available. What number did you get on that book?”
Joey opened the book cover and glanced at the bookplate stuck to the page and signed by N.D. Wilson. “This one has number 73 on it.” He looked at his Dad and tried to hide his worry. “Do you think it’s too late, Dad? Do you think they have any left?”
Mr Gooben patted his son’s head and smiled. “If we order it now, I’m sure we’ll be one of the 200 people who get the bookplate. Let’s go find your Mom. She has all the money around here.”
