A Tale That Never Known

Almanac fly and hovering beside Little Lu, its pages fluttering gently as it spoke. "All right, Little Lu, let us try again. Words are important. Words will help you understand this world—and me." Then we can be best buddy or I can be master-like and muahahahaha!

Little Lu tilted her head, her grey eyes wide with curiosity. Why do I feel like this will be a bad idea?  She didn't fully understand why the big floating thing wanted her to speak more, but she liked its voice. It was warm, steady, and full of something new: knowledge. "No tell tale but another new lesson!" Almanac says cheerily, as he stand big and so optimistic in shaping this little being to learn more, "we learned 'sky,' 'journey,' and other simple words. Today, we practice. Repeat after me—Almanac." She look at him with her big greyish-blue eyes and "Lu," Little Lu replied, her voice bright, her tiny feet shifting with excitement."No, no," Almanac said with exaggerated patience. "Al-ma-nac." He broke it into parts, hopeful that this time would be a bit easier. Little Lu smiles and "Lu!" Almanac stand and bend more of his book body, "No, no, no say Al" Little Lu, "Aal" "That's it, now say 'Ma' take your time." Little Lu nods and, "Aaa". Almanac frowned slightly, "Okay, now say 'Nac' alright?" Little Lu say, "NaaK!" Almanac seems to be approving so far, "Okay say, Almanac!"

"AlaaaMaaK!", says Little Lu excitedly.

Almanac speechless, Alamak? But Alamak means an interjection used to express surprise, frustration, or disappointment in MALAY! "Guuhh!", he feels like he just got a headshot even as an encyclopedia. "Luu?", sounds like Little Lu in confusion by Almanac's dramatic scenes. Almanac turn his position a lot and bend to show him being so sad like a wet book. "No, it's alright, I just thought that my name... Huhuhu.... suddenly turn into a form of words *sniff not in our language but in a very common surprise terms of mixed signals effect in Malay expressive language instead."

Almanac sighs and try to change his approach, "We start again! Say Almanac!" Little Lu open her little mouth and, "Ah… ma…" she began, hesitating as her tongue stumbled over the unfamiliar sounds. "Lu!" she finished proudly, as though she'd nailed it. If I have hand I really would facepalm myself everytime she says Lu....

After... Probably eternity for dictionary....

Almanac sighed, Dear Lord Almighty if you are there please give me the patience to guide this little being of your creation, his pages rustling in mock defeat. "It is not 'Lu.' Little Lu.... For the 187th time I teach you.... I am Almanac...." he insisted, floating closer. Little Lu blinked up at him. "Al… ma… ack?" she tried, the final syllable barely audible. Her face scrunched as if the effort was too great. Almanac fluttered in frustration, but only for a moment. He was a patient book, after all. "Close. Very close! Again—Almanac." Little Lu puffed her cheeks, determined this time. She close her eyes imagining her tongue to work on those letters. She determine and play it over and over the word ALMANAC or ALMANAK in her head to get it correctly. "Al… Al… Al!" Almanac froze mid-hover, and the pages stilled. That's it! Al! Ma! Nac!! Come on! You can do this! If you don't, I swear I'll make it that we will spend an eternity together until you can say my name properly!!!

"Al?"Little Lu clapped her hands excitedly, dancing in place as she chanted, "Al! Al! Al!" The great book's cover creaked slightly, as if it was smiling despite itself. For a moment he thinks to himself if he were a glass book he will shatter perfectly on this white ground and spell his name using his shattered self so Little Lu can spell his name over and over or perhaps make words out of it. Noooooooo~~~ why? Why?! (Currently, Almanac is in despair but in dramatic scenes)

Moments of grief, frust and despair..... Wait.... Let's think of the bright side, at least I got a nickname right? She'll learn more later right? Why should I spend an eternity to make her speak my name? Am I crazy? Almanac chuckles to himself and calm down.

"Al?" Almanac repeated, his voice softer now, resigned but amused. "You mean to say, I—a magnificent tome of knowledge—am simply 'Al' to you?" Little Lu nodded vigorously full of confidence and very positive. "Al!"

For a moment, Almanac was quiet, as though considering this new name. It's kind of cute that this little being innocently named me a nickname when I am far superior than what she think I am. Let's just get on with this. Then he gave a small, fond chuckle. "Very well, Little Lu. 'Al' it is. I suppose even I must adapt sometimes." Especially with our rare case and in this emptiness that will drives us insane in the far future. "Al!" Little Lu cheered again, spinning in the endless white as if this tiny victory was the greatest discovery in the world. She look so fond of this as she repeatedly call his name as 'Al'. Almanac watched her, his pages fluttering with something close to pride. "You may not speak perfectly, Little Lu, but you are learning. And every step forward is worth celebrating." Little Lu paused, "Lu?" looking up at him, her smile bright and unburdened. She lifted her arms as if to hug him, though her hands simply brushed through the air around the hovering book. "Al." She wants to hug me? Well how cute. "Yes," Almanac said, floating down to meet her at eye level. "It seems I have a new name. But one day, Little Lu, you will speak much more than this. You will understand more than you can imagine."Little Lu simply laughed, her voice echoing in the vastness of the white world. For now, Al was enough.Almanac sighed softly, content. "Second lesson complete as well failed in my plan to get you call me by Almanac, I suppose." With that Almanac determine to be by her side and teach what he can to this being that fresh without knowledge but full of curiosity. As they continued forward together, the world of whiteness somehow felt a little less empty. Little Lu had spoken. And now, Al had a name. Well at least a new nickname.....

To be Continue.....