The Book That Needs Fixing Today

Mimi sat beneath the old willow tree by the pond, her round spectacles catching the morning light as she arranged her collection of riddle books. Her iridescent spots shimmered soft gold—peaceful and content. Today was Books Day, when everyone in town celebrated stories by sharing their favorites in the square.

"Miss Mimi! Miss Mimi!" A small boy named Thomas rushed toward her, clutching something against his chest. His eyes were red from crying.

Mimi tilted her head, her orange bill catching the light. "What troubles you, little one?"

Thomas held out a tattered book. The cover read "The Greatest Adventure," but the spine was torn, and pages hung loose like broken wings. "My grandfather gave me this before he moved away. I wanted to read it at the celebration today, but—" He opened it carefully. Entire sections were missing, leaving jagged edges where pages had been.

Mimi's spots flickered between lavender and turquoise as she concentrated. She gently took the book, her webbed feet shifting as she examined each tear. "These pages weren't lost to time," she said softly. "They were removed recently. See how clean the edges are?"

"Can we find them?" Thomas whispered.

Mimi's spots dimmed. The celebration started in just three hours, and the pages could be anywhere in town.