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Autobiography of a Bookshelf

In a cozy little workshop filled with the scent of pine and the sound of cheerful whistling, I began my life not as a bookshelf, but as a simple woodblock. The carpenter, with hands as skilled as a painter’s, turned me from a block of wood into a sturdy bookshelf. It was like being painted with invisible ink; I didn’t know my purpose until books came into my life.

Day by day, I took shape. The carpenter sawed, sanded, and smoothed me until I stood tall with shelves as arms, ready to hug books. He painted me in a warm brown color, like the toast you have for breakfast. Each brush stroke was like a tickle, making me ready for the stories I was to hold. It was here I learned that “patience is a virtue,” as I waited for my varnish to dry, gleaming in the afternoon light.

I remember the day I left the workshop. It was a bittersweet goodbye. Wrapped up like a giant present, I traveled in a truck as snug as a bug. When the wrapping came off, I found myself in a bright room with walls the color of the sky. This was my first home, and soon I would not be alone. Books came in numbers, filling my shelves with whispers of adventure, knowledge, and dreams. Each book was a new friend, and I was their loyal keeper.

Growing with Stories – The Golden Years

As time passed, my shelves saw books come and go like seasons. Storybooks with brave knights and mystical creatures marched in. They filled the room with laughter and gasps of wonder. Then came the textbooks, as serious as owls, but just as wise. They brought knowledge and challenged young minds to grow. “Knowledge is power,” they always said, and I held them proudly, knowing I was part of something important.

When night fell and the moon was high, my books whispered to each other. They shared tales from their pages, and I listened. It was a nightly gathering where everyone had a story to tell. There were days when the room was quiet, the only sound being the soft tap of rain against the window. On those days, the books snuggled closer, and I felt my heart swell with love.

Children came like gardeners, tending to the flowers that were the books. They turned pages with care, sometimes with laughter, sometimes with tears. They found escape, education, and dreams between the covers. I stood strong, holding them up and feeling proud. A proverb whispered through the room often, “A good book is like a good friend,” and I saw this truth every day.

The Twilight Years – A Time of Reflection

Years rolled by like clouds in a high wind. The children grew, and the room changed. Posters of pop stars replaced alphabet charts. My wood showed signs of wear, little nicks, and scratches like memories etched in time. The books became heavier with subjects deeper, their spines stiff with complexity. Yet, the magic remained.

Each book that came and went left a mark on me, a story within my story. I realized I was more than a bookshelf; I was a guardian of dreams, a vessel of imagination. Like the old saying goes, “Every book you read is a door to another world,” and I was the hallway lined with countless doors.

Now, as I stand in the quiet room, with streaks of sunlight painting my shelves, I understand that my story is not ending; it’s simply changing. A young carpenter comes, with hands like those who made me. He repairs and repaints me, and I am ready for a new generation. The story of this bookshelf will continue, with every book and every reader, an endless tale written in wood, heart, and paper.

Through these chapters of my life, from the eager beginnings in the carpenter’s arms to the reflective twilight years, I’ve learned that like a bookshelf, life is about the stories we hold and share. I’ve become a timeless sanctuary for tales of all kinds, and as long as there are stories, I will be here, your faithful bookshelf, standing tall and strong, filled with worlds waiting to be explored.

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Vihaan Gupta

7th, St. Annes High School, Mumbai

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