In the Company of Books | Divine Research

“Okay, I am in the 200’s, there should be something here about Cybele…” My fingers combed the spines of the books as I counted upwards to 201 part of the library’s nonfiction section. Vanessa looked like she was about ready to rip her horns out when she was searching for help for her research on Cybele, which I found odd because I hadn’t heard much and only knew the name was related to the gardens outside of Bovine Bluffs. Surely she was exaggerating or just trying to get extra help in her research attempt to find out more about this mysterious figure.

Vanessa knew I frequented the library often for books to check out or volunteer to help run the desk, so I knew a thing or two on how to find certain materials on the shelves. She bribed me out of my home with a favor I could cash in later if I came with her here to help her find anything on Cybele, even if it was a children’s book. She just wanted her information and overwhelmed herself with the lack of material the library had on its shelves for the general public. So! I took her up on the challenge as I combed through the titles.

“You stay here and see what you can find, I am going to the Brewed for You to get us some coffee. Hopefully you’ll have better luck than me here. If I stay here any longer, I am going to lose it. I’ve been here all morning, I need a break. Good luck Melitta.” She patted me on the back and left at the doorstep of the town’s library. Walking in, it was quiet as there were a few patrons in the building, thumbing through pages as a majority of the younger generation were using the computers.

I was in an empty section of the library as nonfiction wasn’t used as much as the fiction side was, which left me alone and focused, unaware I was muttering to myself during the whole process. “This is the section for religion and mythology, I wondered if she even looked over here.” Pulling a few books off, I brought them over to a table and started checking indexes and glossaries… which held no information on Cybele. Checking the labels on them, it did show that they were in the right section before reaching for another pile that had miscellaneous religions in it.

… Again that held nothing within its pages! I slammed the cover shut and put them in the 200’s pile to put back on the shelves as I pondered another section I can look in since the religion section didn’t provide any help. Gathering the books in my arms, I shelved them back in their proper places as the name for the other section came to mind. “Maybe social sciences? After all, Cybele seems to act more like a custom when a couple wants to make a little Moo or to just get their wish to get with the Moo they like.”

Moving into the next section, the 300s, held the social sciences. Walking down the aisle, she found the 305 section, groups of people. The early Moos could have started something regarding them?… next was 306, culture and institutions. With modernization, Cybele could have fallen to the wayside until there was a festival and a garden in their name. It went on as she pulled books on customs and folklore. Grunting with effort, she piled the books on her table, which she made a fortress with as she sat there and started to read through them.

Bit. By. Bit.

Time flew as she learned about new cultures, customs, and folklore… all which pointed to nothing on Cybele. There were similarities in which hodge podge the being of Cybele in Bovine Bluffs erected a garden for them. But it had nothing in writing in the town it resided in itself! Nada! Zilch! Zero! I groaned and rubbed my palms into my eyes, feeling tired of all the reading I had done and I let out a yawn, realizing it was the early afternoon. Vanessa hadn’t returned like she promised, so she must have gotten held up somewhere.

Getting up from my table, I slowly returned the books to their proper place for the next Moo to find. I was about to text Vanessa I was done for the day when I saw her at the table I was sitting at with a frozen mocha coffee from Brewed for you. She looked sheepish as she placed it on the table along with hers. I gestured to her to sit across from me as I reached for the up cup of blended coffee and chocolate. I knew Jasper always added extra mocha to mine every time I went in there.

“Sorry for bailing on you, I just had to blow some steam. I was getting anywhere and I hoped you had better luck than me in that department as you almost live here.” Vanessa told me as I sucked on my straw, drinking up the delicious coffee. I ignored the comment about living here since I worked part time helping with maintaining and setting up events here for others to enjoy. The library is not just a place for books, it can be open to multiple things! Like we had a little date night with spaghetti dinner and a cheesy rom com movie for couples!

“So what did you find out?” She eagerly asked, smiling in response to the possibility of good news. I was going to hate to burst her bubble as I swallowed. “Absolutely nothing.” She let out a mirthless chuckle as she looked at me. “I’m sorry? You couldn’t find anything either?” Leaning back in her chair in shock. “Nothing. I read into the religion section, customs, cultures, folklores, mythologies…” I ticked off the subjects on my fingers for her to show how long I’ve been at it. “And there was no mention of Cybele. The only thing I could think was that maybe they were made just for Bovine Bluffs?”

I offered gently to her, “bits and pieces lined up to them, but it’s like puzzle pieces from different places that were assimilated to form them. They fit, but the picture has twenty different smaller pictures in it… If that makes sense?” She gave me a blank look, “Uh, same company that uses the same template for all the puzzles, so they interlock, no matter what the picture looks like. I-”

She stopped, “I understand, I am just frustrated you didn’t find anything, but you got the moxie to keep on going when I was about to burn the place down. I had to blow some steam off before I lost it.” Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked the question, “so what did you do while I was searching through the books?” Her cheeks darkened in response and she swiftly changed the subject about how good her coffee was.