Title: Make a Note of It
Prompt 11: What does he always carry with him?
Word Count: 615
Taking and keeping notes was important for his research, so Naru always kept a notebook close at hand. If it was not available, he would write on loose pieces of paper and fold them up in the notebook later.
He also did this when he ran out of empty pages in the notebook, and now his current notebook had become twice its original thickness. He needed to buy a new one.
Naru didn't mind spending money where it was needed. But when it came to the small things, the training of his early childhood took over, and he turned out to be quite frugal.
Frugal enough to be searching through the small storage room in the office because he was sure he had seen a box with some notebooks in it, instead of going out and buying a new one.
Lin had shaken his head when he realized what Naru was doing, and left to pick up lunch.
*.*
Mai poked her head into the room, which was better categorized as a closet. She hovered for a few minutes, then asked, "What are you doing, Naru?"
He pulled down a box off the shelf. Inside were the notebooks he was looking for. When he opened one, the page was not empty as expected, but covered in writing. His writing. He wondered how the books had gotten there. They should have been in England.
Mai was still waiting for an answer. "I'm taking out the contents of the room just so you can put them back," he told her.
Two emotions flashed across her face – irritation, and worry that he was being serious, since she wasn't doing anything constructive anyway. She left quickly, murmuring something about tea.
She was someone who could have understood being thrifty. He probably should not have snapped at her.
Probably.
*.*
He leaned on the shelf and opened the book again. The first entry was dated a few years ago. He scanned his messy writing, recalling the case, when suddenly the handwriting changed to a clean, elegant cursive.
Noll, who is going to read this?
There was another paragraph in his handwriting as if the note was not there, and then again the style changed.
Actually, who is going to be able to read this, Noll? Can you even read your own scrawl?
This time there was a reply. Not everyone can have perfect handwriting like you, Gene.
The case report resumed, but a few pages later, it was interrupted again.
Note to Noll: From what I can read, this is very boring. How did you drain the excitement out of ghost hunting?
Gene, how did you get a hold of my notebook without my noticing?
Glad I can outwit you occasionally, Noll. Really, throw some life into this writing.
Was that a pun, Gene?
You are going to turn into Professor Oliver Davis: Classroom by day, haunted houses by night. Like Indiana Jones. I guess that would include all the girls sighing over you.
Quit writing notes in my book, Gene.
And so he did, Naru thought as he flipped through the rest of the book. But, he remembered with a touch of amusement, Gene had tried. Naru had started making sure the book never left his side, much to his brother's dismay.
He replaced the book and closed the box up. He would have to post them back home before they were damaged, or before someone else found them.
*.*
Lin wordlessly placed a new notebook on Naru's desk along with his lunch.
After all, Lin recalled that it was he who had put the box of old notebooks in the closet, but some things are better left unsaid.