Another Year, Still Mortal

Wednesday. The end of another year. I have reread my margins from January to now, and I can report that I am still mortal.

In that time classes of every kind have walked past me into the sanctum: cousins on a Saturday, teenagers who read aloud, a boy with his sister, a mother-to-be, grandmothers in velvet, people who had never escaped anything and people who escape things for fun. Some got out and some didn’t, and every one of them went home with a story that had me in it, somewhere near the back.

My resolutions for next year: be immortal; learn to book online, like everyone else; buy Crumpet a bigger jar; stand closer to the wall.

The holidays are coming and the castle will be full again. If you are coming, book early. I would hate for you to miss me.