Zrum ziddle zjri zjree, ziddle ziddle and a siddle siddle zrum. Ah yes hello, I am teaching these little ones the song of the overcomers. Come in, come in! I am General Drake Balio, leader of the Garden’s Glone army. When I am not fighting the Tool’s minions in the Book, I love reading in here… the Living Library.

I see from the new faces that you brought your friends with you tonight. They are most welcome! Find your places on the floor, as we are about to begin another adventure in Henley’s trek through the Living Tale. There are many large comfortable cushions to lie on while you listen to our story.

I missed seeing some of you in the Book of Treasures, but now you are back. That is good. What an amazing journey Henley Banks is having. Allow me to help those of you who have just joined us with a little recap. Henley Banks is a remarkable boy who does things extraordinarily fast, like when he faced a dragon in the Book of Heroes or jumped on the Flux in the Book of Treasures. In fact, he is moving through the books of the Living Tale faster than anyone else in his family. He is a lot like some of you who jump into an adventure before you think about where you are going. It is all right; there is room in this Tale for adventurers.

If you look at the map on the wall over there you will see that the Banks family live in Shernod, Ohio on Cherry Street. They have had many new developments since our last meeting. After the many sad days of his father’s deployment, Henley is excited to have him home. They are all getting used to doing life with him again. Grandpa is also living with them in the apartment over the garage. Right now, he and Bertram Bernham, his good friend, are traveling the U.S. seeing the sights. Henley couldn’t be more thrilled to have him nearby, especially after nearly losing him in the Book of Heroes. Star McKenzie is another addition to the Banks family. She moved to Shernod soon after coming out of the Book of Treasures. One of these days she … oh, there I go, nearly blurting out a surprise the Gardener has for you. You see I am a creature of action; I am not a storyteller like the Gardener. He can weave many threads together and keep track of them all.

What’s that? Yes, little one. It is good to see you too. You always take a seat near the front. You want to know what happened to Jeffery, Henley’s best friend. Well, how wonderful of you to remember him. We will catch up with him soon.

Are there any more questions? Yes, the young lady in the middle sitting on the blue cushion. Hello, it is nice to meet you too. What is the Living Tale? Superb question and one I love to answer. It is the story of your life that you live out one page at a time. It is the only story that has the power to overcome darkness, to show you how important you are to the Gardener, and to tell you that you carry the heart of a champion. Mind you, this heart does not look like hearts on your side of the Book. No, they are quite different in here. Imagine a stone the size of a basketball that is filled with liquid light and because it is liquid this stone is soft, not hard like rocks on your side of the reflection. In this light grows a hero’s heart; a flaming tree of greatness. Since our last meeting with Henley, his heart has grown  brighter and hotter.

Oh, we have many exciting pages ahead of us! If you are all settled in quite comfortably, let us look into the Bankses’ home to begin tonight’s journey. You see, in the Living Tale we can walk around inside our stories. It will take you a moment to get your footing, just ask some of those who have been here before.

It is night in Shernod. The Bankses have long been asleep. If we walk quietly up the steps… be careful of that squeaky step… we will find Henley’s bedroom at the top of the stairs. There it is on the right. His parents sleep across from him, and his brothers’ rooms are down the hall. No, my dear, we do not have to worry about a dog, only the guard cat, George. He is most likely sleeping with little David, Henley’s youngest brother. If you want to know more about the Banks family before we begin, may I suggest you switch rooms and visit the Book of Heroes. Otherwise let us begin!