It was 1984 by George Orwell.
As Hanna opened the front cover, she saw the words “first edition” written in pencil on the title page.
An envelope fell out from its hiding place between the pages landing softly on her white, embroidered bedcover. She could feel her heart start to beat faster as she picked it up, putting her finger into the gap at the edge of the flap and moving it along the edge in order to tear it open. Pulling out the expensive cream notepaper, she unfolded it and began to read.
September 27th 2000
Dear Hanna,
The beginning of your university career is something worth celebrating, but as Thomas Carlyle said, “The greatest university of all is the collection of books.” As soon as I saw this, I couldn’t help but think of you. Thank you, not only for your kindness to Ruby over the summer, but for also entertaining her lonely, and occ
asionally annoying, Big Brother.
If the newly invented Hanna Vincent is anywhere near as interesting as the old one, I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Yours,
Richard
She stared at the letter for a while. It was so short—just a note, really—but she couldn’t help but find herself getting a little overcome at the gesture. He’d bought her a book—a first edition, no less. It wasn’t the sort of thing you could pick up at a charity shop or a thrift store.
Plus, he’d called her interesting. For some unknown reason, she liked that. She really liked that. The way the Larsens were lavishing that word on her was making her change her mind about it. For the first time, it felt good to be interesting, to be different.
After spending ten minutes wondering how to thank him, she decided to go down to the computer suite in the basement of the halls of residence and send him an email.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Big Brother
Dear Richard,
Wow, thank you so much for your impressive gift. I’ve never owned a first edition of anything before, so I’m very excited to start this new collection. I probably have some way to go before I can have anything approaching Thomas Carlyle’s “university of books” but a girl has to start somewhere, right?
I’m slightly concerned, however, that you sent me a book which basically tells me that Big Brother is watching me. Should I be worried?
Hanna
PS: I have been assigned room 101 as my bedroom.
She clicked on the “send” icon, and sat back, deciding to Ask Jeeves exactly how much a first edition of 1984 was worth.
Within moments she wished she hadn’t. There was no way she could keep that thing in her bedroom. It was worth more than the rest of her possessions added together. And then some.
Just as she started to consider returning the gift, her email alert pinged.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Watching You?
Hanna,
You are most welcome. And as to your question, it very much depends on what you’ve been doing.
Richard