"The Graveyard Book" Epilogue

Bod woke up in the bed of the inn outside of London, scarcely remembering the past couple of days which have been frightening yet exhilarating. He will always remember that last day at his beloved graveyard, where he defeated the Jacks of All Trades. He hopes that one day, he will forget of their very existence, but that day is far from now. And yet he hopes to keep on memory intact and in reach through his life, the memory of Scarlett. Yanked away from him, he will regret the day he defeated all the Jacks, making him a monster to Scarlett. Silas said it was best to erase her memory. Bod would say “What does he know?” and somehow, probably for his hidden love for her, he was angry at his guardian, Silas.

With daybreak coming, Bod decided it was time to leave. Down stairs as he checked out, the man asked him “Where you going kido?” and all Bod could manage to say was “I don’t know.” Taking notice that he only had 48 pounds left, he decided that a so called “job” must be obtained. Silas had told him about them, it was something that you had to work and people would pay you money. After a couple of days on the streets, he picked up a few things, such as where to buy clothes, what was in style, and even where to have a decent breakfast.

The short trek to the bakery around the corner was interesting. Bod had chosen to stay outside of London for the simple reason that he did not like the city life with the buzzing people going about their business. He liked it calm and simple. At the bakery he said “Hi ma’m” and the register lady answered “Hi sir, what would you like?” Bod enjoyed being called sir, he found that it was, proper. “May I please have a bagel and some…” He was thinking what that thick, tangy juice was called. “Orange juice” he said. “Yes of course that’ll be 3 pounds.” He paid, took his food, and sat down at a table.      

The man next to Bod, tall and wide, looked professional, so Bod asked “Do you know where I can get a job around here?” “There are local ads for jobs in the daily newspaper, or many shops will have a sign on one of their windows saying help wanted, but I wouldn’t apply for a job wearing that, you at least must buy a suit.” Said the man. “Where do I get a suit?” “There’s a shop down the street and to the left from here.” Bod thanked him and left the bakery.

Back on the street, there are to many people for his liking, but he couldn’t do anything about it. Bod misses the days where he could fade into the shadows and not be seen. Bod was also being talked to, but not by the people, but by the things on the street. First, a stop light was talking to him, with the voice of the agitated Silas, then a mailbox in the voice of Ms. Lupesci, and so on. Bod tried to distract his mind by thinking of other things. When was the last day he took a shower? Bod was not sure but it must have been more than a day or two ago because the cat was speaking in the voice of Mrs. Owens “Nobody Owens, you go take a bath right now!”

Wanting desperately to get off the street, he stepped into the suit store. Lines of suites engulfed the shop. Bod quickly picked one out that suited him well and fled. Now to look for a job, he went around the corner to a gasoline station and bought a newspaper. The nearest job was 2 miles away, and it was to be a clerk at a grocery store. He took the bus there, and on the bus made nice conversation with a women sitting next to him. She said he looked well in the suit and Bod, being generous complimented her on her dress.

At the grocery store he said “May I please apply for a job here?” and the manager came over and looked at him and asked “Do you know algebra?” “Yes sir” then you’re hired!” Bod was surprised it was so easy. He knew he had only attended school for a short period of time, but he had learned much in those few months.

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A few months later, Bod was barley getting by on the money he was acquiring from his job as a clerk. He at least had an apartment, 1 room, 1 bathroom. Al though he had made good progress in the past couple of months, they where dreadful and lonesome. He had some acquaintances at his job, but only few. He had also received a hair cut, modern and stylish; he had bought a razor to shave also. He had turned into a handsome young man, yet not happy with him-self.

One day, in the mail, he received a very heavy package through the mail. It said it was from Silas. Excitedly, Bod began to open it. Inside the letter reads

“Dear Bod

I hope you are doing well, living your life in the world. If you want to write back to me, you may, but I cannot assure you that I will receive it. I hope you have made the right decisions so far, and that you will from now on, starting with my gift to you of 30,000 pounds. Please do not question where I have obtained this money from. I bid you good luck and goodbye.

Sincerely, your friend, Silas”

Bod was astonished, What was he to do with all this money? Well, Bod, decided to go to college in America.

Bod loved America, from all the stories he had read, he knew much about it. For in fact, he knew it more than the president of the country knew. He moved into Pennsylvania and studied for four years at Harrisburg community college. There at school, he met many students his age, and interacted with them daily. Bod was no longer lonely, but still missing that special someone.

But one day he met a girl, about Bod’s  age, also from England. She was in most of his classes, yet they did not talk much. One day, a day when the sun was shining, the bumblebees exploring the wild flowers nearby, he greeted her. “Hi” he said “I couldn’t help notice you sitting here all lonely, so I decided I would keep you company.” They started to chat, asking each other about themselves and such. Until the girl asks “How old are you?” and Bod answers “I’m not sure, I never had parents.” The girl feeling sympathetic stood silent for a while and announced she was 19. Then she asked “I never got your name.” “Nobody Owens” Bod answered, embarrassed. “That’s a strange name she said, but I like it.” They where silent for a while, both thinking “Déjàvu”. Then Bod asks “Whats your name?” and she simply answers “Scarlett Amber Perkins”

And at that moment, that déjàvu moment, he remembers at the mere age of 5, how they met. And from then on, that he would never ever, in this life or the next, would forget the beautiful women he knew since the age of 5. The woman he married, and grew old and in love with.