Book of change

A college guy who lives alone happens to have a surprise project for his film course. He needs to read a book about famous film directors of the history.

He is a Filipino citizen who is studying film in  Canada. A library for film students is near his house but it is winter so he needs to wear a layer of clothes.

He grabbed his notebook and pen. He's ready and was about to leave when he received a text from his mother saying that he should come back to the Philippines.

He closed his phone and continue his way to go to the library. He can see that everyone is looking up for Christmas. He saw a complete family and he just looked away and sigh. They were a complete family. The only problem is they didn't even care about him.

"Good afternoon, Cal!" The librarian said.

"Afternoon buddy!" He greeted back.

"How's your course going?" The librarian asked.

"Quite good." He replied.

"I reserved you the beautiful spot as always." The librarian said.

"Thanks!" He replied and went to look for books.

He was looking for the non fiction books. Since it's winter, there's a few people at the library. He was roaming around the non fiction section when a book fell from the highest part of the shelves.

He picked up the book and bring it with him. He filled up the form to let him borrow the two books. And went  to the grocery to buy some snacks to keep him up for holiday.

A little girl came up to him and touch his jacket. He just stand there and didn't dare to move. He was about to panic when a pretty teenage girl came up and carried the baby.

"There you are." The pretty girl said.

Cal took a deep breath and walked away without looking back. He went to the dairy section to grab a milk and cheese and went to pay for the groceries. As he was about to cross  towards the other street the pretty girl came up to him.

"Hey! Cal!" The pretty girl said and he stopped walking to look at the pretty girl.

"Oh Giselle. It's you." He said in a cold voice.

"It's been a year since we last talk to each other. How are you? Still not going back to the Philippines?" Giselle said.

"I'm fine." He replied.

"Do you want to hangout tomorrow?" Giselle asked.

"I have a lot in my plate." He replied.

"Are you still mad? Because I left you that night." Giselle asked once again.

"No. I get it now. I really need to go." He replied and crossed the streets without looking back again.

He was walking back home alone. The book suddenly fell and landed at the snow. It made him worried because he just borrowed the book but when he pick it up. The book is still fine. So he continue to walk.

He saw the librarian closing the library too early but he still ignore it and walk straight to where he was staying. As usual no noise around the house, clothes are scattered everywhere, and dirty dishes are still at the sink.

He put the groceries at the refrigerator and grab the clothes to put inside the laundry. The dishes at the sink have been cleaned. And it's time for him to start working.

He went into his room with the books to read it at the balcony.

"Why did I even choose to study this course? I should have choose architecture or engineering." He said in frustration.

"Because you said before that someday you'll inspire people through your movies." Someone said.

He stood up and went inside. And he saw Giselle at the kitchen making some foods.

"Love! Come here! I'm making your favorite food. I know you'll love this." She said.

"You Definitely know that I'll love that." He replied.

When he's about to come closer to Giselle. He eventually woke up and realized that it's just a dream.

"Luckily it's not true." He said.

"Hey! Cal!" Someone called him.

"What?" He asked.

"Can I come inside?" Giselle asked.

"Just tell me this is a dream. This is a dream isn't it?" He said.

"Dream? It's not a dream. Now may I come in?" She asked.

"I guess." He said.

He went downstairs to go open the door. When the book suddenly turn to a random page and light like the sun.

After the light stop, a cute little child with a cat ears and tails appeared. He looked at the child in amazement and it ran towards him and gave him a hug.

"Hello? Cal? Are you okay? Can you come faster it's cold here." Giselle said.

"Oh yeah just 1 second." He said and go towards the door and opened it.

Giselle went inside and feel comfortable like the old times. When the little child appeared and hide behind Cal.

"Who's that child?" Giselle asked and gave a confused face.

"Her name is ---"

"Missy." The child interrupted.

"And why are you here?" Giselle asked once again.

"I don't know why she's here. But it's cold outside to kick her out of my house." Cal explained.

"If you don't want to keep her, I'm taking her with me." Giselle said.

"I don't want you! He's my dad." The little child said.

"Don't be silly he's not your dad. And it's imposible because he hates children." Giselle replied.

"Okay? Enough. Why are you here Giselle?" Cal interrupted.

"I'm giving you this. My mom wants you to come to my wedding." Giselle said and handed the invitations.

Cal grabbed the invitations and just stood there in shock.

"Wedding? Isn't it too young to marry? I mean I'm not against it but I'm just curious." Cal said

"There's no age when it comes to getting marry. I hope you'll come it will be more fun if you're there." Giselle said and left.

The little child shown up and sat at the sofa and staring at Cal. But he didn't even dare to look and went upstairs.

"Wait dad!" Missy said.

"Don't call me dad!" He said.

"You're my father in the future. And that girl is mom. If we don't stop the wedding I'll never get the chance to come back to the future and you'll have to take care of me at a young age." Missy explained.

"Oh I'd rather die than to take care of you. And what is your name again?" He asked.

"Missy." She replied.

"As in Bee? Who would gave their children a name like that?" He said.

"You. You're the one who gave me the name because you said it was a nickname for young lady." Missy replied.

"Me? It should be Giselle, I'll never gave a my child a name like that." He said.

"You never like children. So you have no idea what you should name me!" Missy said.

"I have some good name to give you. Let's change the Missy to Adina." He said.

"Thats more dumb than Missy." She said.

"It's mean gentle! Cause look at you, a gentle little cat lady." he said and went back to his working table to finish the project.

Missy followed Cal to his working table and grabbed a book to read. It has been half an hour and Cal is still making his project while Missy had read 5 books.

After an hour of making the project, Cal finally done and get up to grab something to eat when he noticed that   Missy is now sleeping.

"This is why I hate children. Too lazy to go to bed." He said in a annoyed voice but still carry Missy to go to his bed.

He arrange the bed and make sure Missy is sleeping comfortably.

"I don't know that children can be so cute when they're sleeping." He said then get up and went downstairs to cook some foods.

After he ate the foods and left something incase Missy get hungry

He prepared the couch so he can sleep there because he let Missy.

He woke up because of the light that hit his face. As usual he got up and started making breakfast.

"Good morning dad!" Missy greeted.

"Yeah yeah good morning." He greeted back.

He's still cooking breakfast and Missy sat there watching him cooked the bacon and eggs.

"I didn't know you could cook." Missy suddenly said.

"Tell me what is my life in the future." He said.

"You're one of the best film director you often bring me to the set. Mom have left me to your custody and the last time I remember is I have to make sure you'll never let me go back to the future." Missy explained.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because at the current moment this city will be gone because of the apocalypse." Missy once again explained and her father still didn't get it.

"Am I that dumb? I still couldn't get it." He replied.

"Just say the magic word! You'll know it if you'll read the book!" Missy said.

"I didn't read it." He replied.

"But still remember the page where i got out?" Missy asked.

"Yeah. 835." He answered.

"Now grab the book and read at that part of the book,the answer is there." Missy suggested.

"After you eat." He replied.

"You have one day before it ends and I'll go back to the future if you haven't read and say the magic word." Missy said.

"Why don't you just say to me what is the magic word?" He asked.

"I don't even know, the clue is on the book if you'll read it." Missy said and stood up to help Cal prepare the foods.

"You know we use to do this. I'll help you prepare the breakfast and eat together." Missy said.

"Am I a good dad in the future?" He asked.

"No." Missy said

"Yeah as I expected." He replied.

"Because you're the best dad! You can work and take care of me at the same time. Since mom didn't even visit you have to raise me alone and you said that you never need a woman to take care of me. So you never dated anyone. I'm happy I get to live with when you're starting." Missy said and cried.

"Shh shh don't cry. You want to go get some snacks? Just don't cry." He said trying to calm her down.

Cal stood up and carry Missy.

"We should buy clothes for you. So let's go." Cal said and wiped Missy's tears.

"Clothes? Just like the old times. I would love to." Missy said and smiled

Cal don't know what Missy would wear if she'll go with him outside especially it's winter.

"Worrying about what I would wear? I found a jacket in here." Missy said and wear the jacket.

They checked everything, turned off the lights and locked doors then leave. Their first destination is to school and Cal will pass his projects.

"What a cute little girl you are." One of the teacher said.

Missy hide behind Cal again. And just peeking.

"I just she's a shy little girl. And wait. I thought you hate children. Why are you with one?" The teacher asked.

"I'm his daughter from the future." Missy said.

"Um. What?!" The teacher asked in shocked.

"She's not. But I might take care of her." Cal said and grabbed Missy then left.

While they were walking towards the clothes shop. Missy saw a kid and a mother hugging each other.

"Can you hug me too dad?" Missy said to her dad and have a cute sad face.

"Yeah sure I'll hug you come here." He said and carry Missy while they were walking.

"I saw a kid with her mom. I kinda feel jealous." Missy said.

"I'm here. Don't think too much of your mother." He said.

They reach the clothes shop. They went inside then go straight to the kid's section.

"I'll have this. A good outfit for winter, dad." He said.

"Dad? I never thought of it as good but I'll try." He whispered to himself.

"What are you saying dad?" Missy asked.

"Nothing just grab the things you want to wear and I'll buy it." He replied.

"Why don't you help me pick my outfit? Oh yeah I forgotten. You don't force me to wear what you want." Missy said.

Missy pick all the clothes she wanted to wear and then gave the basket to her father.

"This is all you wanted to wear? Alright let's pay all of this." He said.

"Okay." Missy replied and smiled.

Cal went to the cashier and pay for t clothes.

"Your sister is so cute." The cashier said.

"She's not my sister." Cal replied.

"Oh you're babysitting her?" The cashier asked.

"She's my daughter actually." He said.

"Oh she's your daughter? She must have a beautiful mother." The cashier said.

"Her mother left her." He replied.

"That hurt." The cashier said.

"Not really." He replied and pay for the clothes then left the shop.

They were walking walking home when they walk passed the groceries and Giselle is waiting at the bench near the entrance.

"Mom! Come with us." Missy said while running towards Giselle.

"Missy! Get back here." He said and run to get Missy but it is too late.

"Missy? Hi." Giselle greeted.

"Mom!" Missy said and hugged her.

"Mom? What are you talking about?" Giselle asked in confusion.

"Come with us and I'll explain." Missy said and grabbed Giselle and Cal hands then run.

"Missy? Stop running." Giselle said.

But missy didn't stop running until they reached Cal's house. Missy looked at Cal and Giselle and went inside.

"So what's happening?" Giselle asked.

"You're my mom! In the future! I'm Missy, daughter of Cal Torres and Giselle Brooklyn." Missy said.

"My last name is not Brooklyn. It is Tuffin." Giselle argued.

"You're going to marry a man that have the Brooklyn surname! And before you marry him you'll find out you were pregnant with me and Cal was the dad." Missy explained again.

"You know what it all make sense. You wanted me to stop the wedding aren't you?" Giselle said to Cal.

"At first yeah that was one of my choice. But I think I'll be a better dad so my decision is all made right now. I don't care if you marry that man but I'll take of Missy." Cal argue back.

"D-dad. Y-you can't let her m-marry that m-man." Missy said and tears started to fell from her eyes.

"Then do it! I don't think you're going to be the best dad! You hated children you'll definitely fail to be a dad." Giselle said.

"I don't care what you think! At least I'm not leaving my future daughter and marry another man! You know what just leave!" Cal said and kicked Giselle out of the house.

Missy come closer to Cal and hug him. And Cal wiped Missy's tears.

"The last time I get to see mom is just like this. You both didn't agree with raising the child idea but both choose to fill a divorce." Missy said.

"You're my daughter. I know I'm not an expert when it comes to child but I know I can raise you in the way I know." He said.

And after he said that, Missy shine again and this time she's wearing a dress, the cat ears and tail is gone.

"You say the magic words." Missy said happily.

It is 24 hours before Christmas and Cal is not celebrating alone because he have someone in his side.

"5...4...3...2...1... Merry Christmas Dad." Missy said while waking his dad.

"Ohh Merry Christmas!" Cal greeted back.

They went to the table and open the gifts while eating.

"Mom brought a gift? For you and for me." Missy said while they both open the gifts.

After they cleaned the house and open the gifts. Cal prepared the bed and help missy to get ready to go to bed.

"Goodnight dad." Missy said.

"Goodnight missy." He replied.

"I may hate children, but you're an exception. You're my daughter so I'll accept you. I'll be happy to be your dad." He said to himself.

Ps. Look around and the book of change might be with you. And don't forget to appreciate your parents.