Behind the Bookcase
by Katharine Pyle · from As the Goose Flies
Adapted Version
It was a very rainy day. Big drops of rain hit the window. Ellen looked out. She saw the rain fall on the green trees. It fell on the bright flowers. Her Grandmother sat in her big, soft chair. She looked quiet.
Grandmother liked to tell stories. But she often forgot the endings. "Tell me a story," Ellen said. Grandmother began a story. It was about a princess. Then she stopped. "I forget," she said. Ellen felt sad for her.
The story was about a princess. Her name was Goldenlocks. She had beautiful gold hair. Ellen wanted to hear the end. But Grandmother never got to the end of it.
"What came next?" Grandmother asked. She pushed her glasses up. She looked very sad. "I do not know," she said. Her eyes were wet with tears.
Ellen felt sad too. She wanted to help Grandmother. But she did not know the end. "It is okay, Grandmother," Ellen said softly. "Do not worry."
Ellen went to her room. The house was very quiet. She saw her books on the shelf. "I will clean my books," she said. She wanted to make them neat.
She took the books out. One by one. Then she saw the wall behind them. The wall was blue. It was soft, like a cloud. It felt strange.
Ellen put her hand on the wall. Her hand went through it! She pulled her hand back fast. "Oh!" she said. She looked again. It was a surprise.
She pulled the blue wall open. She saw green trees. She saw a bright blue sky. She heard birds singing far away. The air smelled fresh and sweet.
Ellen pushed the big bookcase. She pushed hard. It moved to the side. Now there was a big open space. It was like a secret door. A door to a new place.
Ellen took one step through. Then one more. She was in a new world. The sun was warm on her face. Flowers grew all around her. They were bright colors.
Ellen smiled a big smile. Her heart felt happy. Her new adventure began now. She was ready for it.
Original Story
Behind the Bookcase
Ellen stood at the nursery window looking out at the gray sky and the wet, blowing branches of the trees. It had been raining and blowing all day. The roof pipes poured out steady waterfalls; the lilacs bent over, heavy with the rain. Up in the sky a bird was trying to beat its way home against the wind.
But Ellen was not thinking of any of these things. She was thinking of the story that her grandmother had forgotten again.
Ellen's grandmother was very old; so old that she often called Ellen by the names of her own little children; children who had grown up or died years and years ago. She was so old she could remember things that had happened seventy years before, but then she forgot a great many things, even things that had occurred only a few minutes before. Sometimes she forgot where her spectacles were when they were pushed back on her head. Most of all she forgot the stories she tried to tell Ellen. She would just get to a very interesting place, and then she would push her spectacles up on her forehead and look vaguely about her. "I forget what came next," she would say.
Very often Ellen could help her out. "Why, granny, don't you know the little bear's voice was so thin and shrill it woke little Silverhair right up? Then when she opened her eyes and saw the three bears—" or, "Why then when Jack saw the giant was fast asleep he caught up the golden hen—" and so the little girl would go on and finish the story for the old grandmother.
But there was one story that Ellen could not finish for her grandmother. It was a story that she had never heard; at least she had never heard the end of it. It was about a little princess named Goldenlocks who always had to wear a sooty hood over her beautiful shining hair, and who had a wicked stepmother.
Again and again the grandmother had begun the story, but she never got further in it than where Goldenlocks was combing her hair at night all alone in the kitchen. When she had reached that point she would stop and say, "Ah, what was it that came next? What was it, little Clara? Can't you remember? It's so long since I have told it." Clara was the name by which the grandmother oftenest called Ellen.
Sometimes the little girl tried to make up an ending to the story, but always the grandmother would shake her head. "No, no," she would cry, "that's not it. What was it? What was it? Ah, if I could but remember!"
She worried and fretted so over the story that Ellen was always sorry to have her begin it. Sometimes the old grandmother almost cried.
Now as the child stood looking through the window at the rainy world outside, her thoughts were upon the story, for the grandmother had been very unhappy over it all day; Ellen had not been able to get her to talk or think of anything else.
The house was very quiet, for it was afternoon. The mother was busy in the sewing-room, grandmother was taking a nap, and nurse was crooning softly to the baby in the room across the hall.
Ellen had come to the nursery to get a book of jingles; she was going to read aloud to her mother. Now as she turned from the window it occurred to her that she would put the bookcase in order before she went down to the sewing-room. That was just the thing to do on a rainy day.
She sat down before the shelves and began pulling the books out, now and then opening one to look at a picture or to straighten a bookmarker.
The nursery walls were covered with a flowered paper, and when Ellen had almost emptied the shelves she noticed that the paper back of them was of a different color from that on the rest of the room. It had not faded. The blue color between the vines looked soft and cloudlike, too, and almost as though it would melt away at a touch.
Ellen put her hand back to feel it.
Instead of touching a hard, cold wall as she had expected, her hand went right through between the vines as though there were nothing there.
Ellen rose to her knees and put both hands across the shelf. She found she could draw the vines aside just as though they were real. She even thought she caught a glimpse of skies and trees between them.
In haste she sprang to her feet and pushed the bookcase to one side so that she could squeeze in behind it.
She caught hold of the wall-paper vines and drew them aside, and then she stepped right through the wall and into the world beyond.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Ellen is a young girl whose elderly grandmother frequently forgets the endings to stories, particularly one about a princess named Goldenlocks, causing the grandmother distress. On a rainy day, Ellen decides to tidy the nursery bookcase. While doing so, she discovers that the wallpaper behind the shelves is different and, upon touching it, finds her hand passes right through. Driven by curiosity, Ellen pushes the bookcase aside, pulls back the wallpaper, and steps through the wall into an unknown world, leaving her familiar life behind.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to wonder
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a time when children's entertainment often revolved around storytelling and imaginative play within the home.
Plot Beats (11)
- Ellen observes a rainy day and reflects on her grandmother's forgetfulness, especially concerning the unfinished story of Princess Goldenlocks.
- Her grandmother often forgets details, even recent ones, but remembers things from long ago, and Ellen usually helps her finish stories.
- However, the Goldenlocks story, about a princess with a sooty hood and a wicked stepmother, is one Ellen has never heard the end of.
- The grandmother gets stuck at the point where Goldenlocks is combing her hair in the kitchen and becomes distressed when she can't remember what comes next.
- Ellen feels sorry for her grandmother's fretting over the story and is unable to distract her.
- In the quiet afternoon, Ellen goes to the nursery to get a book and decides to put the bookcase in order.
- While emptying the shelves, Ellen notices the wallpaper behind the bookcase is a different, unfaded blue color, appearing soft and cloudlike.
- Curious, Ellen reaches out and her hand passes through the wallpaper as if it were not solid.
- She gets on her knees and then stands, using both hands to draw aside the wallpaper vines, catching glimpses of skies and trees.
- Ellen quickly pushes the heavy bookcase to one side, creating an opening.
- She pulls the wallpaper vines further apart and steps through the wall into the world beyond.
Characters
Ellen ★ protagonist
A young girl, likely of slender build, with an observant and thoughtful demeanor. Her exact height and build are not specified but she is small enough to squeeze behind a bookcase.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but as a child in a nursery, she would likely wear a simple, comfortable dress typical of the late 19th or early 20th century, perhaps made of cotton or linen, in a practical color suitable for play.
Wants: To understand and complete the story of Goldenlocks, and to alleviate her grandmother's distress. She is also driven by a child's natural curiosity and desire for adventure.
Flaw: Her inability to complete the Goldenlocks story for her grandmother causes her distress and a feeling of helplessness.
She begins as a child frustrated by an incomplete story and her grandmother's memory, and by the end, she embarks on a journey into a magical world, transforming from a passive listener to an active explorer.
Curious, patient, helpful, imaginative, and persistent. She tries to help her grandmother remember stories and actively seeks solutions to her boredom.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young girl, approximately 8 years old, of slender build, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a curious and thoughtful expression, with wide, observant eyes. Her hair is a medium brown, styled simply, perhaps tied back with a ribbon. She wears a practical, knee-length, dark blue cotton dress with a white Peter Pan collar and white cuffs, typical of early 20th-century children's wear. Her hands are slightly extended as if reaching for something. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Grandmother ◆ supporting
Very old, likely frail, with the typical physical signs of advanced age. She often pushes her spectacles onto her forehead.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but as an elderly woman taking a nap, she would likely wear comfortable, modest clothing typical of the late 19th or early 20th century, perhaps a dark, soft wool or cotton dress, possibly with a shawl.
Wants: To recall and share the story of Goldenlocks, which seems to hold significant personal meaning for her.
Flaw: Her advanced age and severe memory loss, which cause her great frustration and sadness.
She remains largely static in the story, serving as the catalyst for Ellen's adventure through her inability to finish the Goldenlocks story.
Forgetful, affectionate (calling Ellen by other names), persistent (in trying to recall the story), and easily distressed when she cannot remember.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman, very old and frail, sitting in a comfortable armchair, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a kind, wrinkled face with a slightly vague expression, and her spectacles are pushed up onto her forehead. Her hair is white, styled neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck. She wears a dark gray, long-sleeved wool dress with a high neckline, and a soft, knitted cream-colored shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hands are clasped gently in her lap. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Mother ○ minor
Not described, but implied to be a capable and busy woman managing a household.
Attire: Not described, but as a mother busy in the sewing-room in the early 20th century, she would likely wear a practical, long-sleeved day dress made of cotton or linen, perhaps with an apron.
Wants: To manage her home and care for her family.
Flaw: Not applicable; she is a background character.
Remains static, a background presence.
Diligent and busy, focused on her household duties.
Image Prompt & Upload
A woman in her late 30s, of average build, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a calm, focused expression. Her hair is dark brown, pulled back neatly in a simple bun. She wears a practical, long-sleeved, high-necked dark green cotton day dress, with a white apron tied at the waist. Her hands are clasped in front of her. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Nurse ○ minor
Not described, but implied to be a caregiver for the baby.
Attire: Not described, but as a nurse in a household, she would likely wear a clean, simple uniform or a modest dress, perhaps of a light color, typical of early 20th-century domestic staff.
Wants: To care for the baby.
Flaw: Not applicable; she is a background character.
Remains static, a background presence.
Caring and gentle, focused on the baby's comfort.
Image Prompt & Upload
A woman in her 20s, of slender build, standing upright and facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a kind, gentle expression. Her hair is light brown, pulled back neatly under a white cap. She wears a crisp, long-sleeved, light blue cotton dress with a white collar and white apron, typical of a domestic nurse's uniform from the early 20th century. Her hands are held gently in front of her. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Baby ○ minor
An infant, being cared for by the nurse.
Attire: Not described, but would be dressed in typical infant clothing of the period, likely a soft gown or romper.
Wants: Not applicable.
Flaw: Not applicable.
Remains static, a background presence.
Not applicable.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sleeping infant, wrapped in a soft white blanket, lying peacefully in a crib, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The baby has soft, light wisps of hair and a serene expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Nursery
A quiet room with a window looking out onto a rainy, gray sky and wet, blowing tree branches. The walls are covered with a flowered wallpaper, which is faded except behind the bookcase where the blue color between the vines looks soft and cloudlike.
Mood: Quiet, slightly melancholic due to the weather, then curious and magical.
Ellen contemplates her grandmother's forgotten story, then discovers a hidden passage behind the bookcase.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, slightly old-fashioned nursery room with a large wooden bookcase pushed against a wall. Through a tall window, heavy rain streaks down, and tree branches are visible, bending in the wind under a gray, overcast sky. The wallpaper is a faded floral pattern, but behind the bookcase, a section of the wallpaper is a vibrant, unfaded blue with soft, cloud-like vine patterns, hinting at something ethereal. Afternoon light is dim and diffused by the rain. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The World Beyond the Wall
A mysterious space glimpsed through the wallpaper vines, appearing to be an outdoor world with skies and trees.
Mood: Magical, inviting, full of wonder and possibility.
Ellen steps through the wall into a new, unknown world.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, ethereal passage opening up, framed by lush, vibrant green vines that seem to be made of wallpaper but move like real foliage. Beyond the vines, a bright, clear sky with hints of distant trees and a sunlit landscape is visible, contrasting sharply with the dimness of the nursery. The ground beneath is indistinct, suggesting a transition. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
