Alvin The greatest gift. A story about alvin and thomas. Thomas Alvin and his father lived on the second floor above his father's bookstore. Alvin It was called the writer's block - new and used books. Thomas One christmas eve, Alvin and i made snow angels and watched frank capra's it's a wonderful life. Alvin Our annual tradition. Thomas Then alvin took me downstairs to the bookstore. We were eleven. (they take a step into the past.) Alvin Trust me. Thomas What are we doing’ Alvin We're going to pick out a book for your christmas present. Thomas Cool. Which one’ Alvin I don't know, but it's somewhere in this mystical place. Thomas Mystical place’ Alvin Mystical place. Thomas It’s a bookstore. Alvin No. It’s a great and powerful force capable of extraordinary feats. Thomas Alvin's father was known for having the uncanny knack Of finding the perfect book for each of his customers. Of course, alvin saw things... Differently. Alvin Every day People come into this bookstore. Never knowing it was built On sacred hollowed ground. Thomas Don't you mean ‘hallowed’’ Alvin They travel here from all around. Poor souls looking for stories. Thomas Where's my present’ Alvin These desperate pilgrims enter this shrine. My father says... ‘good afternoon,’ Or ‘morning’ as the case may be. ‘i’m the owner of this bookstore. Can i help you please?’ And they say, ‘not right now sir, thanks a lot. But i’ll peruse the books you’ve got. I’m just looking for stories.’ So dad allows them to search the stacks. And they hunt and browse And they read the backs. But eventually, Inevitably, They ask for dad’s advice. They talk a little. Then he gets this look all dazed and queer. And he mumbles things i can't quite hear. (alvin imitates his father’s mumbling.) Then, like a shot, He goes right to the perfect spot And finds their special book, The one distinctive book, The story that will change that person’s life. You see’ Thomas See what’ Alvin This store speaks through my father. He's a conduit. He's an instrument. He's a vessel. And i am his son. I too hear the prophetic whisper of the bookstore spirit. I will now attempt to use my ancestral gifts to guide you to your present. (alvin listens intently for the prophetic whisper.) Thomas You couldn’t just get me a model airplane? Alvin Shhh! Speak to me Noble spirit of the bookstore. This is alvin here. Thomas And thomas. Alvin Is there something you can recommend As a gift for thomas, my best friend? Can you find him a story? (alvin listens again.) Thomas Do you hear anything yet? Alvin No. Wait! It needs... Something. It needs both of us. Thomas What do we do’ Alvin Now we stand up straight looking shy and meek. Thomas Now we stand up straight looking shy and meek. Alvin And we humbly wait for the store to speak. Thomas And we humbly wait for the store to speak. Both Soon we will hear the answer That we're preparing to receive. Alvin Now the next part’s not entirely clear. It’s the part where dad gets dazed and queer. Thomas I think you nailed that part. Alvin I see... I see... I see a guy wearing cardboard wings, A coat hanger halo, carrying a bell and a homemade book... Wait! Holy cow! I know which book to give you now. Thomas Well. Alvin You’ll be grateful that i interceded. And found the book you never knew you needed. Thomas Come on. Alvin The story that will change my best friend’s life. (alvin plucks a book from the shelf and hands it to thomas.) Thomas The adventures of tom sawyer. By mark twain. A book report by tommy weaver. Sixth grade. (thomas addresses his sixth grade class.) I got this book from my friend alvin. It's a really good story but my favorite part is in the pre-face. It goes like this. (he opens the book and reads.) part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, And what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. The author. Hartford. Eighteen seventy-six.’ (he closes the book.)