One Drop Of Honey

They like books where nothing much happens.

There is a boat that goes from town to town serving books for tiny people.

It is very hard for them to find books suitable for them elsewhere. They are not technologically advanced like us big folk and for big folk there isn’t much money in making tiny books. The tiny folk, who are an inch or two tall, will sometimes make do by walking across and reading big books one line at a time. But they much prefer books made especially for them. 

The tiny people are not like big people shrunk. They are much jollier and much more shy. In the same way, their books are not just like big books shrunk. They like books where nothing much happens. They would be happy to read a story about a walk to the store. The most popular tiny book in the boat is about a ladybug who takes a nap in the sun. 

The owners of the boat are kind and old and are dear friends to all tiny folk. They visit each town for a day or two almost every month. They have one ramp for themselves and other big folk and another ramp for the tiny folk. The ramp is not tiny but it has tall walls and handles so the tiny folk will not blow off. The owners have carved stairs into all of their shelves, but they will use their hands as elevators for the tiny folk upon request. They move their hands slowly and straight.

The tiny folk have their own favourite chairs that they bring with them to the shop. They set up and read on the shelves. They like how the boat sways. In their own boats (which are little more than rafts, made up of twigs and leaves) they are far too aware of the water surrounding them to enjoy it, but with the shop owners they feel safe.

In payment, the boat owners request little, usually trades. A drupelet of a raspberry. A jig. One drop of honey. The tiny folk are devilishly fond of sugar and would normally be loath to give up any honey -- but they are even more fond of stories so they are happy to trade.

The tiny people love the boat owners. They are writing a story about them and are going to spend weeks writing it in a big book to give to them. This is how it goes:

There once were two big people who were our friends (tiny folk). They had a boat and brought us books. The boat was good. The books were good. When we saw the boat coming we knew it would be a very good day. When we read our books that night we fell asleep. The boat people did good. We all lived happily ever after, the end.