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We both grab our plates and lean back against the couch to watch our favorite movie.
Chapter 6
Sarah
Ican’tbelieveIam doing this. They only had two spots left and I got one. It was a hefty price up front, but that money paid for all my flights, hotels, and any extra things we do like parks or zoos.
My first flight from Pennsylvania to North Carolina isn't long, and I was able to pick something later in the day when I booked for my package. I’ll have time in the morning to double check my luggage and time afterwards to grab some food before I check into the hotel.
My only concern is that now I have a little less than two weeks to plan for a month-long trip. The tour coordinator sent out an email with the itinerary for each day, and helpful hints on what to pack. I grab a fresh notebook from my collection, a black sharpie and write the name of the tour on the cover—“Talk Birdie to Me.” It makes me giggle every time I think about it.
Then I plan and make lists of things they suggest bringing and things I will still need to buy. Specific things I will want to wear, different shoes I will need. Should I buy a backpack with that water bag thing, or should I carry a water bottle? The lists go on and on, but it’s all in one place, and that’s what matters.
I need to talk to Rose, also. She is the only one that can take over for me while I am away. I close my notebook, slide it into my messenger bag, and my eye catches on my computer screen. I changed the background to the tour logo. It’s a cute round blue bird siting on a branch and the words "Talk Birdie to Me" are above him.
I leave my office and find Rose.
“Hey Rose, can I talk to you?”
“Absolutely.”
Rose is a little older than me, probably twenty- nine or thirty. She also has a degree in library science, but she graduated a year after me. She started later in life and she is my go to.
“So, I am taking a little trip.”
“Oh,” she perks up. “How exciting. Where are you going?”
“To a few different places. I’ll be gone for a month, and I need you to take over for me.”
Her perkiness turns into glee across her face.
“Yes. I can do that. No biggie at all. When do you leave?”
“A week and a half. I’ll get as much done in advance as I can. I will also leave you with a notebook of everything I do day to day. Next month, the children's program starts, so you will need to lead that also.”
“Sounds great. I can’t wait.” She claps her hands, and if her smile grows any more, her face might crack.
“Thank you, Rose.”
“No problem at all.”
I nod towards her and go back to my office. I know she wants my job, and this will give her a taste of what I have to deal with. Wonder if she will still want it by the time I get back. Schooling makes it sound simple, mostly, but it isn't. People don't understand everything that goes into running a library.
Being a librarian is the next best thing to my dream of owning a bookstore.
Someday.
Therestoftheweek goes by smoothly. I get anything done that I could get done in advance at work. I've stocked my tiny porch closet with bird seed since Chrissy said she would stop by every few days and fill my feeders. She knows they are my outside pets and important to me.
I have been using my living room as a central packing location. Laying everything out so I can see it all before I pack it.
Today, I am grabbing the last of the things I will need, and I promised Chrissy I would have a girls’ night out before I leave. I've never been away from her this long; it's going to be weird.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" I ask Chrissy as she pulls my leftover cheesecake from two nights ago out of the fridge.
"Is this chocolate?" she says pointing to it with the fork in her hand.
"Of course. And yes, you can eat it."
