AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We pull up chairs and eat. Everyone compliments Sofia on her astounding skills as a home cook. I pop the kettle on and make tea and before long it seems that everyone’s nerves have dissipated and there’s much laughter among the chatter about just what’s in store for our four human books.
When Maisie finally deigns to arrive, we’re just packing up the plates. She’s an hour late today. I cannot understand her motivations. It’s as though she wants to be fired. I’m in such an ebullient mood, I decide to leave it for now and bring it up with her privately later. She storms right past us all, nary a hello, and shuts herself in the office.
‘No manners,’ says Sofia shaking her head. ‘A travesty in this day and age.’ I’m only thankful Sofia doesn’t know what Maisie has said abouther, and the rumours she’s helped spread about the lonely lady in front of me.
‘Right,’ Finn says, standing up. ‘If everyone is happy to proceed with the photographs, I thought we could have a few among the bookshelves, the four of our human books standing together, then a group shot with Elodie, and one of each of you alone. How does that sound?’
I frown. Not good. Not good at all. Haven’t I discussed this at length with Finn? ‘Good, good, but as we agreed before, I don’t want to make this about me. I want it to be purely about the experiment. About the human books and them only.’ I’m met with surprised faces. Is it that they want me beside them as an ally? As a support?
I try another tack. ‘You four are the most amazing people I’ve met and trust me, I’ve met a lot of amazing people. I want everyone to see what I see. I want them to look into your eyes and face you head on and understand that their judgement of you is a direct reflection of the things they lack in their own lives. For this to work, it’s not only up to you brave people baring your souls, but the “readers” have to bare theirs too. They have to look internally at themselves, their prejudice, their own motivations and do a bit of a moral stocktake, if you will. I’m not going to lie, it’s not going to be easy and there’s a good chance it might not work, but what if it does? What if you take the chance and open up and it changes the way they think? It will be hard, but it will be worth it. I have no part in that, except to support you from the sidelines.’
When my words peter out there’s not a dry eye in the house,including Maisie, who stands just on the edge of the group. Wonders will never cease – it’s a good omen of things to come.
‘OK-K-K,’ Finn says, double blinking. ‘Elodie is right.Soright.’
Little Alfie walks towards me and leans his head on my upper arm. It’s his version of a hug and I’m touched to the core. ‘We could change the world,’ he says softly.
‘We have to try, right?’
He nods solemnly.
Harry plays with the lapels of his suit, which reminds me of watching my father do the same when I announced I was leaving. If only my parents could see these beautiful people and do something with their extreme wealth, to share it, rather than accumulate it, like a never-ending game of Monopoly. When Harry speaks, his voice is gravelly. ‘I’m tired of being avoided, and maybe I just need to be more open. Maybe I need to explain I don’t want them to look the other way.’
Pete nods. ‘I’m the same. They said I was a bad apple, so I act like a bad apple. It’s almost because it’s expected of me and in this strange way I’ll disappoint them if I try to live a normal life. But I don’t want to steal; I don’t want to hover on the outside anymore. I have dreams, you know. Big dreams. But who would take me seriously and where would I even start?’
‘What are your dreams, Pete?’ Sofia asks.
He drops his gaze to the floor as if he’s not confident enough to make eye contact. ‘It’s probably silly.’
‘Dreams are never silly,’ she says encouragingly. ‘My dream was to cook for people I love, and I’m slowly getting there.’ She glances at me and smiles. ‘I made my very first gal pal the other day, five years after moving here. And I’ve got a feeling I’m about to widen my friendship circle right now with you lovely lot.So trust me when I say, dreams are really worth fighting for.’
Pete lifts his gaze. ‘Thank you. It’s going to take some time to believe, you know? I’m sorry I’ve never spoken to you before today.’
She nods as if she knows exactly what he’s talking about. ‘Would you like to come to dinner at my place? All of you are welcome. I’d love to spoil you all with a wonderful meal in return for great conversation. We could meet after the first People Library and discuss how it went?’
Urgh, my heart.
‘That would be cool,’ Alfie says. ‘You have the castle with the dead body buried there, right? Your husband, wasn’t it? The lady with the hair on her chin at the shoe shop said you murdered him because he stole some money and you buried him in the stables.’
Sofia laughs. ‘Allegedly.’
They all laugh, knowing the gossip, but knowing it’s exactly that: gossip. Except Alfie who probably thinks it’s real. ‘Her name was Janet,’ he says, flinging her straight under the bus. ‘But Mum says,Janet just likes to flap her jaws, which is terrifying when you picture that.’ He shudders.
‘Alfie!’ Jo says and giggles.
‘Well,’ I say, trying to hide my own grin, ‘your mum is right, and you can’t believe everything you hear, Alfie. That’s exactly why we’re doing this.’
‘So there’s no dead body?’ He scrunches his nose in disappointment.
‘No dead body,’ Sofia says with a grin. ‘But there’s plenty of home-made ice cream.’
‘I’m available,’ he says. ‘Mum?’
‘We’d love to visit.’
‘I’d love to as well,’ says Pete who still stays schtum about his dreams.
‘If I can grab a lift, I’d love to come too,’ says Harry. ‘The old legs can’t wander far these days.’
