AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“In a way, yes. I’m afraid we’ll have no need for additional staff, now or in the future.”
Avis blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m closing the library.”
The words—the terrible death-toll words—were spoken in a dispassionate tone, so it took Avis a moment to process them. She’d always known it was a private library, not owned by the city, but in her mind, the Cavendish Association Library was as much a permanent part of Derby as the Cliff Walk or city hall.
“When?” she asked, her mind in a flurry.
“That depends on how soon a contractor can begin renovations.” She explained something about a nursery school andwar workers, but Avis only half listened, leaning helplessly against the wall.
The shelves. The books. The library—her library.Anthony’slibrary.
A pause in the conversation indicated she should say something, but all that came out was “Miss Cavendish ... you can’t close the library. Not now.”
“I certainly can.” There wasn’t the slightest tinge of apology in her voice. “My father was the one who established it and left it to me in his will. That gives me the authority to do as I please.”
“But the trouble is,” Avis stammered, “I’ve just announced a community book club.”
A book club?
The announcement didn’t produce outrage from the other side of the line, just a long pause, during which Avis scrambled to think of what to say next, her heart thudding in her chest.
“Don’t you think that I ought to approve decisions like that?”
As if you’ve ever shown a scrap of interest in library programs before.But of course she couldn’t say that, and instead delivered the only line she could think of that might provide a stay of execution. “It’s for the war effort.”
Miss Cavendish’s voice lost none of its cutting edge at the insertion of the magic words. “I’m at a loss as to how a bunch of housewives sighing over chapbook subscription chaff could possibly help the war effort.”
“The Office of War Information recommended book clubs as a way to boost morale and encourage people to develop indoor pursuits to assist with blackout compliance.” Hadn’t Avis seen reading in a list of recommended blackout activities inTIMEmagazine? That counted, surely.
“Hmm.” Miss Cavendish seemed to consider this, or at least she didn’t launch into another protest.
Keep pushing, before she has time to think.“And we won’t be reading trash, only quality literature.”
“Fiction.” It was more statement than question and tinged with disapproval.
“Well, yes.” The association library had a fair number of intellectuals who paid membership dues, including two of the local preachers and a retired professor from Bowdoin College, but no one wanted to dissectThe Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, surely.
It might have been wishful thinking on Avis’s part, but the harumph Miss Cavendish dispensed sounded less piqued than her first. “And how long is this blackout book club supposed to run?”
“Until autumn. When the cold weather keeps people inside for other reasons, you see.” Would that be enough time to convince Miss Cavendish to change her mind?
That got a swift snort. “Preposterous. I can’t delay this project for five months. Besides, citizens ought to comply with blackout regulations out of duty.”
“Yet only a few will.”
“Well, that’s true enough,” Miss Cavendish admitted, sounding surprised that she agreed with Avis on something. “I can’t imagine the trouble the air raid wardens will face when the summer people and tourists arrive.”
“A delay in renovating the library will allow you to be thorough in planning the project. And there’s a shortage of materials and builders, what with all the new industries springing up.”
Avis took in a breath and held it, waiting for a response from the telephone handset. With just enough truth in what she said, maybe ...
“All right,” Miss Cavendish said at last, just as crisply as she’d pronounced the library’s demise. “It’s settled. You will be allowed to have your community book club, provided thecommunity shows interest, until the end of September, at which point I will turn over the building to be renovated for childcare for war workers. Subject to reconsideration, of course.”
“Of course,” Avis repeated, hardly daring to believe it. Had her impulsive scheme actually worked?
“When is the first meeting? I would like to be there.”
