Page 4 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘I love a good storm, don’t you?’ Anthony asked, not taking his eyes from the window.

‘I prefer to be inside watching it than getting wet,’ Alice said.

‘I love it all.’ He turned to her, a smile on his thin lips. ‘I can’t wait until I leave and go walking home. I might go down by the old church.’

Alice laughed. ‘That’s proper spooky.’

‘Have you read any Dean Koontz?’

‘Erm, no, and I don’t think I want to.’

‘You don’t know what you’re missing,’ he said with a cheeky grin.

‘I know what I like.’

Alice walked away from the counter and headed for the classics section. While she perused the shelves, she stopped occasionally as the strong wind buffeted the building. It was going to be a nightmare walking home. Fortunately, she only lived ten minutes away, but it wouldn’t take ten seconds in this weather for her to become soaked to the skin.

She chose five books–Wuthering Heights,Little Women,Persuasion,Anne of Green Gablesand, she couldn’t resist,Alice in Wonderland. She didn’t care she was approaching her eighteenth birthday; she loved that book.

Alice was only happy when she had a book in her hand, whether she was reading it or simply running her hands along the spines on a shelf. As much as she wanted to spend her entire life in a library, she had to tear herself away to go home.

Anthony was still at the counter. Alice handed him her books and her card.

‘I was reading in the newspaper yesterday that library buildings are the tallest in the world. Do you know why?’

Alice frowned. She wasn’t sure how that was possible. She looked around her. This building wasn’t very tall. There wasn’t even an upstairs.

‘Why?’

‘Because of all the tall tales in them,’ he said with a smile.

It was a bad joke, but Alice smiled in return.

‘I’ve got another one for you. How do librarians make sure the books stay warm in winter?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘They give them book jackets.’

Alice laughed. She liked that one and hoped she’d remember it so she could tell her dad when he came home from work. She turned and saw other people in the library staring at them.

‘Do you know why librarians love jokes?’ Anthony asked.

‘Why?’

‘Because they always get the reference.’

She laughed even louder at that one.

Mrs Wilkinson approached the counter with Alice’s coat in her hands. It was warm and dry from the radiator.

‘Has he been telling you his jokes again?’ she asked, while Alice filled her satchel.

‘Yes. They were very funny,’ Alice smiled.

‘A captive audience, Anthony. You should come in more than once a week, Alice, and let him try out his new material on you rather than us.’

‘I wish I could,’ she replied, her eyes lighting up.