Lucy in the Library

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Lucy and her brother Thomas were in the Library with their mother. This was a regular visit for them, especially during the school holidays, when they combined it with doing a bit of shopping in town.

Today was a bit different, though, because just inside the library entrance a group of people were sitting on chairs in a semi-circle. One of them, a man, was reading a story and the rest were listening to him. Just as Lucy and her family arrived he finished reading and a lady spotted them and asked if they would like to sit down and listen to the next story. Lucy’s mother thought that would be a good idea, so they found three empty chairs and joined the group of listeners.

The story was told by a grey-haired lady, but it was not the sort of story that Lucy usually read for herself or had read to her at bedtime. To be blunt she found it a bit boring, although most of the other people there seemed to be interested in it.

Lucy found it hard to catch the drift of where the story was going, but then the grey-haired lady mentioned that the main character had a dog. Lucy immediately thought about her own dog, Bonzer, who had had to stay at home when the three of them left to go shopping, much to his annoyance.

Lucy wondered what it must be like to be a dog who is trapped inside a house on his own when he would much rather be outside with the family, walking along the pavement and sniffing at everything he passed. She wondered if there was such a thing as a doggy fairy godmother who could grant three wishes to an abandoned dog, and what Bonzer’s three wishes would be. Maybe there was a canine version of Cinderella, in which a dog like Bonzer could ride in a golden carriage made out of dog biscuits and …

Lucy’s train of thought was interrupted by a polite round of applause as the grey-haired lady finished her story. Lucy caught sight of her brother, who had apparently just woken up from having nodded off, or maybe his mind had been wandering off just as hers had been.

“Come on”, said Lucy’s mother, “We need to find some books for you to borrow, then we must do our shopping before it gets too late”.

The three rose from their chairs and Lucy’s mother thanked the group leader and apologised for leaving after only one story.

“That’s fine”, said the group leader”. “Perhaps you’ll stop by for another one on your way out?”

“You never know”, said Lucy’s mother.

As the three of them made their way into the children’s section of the Library, Lucy tugged her mother’s arm and said, “Mummy, when we’re doing our shopping, do you think you could buy me a notebook and a pencil or two.”

“Of course we can”, said her mother. “Any particular reason?”

“It’s just that when that lady was reading her story I had another one going through my head and I want to jot down a few notes so that I don’t forget it. When we get home I’ll get on the computer and write it properly. Then I’ll tell you my bedtime story tonight instead of you telling me!”

“That’s brilliant”, said Lucy’s mother. “I’ll look forward to that.”

There was another tug on her arm. This time it was from Thomas. “Can you buy me a notebook too, please?” he said. “I’ve got a story in my head as well, and I’ll bet it’s not the same as Lucy’s!”

“OK”, said Lucy’s mother. “Two notebooks it is”.

She paused for a moment, then said, “As a matter of fact, I’ll think we’ll make that three!”

© John Welford