Page 10 of Elodie's Library of Second Chances

‘I’m not much of a public speaker.’

I take a deep breath. So far Maisie is coming across as a little negative and slightly jaded. Could it be nerves or the fact she’s worried she won’t have a job if things keep going the way they are? I give her some leeway. It’s the first day after all and maybe she is suffering a bit of job ennui. It’s not hard to see why with the state of the library. Once we get some systems in place she should spark up.

‘I understand, but I’m sure you’ll be OK. I can do the first session if you like and you’ll see how fun it is. It’s all about doing the silly voices and engaging the children in the story.’ This is the stuff I’ve always wanted to do! Make the library a fun place for everyone. Interact with members and enjoy books. ‘Our youngest bookworms are the most important as they’ll be members for decades and we get to help foster a love of reading early. Besides, who doesn’t love children’s books?’ Some of my best memories are my nannies reading to me and Teddy from a young age. Those magical, mystical places we escaped to from the safety of our beds, the nocturnal adventures we shared with Peter Pan, or traversing the countryside with Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger fromWind in the Willows. Those stories opened my imagination and I hope we can do the same for our littlest library members too.

‘OK, but I don’t fancy reading aloud. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes person.’

I do understand. If Maisie isn’t used to being in the spotlight, then it’s unfair of me to force her. But I’m sure when she sees how much fun the children have, she’ll change her mind. ‘Well, let’s advertise it and we can go from there.’ I scroll down my notes, looking for the easiest things to target first.

‘What’s he doing in here?’ she says, her voice shrill. I turn to see Harry walking back from the bathroom. ‘He knows he’s not allowed in here and it looks as if he’s gone and bloody had a shower!’

‘Maisie, keep your voice down!’ A blush creeps up my cheeks and I only hope he hasn’t heard her. ‘I invited him in and told him he could use the facilities.’

‘What, why? That’s a huge mistake,’ she snaps. ‘You’ll have members leaving in droves if Homeless Harry is wandering about in here.’

I look at her sharply. ‘Did you just call him Homeless Harry?’

She shrugs. ‘That’s his name.’

I bristle. ‘His name isHarry. And it’s not appropriate to call him anything other than that. Everyone is welcome here.’ Have I truly stepped back in time when it was the norm to be so prejudicial?

Maisie crosses her arms tighter as if she’s holding herself in check. ‘You’re not going to get many new memberships with an attitude like that.’

What on earth? ‘Maisie, I’ll let that go since it’s my first day, but please adjust your way of thinking. Like I said,everyoneis welcome here. Some people need our help more than others.’ We’ve got to make miracles happen and I’d hoped when I arrived I’d be met by someone full of enthusiasm,keen to save their own job, but if anything it’s the opposite. Targeting Harry is not on and I won’t allow that sort of talk under this roof.

Maisiewillsettle into a new routine and wewillsave this library. It’s just going to take a little more work than expected. But first, I have a very special tea date. I leave Maisie sulking and find the kitchen. It can best be described as an eyesore but it looks clean enough. I find the kettle and flick it on and search for some cups. Harry limps back, bags in hand, looking fresh-faced with rosy cheeks from the warmth of the shower.

‘Just in time,’ I say, bringing the tea things to the common area. As I pour, I surreptitiously steal a glance at Harry, wondering what his story is and how he ended up sleeping rough. I wish I had something more substantial than biscuits to offer him. Under his many layers, he’s reed-thin and I’d bet he hasn’t had a decent hot meal in ages.

Harry takes the proffered tea, but fidgets and keeps looking over his shoulder as if the previous librarian is about to storm in and kick him out. How to put him at ease?

‘So, as I said, I’m new to Willow Grove and I’m going to save the library from closure. I’ll need as much help as I can get and you look like just the man for the job.’ If anything, Maisie has made me even more determined. This place needs a shake-up – that’s obvious.

‘Me?’ he says, his voice incredulous.

‘Yes, you, Harry! Why not you? Can you tell me a little bit about Willow Grove and why you think the library memberships are dwindling?’

He shifts in his seat as if he’s not totally comfortable opening up.

I try again, ‘Come on, Harry. I need an insider’s opinion, someone who’s not going to sugar-coat the truth, and you look like a straight shooter to me.’

‘Do I?’ He gives me a wobbly smile. ‘Well here goes, and this is just my take … The previous librarian was a bit of a dictator to be honest, not only to me, but to everyone. Talk about rules! She was here for ten long years, and she scared people off. The librarian before her was this whimsical gentle soul.’ As he reminisces, I picture the librarian I knew when I visited from boarding school, whose personality was more ethereal book nymph. Must have been a culture shock for locals when she was replaced by Agnes. ‘Delilah moved on to greener pastures and Agnes took over. Don’t get me wrong, Agnes tried her best, but she didn’t have the people skills.’ That reminds me of Maisie, but I keep my opinions to myself.

We’re off and running! Harry settles into his story and tells me all about the little town I’ve come to live in …

Chapter 5

The next morning, I arrive at the library half an hour early. There’s no sign of Harry and I only hope it doesn’t mean Maisie’s scared him off. I have a quick walk around but can’t find him or his belongings. Perhaps he moves around a bit, depending on the weather? If he doesn’t turn up at some point today, I’ll make some discreet enquiries. I’d hate to think my presence has made him uproot his life.

There’s much to be done and I’m filled with energy at the thought of my new job and sparkly new life. Day one had been successful, in that I got to know the place through Harry’s observations and I made a rough plan with Maisie, and despite her sulky demeanour she managed to get our social media pages started and already we have a steady stream of followers liking our various pages.

The main problem is we have no new stock, but we can’t apply for the funding grant until we’ve recruited 507 new members. It’s the ultimate Catch-22! It’s August already and the latest we can submit the paperwork is October so we need to get those numbers ticking over as a matter of haste.

I boot up the old computer, which takes an age to start. Eventually I’m in and I spend the next little while studying the finances.It occurs to me that I have a wealth of experience with the fiscal side of things thanks to my mother, who obsesses over every pound. I pore over the outgoings looking for anything that can be cut back. From the looks of it, the bookwork has been meticulously kept but it’s disheartening to see there’s not a spare penny to be found no matter how hard I search.

The library is dangerously in the red. What did I expect though? That I’d find a bag full of money that Agnes had put away for a rainy day? As I dig deeper into the money trail, I see they haven’t purchased new books in years. With wages and other outgoings there’s been nothing left. We need the funding as a matter of urgency, or this place will continue to sink into bad debt that will be impossible to recover from. I sympathise with Agnes Bitterweather: she really had her hands full trying to balance these books.

My phone beeps with a text and I’m happy to see it’s from Teddy. Just the distraction I need.

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