AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He offers a smile and hands me a brown paper bag and a large to-go cup with a tea bag hanging off the side.
“Who is this for?”
“Delivery for Charlie. That’s all I have.”
“Um…thank you.” I reach into my wallet, but he holds up a hand. “The tip was well covered, ma’am. Enjoy your day.”
I glance around before staring at the contents set in front of me. The continuous growling makes me dig into the bag, and I don’t need to unwrap it to know it’s a roast beef sandwich.
It’s been three years since I ordered one of these in his presence. And it still has everything I need. Mustard, mayo, extra pickles, American cheese, no onion.
I sigh and flip the tag hanging over my tea.
Earl Grey is your thing.
Noah: Don’t act like it’s not yours too.
Why would I do that?
Noah: Because you have a weird thing.
What weird thing?
Noah: Where you pretend you don’t like the same things I do.
It’s almost six and I’m finishing up a few details of my proposal for the new children’s wing. Maybe calling it a “wing” is a little aggressive. More like…a few feathers.
I tap my chin as I rename my project for the sixth time.
A Few Feathers.
I click save when I hear Em’s authoritative voice. “What are you working on?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re smiling. You’re not archiving articles.”
I smirk deviously at her. Em is friendly enough, but she’s very ‘by the book.’ She doesn’t think outside the box or, hell, outside of what earns her paycheck.
Me? I want to expand. I want to give. I want children sitting in a circle, reading and engaging instead of having their pretty little eyes glued to devices.
How will we have future writers when we don’t have little readers?
My mother’s words and my mantra.
“Charlie,” she warns. “I told you it’s not going to pass with the Board. It’s too expensive and the concept is too ‘big city’. Not small town.”
“It’s not 'big city' at all. Do you know how many of those children’s books I actually give away? All of them. If it was a bad idea, no one would stop for them. You should see the kids’ faces light up. We could set up character reading sessions, tutoring—”
“Charlotte,” she cuts off, using my full name like she’s my mother. And though she’s close to retirement and has often been like a mother to me, she's not. “Let it go. It’s time. I know it’s been your little dream project, but it breaks my heart to see you work so hard on something, knowing it’s not going to happen.”
“Did…you even ask the Board?”
She sighs. “I planted the seed about needing more of a designated space for children and making it more colorful and whatnot...”
“And?”
“And they weren’t very interested. In fact they…”
