2025-07-13, 05:06 PM
A library brings together two boys, reveals some secrets, and leaves them speechless.
A modern building of concrete and glass dominated the plaza. Sturdy old plane trees spread their broad canopy of leaves over the wide pavement. Raised flower beds and bench seats filled the middle of the open space. This was a stark contrast to the Victorian Town Hall which dominated the approach from the bustling town centre. It was a bold architectural statement, but was nevertheless tucked away behind that other much older building.
It was one of those sombre days that threatened rain, the sky was filled with rolling grey clouds. Even during summer in England you could never count on a warm sunny day. Jack thought that was odd, he always remembered long baking hot days right through July and August, but that was when he was younger. Since then they no longer got eight weeks holiday, just six and maybe a few days. That was okay with Jack, he used to get bored during the long summer holidays. He didn't even mind the weather, he had his bike and as none of his friends were around, he decided to ignore the cloudy sky and head for the library.
Whenever he found himself with nothing to do he'd get his bike out and think of somewhere to go. It would have been nice to have his friend Kevin with him, but well, he was used to going off on his own, so no big deal.
Deciding to head for the library was a good plan, it was a place with plenty of space, comfy chairs, and you could be sure to be left alone, and dry of course, if it decided to rain. Jack often hung out there with his mate Kevin, it was Kevin who first brought him there. They'd spent nearly a whole afternoon aimlessly looking at books, then sitting next to each other in two of those comfy chairs, talking about everything and nothing.
It was Kevin who told Jack all the time to be quiet. "Keep your voice down," he would say leaning over and whispering with his hand half covering his mouth. Jack's response was, "Why? Aren't you allowed to talk in here?" Then Kevin would smile and Jack would start giggling. More often than not they would have to get up quickly and leave, trying to hold their breath, cover their mouths and retain the giggles. Once outside they'd let go and burst out laughing, sometimes so much Jack would have tears in his eyes.
He'd tell Kevin to stop, but his friend would only reply saying, "You started it." Jack liked Kevin a lot, he wasn't sure why, he was good fun to be with, they were exactly the same age, one month separated them, but it was more than that. Jack just felt good with Kevin.
He attached his bike to the cycle rack outside the entrance, stuffed the key in his pocket and went through the huge glass front doors. There was practically no one around, he saw a librarian behind the counter off to the right with the hanging sign that read 'Enquiries'. She had her back to him and was occupied with loading books onto a trolley.
Jack climbed the wide stairs two at a time on his way to the reference section on the first floor. It was here you found the comfy chairs, because the reference library books could not be taken out on loan, only read in place.
It was impressive for a seven year old. The polished wooden counter as you entered, the endless shelves of books, but most of all you could only whisper. That was like entering some magical hallowed kingdom, inhabited by books that each held secret doorways, passages into other realms. Plus those books held all the knowledge of the whole wide world. Yes indeed, in such a place you must tread on tip toe and try not to make a sound.
It was the world of Thomas the Tank Engine, Aesop’s Fables, books of all different sizes, thick books, tiny books, books with pictures, books with dragons and witches and who knows what other magical creatures.
Like any place run by adults you had to learn and follow the rules. You could choose three books to take home with you, each had a sheaf of paper glued inside the front cover onto which the due date for return would be stamped. That was the ritual when you left. Kevin would carefully hand his chosen books along with his blue library tickets to the librarian. Those tickets were precious, they had his name and his address on them.
He often wondered if the lady behind the counter was standing on a platform. She seemed to tower over him, he was always looking upwards even though he could see over the counter top, just. He once rested his chin on the counter to see how high it was, he twisted his head sideways as he slid his books along.
When the lady picked them up to stamp the date, he gave her one of his crooked smiles. He only did that once, when his mother had been distracted saying hello to someone she knew.
Yes, he only did it the one time, because when his mother turned around she saw him pulling faces and she wasn't best pleased. No, she pulled his arm saying, "Stop that Kevin, stand up straight."
Which he was forced to do by her tugging on his arm, worst of all though was after she had carefully placed the books in her bag, she pulled Kevin around in front of her and smacked him hard on the bottom.
When he looked up he saw the librarian looking in his direction as she gave a little nod of approval towards his mother. He was then led out, down the steps and onto the street, his mother still firmly holding his hand. "If I ever catch you behaving like that again," she told him sternly and pulled his arm again. "You will get more than a smack. Do you hear me?"
Kevin nodded as he wiped his eyes with his scrunched up little fists. His mother was cross with him and he knew he deserved the smack, he'd been a bit naughty making faces.
Kevin hardly ever asked his dad anything, because he knew his dad had no time to give to his two sons. He knew his dad wasn't interested, even on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, his dad often wasn't there. If he really had to do something like taking his sons and the dog out to the park on a Sunday morning, Kevin could feel the resentment. That's why he never said anything to his dad, because he knew the response before asking.
His mum told Kevin not to worry, that they would find a book with the rules of chess and she would help him teach himself. That cheered him up and he was looking forward to searching the library shelves in his quest. And that is how he met Jack, in the library.
Jack played chess and Kevin saw him with a book about the game, he was behind him at the counter. Now Kevin was not an extrovert, the exact opposite, he was very shy. The complete contrast to Jack, who you might label an exhibitionist.
The odd thing is that standing there behind Jack waiting for his books to get stamped out, and for the first time in his young life, he reached out his arm and tapped the slightly taller boy on the shoulder. The librarian was being kept busy for the moment checking books in, so they were both left standing there, waiting for her to finish.
The tap on the shoulder was so light a touch it could almost have gone unnoticed, but not by Jack, who turned to look back over his shoulder and said, " Yeah, yeah hold on I'm waiting too!" Not the reply Kevin expected. Actually, he wasn't sure what he expected, or even why he'd dared to do it. Only because he was focused on the chess book and for an instant completely forgot everything else.
As Jack glared at him, out of a need for self-protection Kevin grasped his one and only book tight to his chest. It was like a shield to stop the deadly rays from Jack's eyes. For his part Jack took stock of the situation in an instant, his vision caught the other boy's eyes, he saw he was scared of him, so no threat. He was a bit smaller anyway. Jack had read the cover of Kevin's book, his face softened and he said, "You learning to play?"
Kevin managed to nod, still clutching his shield ever so tightly. At that moment the librarian lady was back, Jack's books were stamped and Kevin handed over his. He watched Jack leave the library and thought to himself, 'he must think I'm a real scaredy cat.'
A modern building of concrete and glass dominated the plaza. Sturdy old plane trees spread their broad canopy of leaves over the wide pavement. Raised flower beds and bench seats filled the middle of the open space. This was a stark contrast to the Victorian Town Hall which dominated the approach from the bustling town centre. It was a bold architectural statement, but was nevertheless tucked away behind that other much older building.
It was one of those sombre days that threatened rain, the sky was filled with rolling grey clouds. Even during summer in England you could never count on a warm sunny day. Jack thought that was odd, he always remembered long baking hot days right through July and August, but that was when he was younger. Since then they no longer got eight weeks holiday, just six and maybe a few days. That was okay with Jack, he used to get bored during the long summer holidays. He didn't even mind the weather, he had his bike and as none of his friends were around, he decided to ignore the cloudy sky and head for the library.
Whenever he found himself with nothing to do he'd get his bike out and think of somewhere to go. It would have been nice to have his friend Kevin with him, but well, he was used to going off on his own, so no big deal.
Deciding to head for the library was a good plan, it was a place with plenty of space, comfy chairs, and you could be sure to be left alone, and dry of course, if it decided to rain. Jack often hung out there with his mate Kevin, it was Kevin who first brought him there. They'd spent nearly a whole afternoon aimlessly looking at books, then sitting next to each other in two of those comfy chairs, talking about everything and nothing.
It was Kevin who told Jack all the time to be quiet. "Keep your voice down," he would say leaning over and whispering with his hand half covering his mouth. Jack's response was, "Why? Aren't you allowed to talk in here?" Then Kevin would smile and Jack would start giggling. More often than not they would have to get up quickly and leave, trying to hold their breath, cover their mouths and retain the giggles. Once outside they'd let go and burst out laughing, sometimes so much Jack would have tears in his eyes.
He'd tell Kevin to stop, but his friend would only reply saying, "You started it." Jack liked Kevin a lot, he wasn't sure why, he was good fun to be with, they were exactly the same age, one month separated them, but it was more than that. Jack just felt good with Kevin.
He attached his bike to the cycle rack outside the entrance, stuffed the key in his pocket and went through the huge glass front doors. There was practically no one around, he saw a librarian behind the counter off to the right with the hanging sign that read 'Enquiries'. She had her back to him and was occupied with loading books onto a trolley.
Jack climbed the wide stairs two at a time on his way to the reference section on the first floor. It was here you found the comfy chairs, because the reference library books could not be taken out on loan, only read in place.
****
Like some kind of 'rite of passage' Kevin's mother had taken him and his older brother to join the children's library. An example of Victorian philanthropy, libraries were an intrinsic part of any urban municipality, like schools, swimming pools, parks and sports grounds.It was impressive for a seven year old. The polished wooden counter as you entered, the endless shelves of books, but most of all you could only whisper. That was like entering some magical hallowed kingdom, inhabited by books that each held secret doorways, passages into other realms. Plus those books held all the knowledge of the whole wide world. Yes indeed, in such a place you must tread on tip toe and try not to make a sound.
It was the world of Thomas the Tank Engine, Aesop’s Fables, books of all different sizes, thick books, tiny books, books with pictures, books with dragons and witches and who knows what other magical creatures.
Like any place run by adults you had to learn and follow the rules. You could choose three books to take home with you, each had a sheaf of paper glued inside the front cover onto which the due date for return would be stamped. That was the ritual when you left. Kevin would carefully hand his chosen books along with his blue library tickets to the librarian. Those tickets were precious, they had his name and his address on them.
He often wondered if the lady behind the counter was standing on a platform. She seemed to tower over him, he was always looking upwards even though he could see over the counter top, just. He once rested his chin on the counter to see how high it was, he twisted his head sideways as he slid his books along.
When the lady picked them up to stamp the date, he gave her one of his crooked smiles. He only did that once, when his mother had been distracted saying hello to someone she knew.
Yes, he only did it the one time, because when his mother turned around she saw him pulling faces and she wasn't best pleased. No, she pulled his arm saying, "Stop that Kevin, stand up straight."
Which he was forced to do by her tugging on his arm, worst of all though was after she had carefully placed the books in her bag, she pulled Kevin around in front of her and smacked him hard on the bottom.
When he looked up he saw the librarian looking in his direction as she gave a little nod of approval towards his mother. He was then led out, down the steps and onto the street, his mother still firmly holding his hand. "If I ever catch you behaving like that again," she told him sternly and pulled his arm again. "You will get more than a smack. Do you hear me?"
Kevin nodded as he wiped his eyes with his scrunched up little fists. His mother was cross with him and he knew he deserved the smack, he'd been a bit naughty making faces.
*****
It must have been a year after that incident in the library when Kevin first met Jack. Kevin had asked his dad if he knew how to play chess and could he teach him. His father told him he was sorry but he didn't have the time, which was very disappointing, but not unexpected.Kevin hardly ever asked his dad anything, because he knew his dad had no time to give to his two sons. He knew his dad wasn't interested, even on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, his dad often wasn't there. If he really had to do something like taking his sons and the dog out to the park on a Sunday morning, Kevin could feel the resentment. That's why he never said anything to his dad, because he knew the response before asking.
His mum told Kevin not to worry, that they would find a book with the rules of chess and she would help him teach himself. That cheered him up and he was looking forward to searching the library shelves in his quest. And that is how he met Jack, in the library.
Jack played chess and Kevin saw him with a book about the game, he was behind him at the counter. Now Kevin was not an extrovert, the exact opposite, he was very shy. The complete contrast to Jack, who you might label an exhibitionist.
The odd thing is that standing there behind Jack waiting for his books to get stamped out, and for the first time in his young life, he reached out his arm and tapped the slightly taller boy on the shoulder. The librarian was being kept busy for the moment checking books in, so they were both left standing there, waiting for her to finish.
The tap on the shoulder was so light a touch it could almost have gone unnoticed, but not by Jack, who turned to look back over his shoulder and said, " Yeah, yeah hold on I'm waiting too!" Not the reply Kevin expected. Actually, he wasn't sure what he expected, or even why he'd dared to do it. Only because he was focused on the chess book and for an instant completely forgot everything else.
As Jack glared at him, out of a need for self-protection Kevin grasped his one and only book tight to his chest. It was like a shield to stop the deadly rays from Jack's eyes. For his part Jack took stock of the situation in an instant, his vision caught the other boy's eyes, he saw he was scared of him, so no threat. He was a bit smaller anyway. Jack had read the cover of Kevin's book, his face softened and he said, "You learning to play?"
Kevin managed to nod, still clutching his shield ever so tightly. At that moment the librarian lady was back, Jack's books were stamped and Kevin handed over his. He watched Jack leave the library and thought to himself, 'he must think I'm a real scaredy cat.'