‘What’s going on?’ said Tom, straightening his back. ‘Was it all lies?’

Christine bit her lip. ‘You’ve all stopped coming to the library.’ She sniffed back tears. ‘It feels like there’s just me and—’

Maggie put her hand up to pause Christine. ‘So you’re all right and the library is okay?’ Christine nodded and blew her nose.

‘You lied about a burglary!’ said Tom, getting to his feet. ‘That’s proper twisted.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m off.’

‘Wait!’ said Farah, making Tom do an emergency stop in front of her. ‘I’m not saying what Christine’s done is right but I know I feel bad about not coming to the library these last couple of weeks.’ She leaned to the side to look around Tom at Christine. ‘I’m sorry if you feel I’ve let you down, Christine.’

Maggie sighed. ‘I agree. I’m sorry I’ve stopped coming too.’

All eyes fell on Tom. He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I’m sure there was a better way to get us here. But… yeah, I feel bad about not supporting you.’ He and Farah exchanged brief nods and he returned to his chair.

‘Thank you,’ said Christine. ‘I am sorry for lying.’

‘Right,’ said Maggie, keen to not go around in circles. ‘Where do we go from here?’

‘That’s my problem,’ said Christine. ‘I’ve had notice that I’m being made redundant because the library is definitely closing and I don’t know what else I can do.’

‘You’re not on your own anymore,’ said Farah. Christine looked grateful and inched her chair closer to the others.

‘We need one last push. A big protest! Like a march that stops the traffic…’ began Maggie.

‘Not much traffic goes through Compton Mallow. It’s not going to gridlock the Midlands,’ said Tom.

Maggie continued regardless. ‘…Or a human barrier in front of the library when they come to shut it down,’ she said.

‘Bit late when they’re actually closing it,’ said Tom and the others glared at him. ‘What? I’m just saying.’

‘But a sit-in protest in the middle of the street might get the council’s attention,’ said Maggie.

‘Will it, though?’ asked Farah. ‘I mean we did the sit-in inside and it’s not changed anything. The council aren’t taking any notice.’

They all went quiet and thought for a moment. Tom chewed on a thumbnail.

‘We need an angle,’ said Maggie. ‘Something that makes people sit up and listen. Is the old school building listed?’ She looked to Christine for a reply.

Tom sat up straight. ‘This is the old school building on the green,’ he said.

‘Er, yeah,’ said Farah slowly. ‘That’s what it’s called.’

‘This guy had that typed on a form,’ said Tom, waving his hands as if trying to process his thoughts quickly. He turned to Maggie. ‘The bloke who ran me over…’

‘Lyle,’ added Maggie.