BooksBarbecue
Back The Library
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. THE LIBRARY
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. Questions for your Book Club
  55. Acknowledgements
  56. About the Author
  57. Become an Aria Addict

Maggie and Christine started making a list and I tried to look anywhere instead of directly at Farah. I didn’t want to weird her out. She waved a book under my nose and got my attention.

‘Sorry, I was thinking about ideas to save the library.’ Strictly speaking I was imagining making a protest banner with Farah but that would have sounded creepy.

‘I just wanted to say thank you for recommending this book.’ She held up the Georgette Heyer.

‘Did you like it?’

‘I loved it. I’m going to take out some more of hers. What else do you recommend?’

My life had peaked.

14

MAGGIE

When Farah left the library Tom pulled out a chair and joined Maggie and Christine at the table. They had been in deep conversation for the last thirty minutes.

‘Do we have a plan?’ he asked, looking slightly hyper, his fingers thrumming on the table.

‘Yes,’ said Maggie, straightening her back and tapping the list in front of her.

Christine was chewing her lip. ‘I’m not entirely sure all of that is legal.’

‘We have to take a stand, Christine. Show them we mean business. That we won’t be crushed by the establishment,’ said Maggie, thumping a fist on the table and making Christine jump.

‘Great,’ said Tom. ‘What’s on the list?’

Maggie cleared her throat. ‘Barricade ourselves in the library…’

‘I was thinking more of a read-in.’ Christine dabbed at her lip with a tissue where she’d made it bleed – most likely from angst-ridden chewing.

‘It’s a peaceful protest but it would get the papers interested more than a readathon would,’ said Maggie.

‘What about placards?’ asked Tom.

‘Yes, we need those,’ said Maggie, pleased with his suggestion. ‘I think a protest march from here to the council offices would draw some attention.’

‘Or some posters might be nice,’ said Christine.

‘We need to get as many people to sign a petition as possible and we need to lobby our MP.’ Maggie was sounding more forceful.

‘I can set up an online petition. If we share that on social media you’ll get loads of randos sign up,’ said Tom.

‘Randos?’ asked Christine.

‘Random people,’ explained Tom.

‘Brilliant,’ said Maggie. ‘But most importantly we need support from the village and surrounding area. I say we invite people to a meeting here to get everyone fired up.’

‘I’m in,’ said Tom.

Maggie and Tom looked at Christine. ‘Well, obviously you can count me in but I don’t want to get arrested.’

‘Why not? It would make for good newspaper headlines,’ said Maggie. Christine looked startled.

‘Anyway, I’ll be here and I’ll support any drive to get more people in the library but I can’t be seen to be involved in any protests or the council will sack me. On the spot. They said that at the meeting.’ Christine visibly shuddered.