Love, Poetry, & Coffee

~ 32 ~

Once Irene and Dylan is close enough, both Constance and I turn our heads and the loud laughter that surrounds us had slowly died down into a soft chuckle. We did just violate the rule not making too much noise in a bookstore.

"We've made too much noise," I turn my gaze at Constance and whisper out the words, but she gives me a smile of mischief. Who knew she can be a bad influence?

"Oh, relax, we're in a bookstore," She gestures her hands around us. "It's okay to be noisy in here, unlike being in a library."

Irene crosses her arms at us, "She's right, we are indeed in a bookstore and not in a library." She proceeds to give Constance a stink eye in a mocking manner, but Constance just grins at Irene. If I hadn't known about Constance's mother, I would have guessed that Irene is her mother. There's just this mother and daughter vibe emitting from them. "Still, it's best to refrain from making loud noises since they are people here who is reading."

Dylan shakes his head, "We were thankful for Declan's quiet personality, but you're such a bad influence, Constance." A smirk lifts off from one of the corners of his lips as he gazes at Constance, who just had her jaw fall open. I know he's just messing with Constance, but I have to hide my shock from his statement about my quiet personality. So, that's what people see me as, a quiet person. Part of me wants to grin in pride to have that title continue to be with me since high school.

Constance's pretend offended expression might be the best thing I have ever seen in my life. She can mistakenly be seen as a great actress with that expression, a comedic actress to be specific. "I'm a bad influence? Declan is the one who made me laugh quite loudly," She tries to point a finger at me, but her act of being a drama queen broke once another chuckle escapes from her throat.

Now it's my time to make that pretend offended expression. I did my best to perfect the look, but I have to admit, I'm not as good as an actor than I thought. "Me? I don't know what you're talking about," In a real situation, gaslighting is as bad as sexual abuse, but I have to since this is just all for fun and mockery. With all three of them chuckling, relief flow through my whole body, since I don't want them to think I'm capable of gaslighting people.

When the chuckling fades, Irene glances around at our work of arranging the chairs and tables, she seems satisfied since there's this joyous spark that light up in her eyes and there's also that hint of excitement. I understand Irene being excited about this reading for children, since this might help the next-generation to admire the power of literature. Speaking of next-generation, I wonder if Irene and Dylan has any plans on having children. Judging by their relationship, I can tell they will be quite happy to have one. Of course, when they have a child, I can tell that Constance will be the cool auntie.

Constance stands up from the small chair—she tries to stretch her entire body since she had been sitting in that chair for like half a minute now. When she's done stretching, she places a hand on Irene's shoulders. "Are you excited about next week?" She casually asks the question I just speculate. I need to run an experiment whether or not Constance can read minds, if the experiment shows that the answer is yes, I need to wonder why keep on reading mine.

Irene nods and there is a sudden tear flows down at her eyes. Dylan pulls Irene closer to him, and being the best husband he is, he uses a handkerchief he has been carrying in his pocket to wipe away Irene's tears of joy. "Are you okay?" He asks in a low whisper, his voice fills the space between all of us.

"I'm fine," Irene sniffles, and an image of Kate crying just outside her apartment door enters my mind. It seems that whatever the situation, crying will still be a part of each and every one's life. Whether it's from sadness or from being too happy, crying will always be there to clean out the little dirt in the eyes to finally see the world clearer than before. "I'm just happy that the parents in this town will let their children experience the impact of literature."