A Newsie Story

Chapter 26

"Olivia, what ah ya doin today,"Davey asks me quietly over breakfast 7 days later. Day 16. I don't have much time left.

"Oh just ya know, carryin the banner,"I say with a slight but of sarcasm. Davey and I haven't talked much lately. I feel he is angry with me about something but I have no idea why.

He smiles,"Is it alright if we don't sell papes today? I would like to show you my favorite parts of the city."

"Sounds wonderful,"I say taking a small nibble of my bread.

* * *

I grab Davey's soft pale hand in my own. It's slightly cold and I fear something is wrong with him. "So where are we going today?"

"If I told you'se then it wouldn't be any fun,"Davey says patting my hand.

Old Davey.

Old Davey is back.

He isn't 'cold, confused, emotionally unbalanced' Davey. He is the 'sweet, caring, extremely shy' Davey. I missed him. I stare into his eyes that seemed almost like steel for so long have now melted back into their brown green sweetness. He breaks out into a huge smile that makes my heart pound in my chest like a drum.

Davey breaks the eye contact first and leads us to our first destination. It seems like we walk for half an hour when we land up in the business part of town. All the men and women that see as glare or make snide comments. I don't even seem to hear them.

The building is tall and a light grayish color. My parents would never let me go here as a child. I shouldn't be learning about books. I should be learning about husbands.

The library.

Davey squeezes my hand gently and we run up the few stairs to the magical building itself. The doors are over three times our height. It's an astonishing place.

Once we step into the actual building I let out a loud gasp as I take in the incredible view. The room is taller than any room I have ever been in before. It seems as if you could fit a whole skyscraper in here comfortably. People of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, and wealth walk around and connect by the books they hold.

Oh the books.

Thousands of books.

I could stare at all the books all day.

Most the covers shimmer in the light and sometimes my eyes catch a faint letter gleam from the glass roof. Natural lighting to enhance the reading. The books are on shelves that tower above the people. Books lie strewn about as flustered librarians run about trying to put them back. Tables are stacked with books with people surrounding them. Every person seems to have a book, or two, or three, or even more.

Also adding Davey with the view of the magical place doesn't hurt any. Davey actually chuckles at my astonished face,"Have you'se neva been heah befoah?"

"Never. My mother said that women didn't need to read. She taught me of course since women needed to write letters and diaries and such. She said what a woman really needed is a husband who will care for her and provide her with money,"I say still staring, mouth agape, at the magnificent place.

"Oh Liv. Ya know a woman can have both,"He replies running a hand through his hair nervously.

I turn back to him suddenly confused,"What do you mean Davey?"

"She can read a good story an have a good husband,"he says smiling a little now.

I chuckle slightly,"Your definition of a good husband would be completely different definition than my mother's. I'm afraid a good husband consisted of money."