Mr. Linden's Library

Laura

I left the school campus and walked to the giant oak tree near the school entrance. It’s weird how they designed the school. So basically, you have the school building and the parking lot in front of it. The oak tree was in the parking lot, near the right. It’s like, you look around, and then BAM! There’s a tree. I think they just didn’t cut it down because it was so old. Thank goodness for that.

Laura was waiting for me under the shade of that tree. She was sitting down and reading a book. The thing about Laura is, she actually likes school. She answers all the teacher’s questions, gets A’s in every class, and everyone admires her. Laura is like the opposite of me. I’m just a normal person, I don’t pay attention in class, and my highest grade is a C. I actually don’t know why we’re still friends. Maybe its because of our attitudes. Maybe it’s because opposites attract. I would like to know.

Laura and I have an agreement where we’ll wait for each other at the oak tree every day after school so we can walk home together. Even though I was late for a few minutes, I was glad that she was still there. Friendships are awesome that way.

I sat down next to her and asked, “Whatcha reading?”

She turned her head slowly and dramatically to face me. Did I mention she’s big on being unique?

“Beth, what took you so long?!” She asked, “ Even for you, that’s a record.”

I sighed. “Well, Ms. Thompson called me in.”

“It’s about the project isn’t it?” She said, one eyebrow rising.

“Yeah, sorta.”

“You have to start on it Beth! That thing is worth 50 points!”

“Well, you know me. Besides, YOLO.”

“Don’t say that.” said Laura, “YOLO is so last year.”

“Okay, fine.” I replied. “Let’s starting walking home. You’re going to be late to after school.”

“But I want to help you with that book report!”

“Hush, I think I can find a book myself, don’t you think?”

“Good point.”

We started to walking down the street. There wasn’t a whole lot to talk about but we kept a conversation going. Laura kept talking about how she ships Drarry and Percabeth and about 5 other names I didn’t know. I just agreed that they should have been together or whatever. After a while, I reasoned that if you can talk that much about something, it should be good.

“You know, these books might actually be interesting,” I thought, “ Maybe I could read them.” But then my logical side was like, “Not going to happen.”

When we reached the intersection of Parker and West Elm, Laura kept walking down the street to go to her house. She gave me directions to the Prestiged Valedictorian Athenaeum. “It’s a really interesting library!” she kept saying. But there was no way I was going to such a boring sounding place. I just said that I would check the place out so I wouldn’t hurt her feelings. We said bye, and went our separate ways.

As I walked, I kept my eyes peeled for another library, something that might actually be of use to me. I passed a street of run-down apartments. They cast long shadows across the street, making it seem like it was a cloudy day. The wind rustled some leaves and debris. It was like a colorless world here.

Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. When I looked at it right on, I gasped. If I hadn’t been so keen, I wouldn’t have noticed a rather beat-up looking building, a library to be exact. There was a rustic wooden sign on the top that swayed in the breeze. It said “Mr. Linden’s Library”, etched gold letters. It was made of bricks, and looked worn from weather. A small set of steps led up to the entrance. It was cozy looking and quaint. It was the right library for me. I just knew it.