‘There’s a line in it …’ the girl’s voice jumped. ‘Sorry, I won’t spoil it. You’ll have to read to find out. If you want to. No pressure at all.’
‘Yeah, Dada!’ Priya said, smiling at the girl, as though they were in on this together. Mukesh could see admiration in Priya’s eyes – the kind of look his daughters used to get when they met their older cousins, who they always looked up to as ‘cool young women’。
‘Can you recommend me any other books too? If I can take out six?’ Mukesh asked. ‘Including this one,’ he pointed to Priya’s book.
The girl stopped for a second, her eyes wide. ‘No, no, I think start with this. Trust me. It could, erm, give me an idea of what you should read next. If you like it.’
‘I’ll try it,’ he said, smiling at her. She smiled back. He looked down at Priya and smiled at her too. ‘I’m getting a book!’
‘I know, Dada, that’s cool,’ Priya said, handing over her Wizard book to the girl behind the desk. Mukesh followed suit.
‘Dada,’ Priya whispered. ‘And your library card.’ She nudged him gently in the ribs, and Mukesh did as he was told.
He watched as the girl scanned the card’s barcode. Beep. As she scanned each book in. Beep. Beep.
‘When should we give them back?’ he asked.
‘In three weeks. You can renew it on the phone or online if you need to.’
‘No, I will finish and I know she will finish too.’
‘Would you like a stamp reminder in the front of the book, just in case?’
Mukesh turned to the front page of To Kill a Mockingbird and noticed the Brent Council Libraries sheet, full of black, splotchy dates. So many! It was strange, the idea that this book wasn’t just for him, it was for everyone. All these people who had taken it out before him, people who would take it out after him. They might have read it on a beach, on the train, on the bus, in the park, in their living room. On the toilet? He hoped not! Every reader, unknowingly connected in some small way. He was about to be a part of this too. ‘Yes, please.’ He handed both books back to the girl, stamp at the ready, and as he watched, he wondered, had Naina ever held either of these books? She’d been here all the time, she’d read hundreds of books. Had To Kill a Mockingbird been one of them?
Mukesh put the book in his canvas shopping bag.
‘Sir, if you would both like to sit and read here, we even have a coffee machine and some juices. And what’s your name?’ she asked Priya.
‘Hello, I am Priya. What’s your name?’ Priya responded boldly, unexpectedly confident.
‘Aleisha, nice to meet you. Would you and your grandad like to sit here and read?’
Priya looked up at Mukesh, hopeful, but he shook his head – it was nearly five o’clock – time for Priya’s haircut! He felt both sets of eyes boring into him. Could they tell he was relieved? He didn’t want to sit here and read … he’d feel too self-conscious. He was glad for the excuse – and besides, there was no time to waste, or he’d never hear the end of it from Rohini.
‘Can I help you with anything else today?’ the girl asked them.
‘No, thank you. You have been very helpful. I have to drop my granddaughter off somewhere.’
She beamed, running her hand over her hair, smoothing one flyaway down.
‘I will go now and enjoy reading To Kill a Hummingbird. I will make sure to read some this evening,’ he said.
‘Mockingbird,’ the girl said pointedly, and he just smiled, unsure as to why she’d repeated him.
Priya waved goodbye to the girl who waved back, kindly, as Mukesh wandered out. Today he was taller. He could see further afield now, to the end of the car park, beyond the trees, beyond the buildings; he could see past Wembley Stadium. He could see the whole of London from here, standing just that little bit taller. It’s amazing what posture can do for you, he thought.
Well done, Mukesh, you faced a fear. It was Naina, speaking in his ear. He could hear her. Louder than ever before – like she was standing right beside him.
‘Thank you,’ Mukesh whispered back.
‘What, Dada?’ Priya said.
‘Sorry, nothing, beti. Let’s get you to your hairdresser’s!’
‘Dada, no! I don’t want to. Mum always wants to cut my hair, but I want it long.’
‘Sometimes you just have to listen to your mum. It makes her feel good! But you can sit and read there. How does that sound?’