Aleisha took the book out of her tote bag in the corner shop, imaginatively named Corner Shop, and started to shove her ingredients in. She’d bought more than she needed because she couldn’t make up her mind. If the reading list had shown her anything, it was that she was shit at making decisions for herself.
‘No!’ the woman at the register said. ‘No, seriously, don’t show me that again.’
‘What?’ Aleisha looked up from her packing, confused.
‘That!’ The woman exclaimed, holding onions in one hand, pointing to The Kite Runner with the other.
Aleisha frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’ she said flatly.
‘That book killed me! It’s so hard to read. Honestly, do you want your mascara all down your face? It’s harrowing.’
Aleisha shrugged.
‘Honestly, it’s even worse than that film they made. The book … wow. I’m not going to tell you any more, your life is your life. But seriously, you better be in a super happy place before you pick it up.’
Aleisha gulped. How sad was this book? The onions rolled down the counter towards her; she grabbed the label with her nails and plonked them into her bag. ‘If you say so, thanks for the tip!’ She stuck a smile back on her face.
The lady continued to scan the rest of her shopping in silence.
‘Good to see a young girl reading,’ the woman muttered, a few moments later, as she threw two plastic bags towards Aleisha.
‘Lots of young people read,’ Aleisha replied, sharply. She thought of the teenagers she always saw in the library, the girl with the pink hair who came in sometimes, the student with the untied shoelaces, even Mia.
‘I know, but … it’s just nice to see it.’ The woman shrugged. ‘All these mod cons, mobile phones, video games … it’s been ages since I’ve seen someone your age with a book.’
Aleisha thought of herself – just a few weeks ago – never carrying a book unless it was a textbook. She had been one of those teenagers – always on her phone; barely looking where she was going, her face always down at the screen.
‘You’re right. But you know, books are cool again now.’ She smiled at the cashier, and packed up the other two bags, before waving goodbye and heading out. After just a few paces, she dropped the bags down and readjusted, using the time to get her strength back. God, she needed a granny trolley! She rolled her eyes at herself. The person this library was turning her into … seriously.
She drew in a breath and tried again just as someone jumped in front of her, blocking her way. A man, wearing a beanie, holding a fresh pack of cigarettes in one hand and a receipt in the other.
She looked at him as if to say, ‘I don’t want your cigarettes, and I don’t know what you’re doing, get out of my way’， but she said nothing. She looked at his face.
It was the guy. The guy she’d seen on the train.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Can I help you?’ he replied.
She looked back blankly. Her shoulders ached.
‘Here, you dropped this.’ He bent down to the concrete at her feet, where The Kite Runner was lying face up.
‘Thanks,’ she went to snatch it from him, but he pulled it just out of reach and turned the cover over in his hands. He flicked to the first page, nodding his head.
‘Harrow Road Library?’ he asked, almost to himself. ‘Is that place still open? I thought they closed it down years ago.’
‘It’s still open,’ Aleisha snapped. ‘I work there.’ She felt defensive; she didn’t know why.
‘Wow, you don’t look like a librarian to me.’ He laughed to himself, shyly. ‘Sorry, I don’t even know what I mean.’ He pushed the book towards her; she grabbed it from him as swiftly as she could. ‘I think your bags are heavy. I can help.’
‘No, I’m fine,’ she said; her fingers screamed in pain. She rolled her eyes, trying to hide the nervousness bubbling in her chest. She forced her feet to walk, step by step.
‘Honestly, I can help.’
‘I said I’m fine.’ Aleisha grimaced, the handles tearing through her skin.
‘Right, well, looks like you’re going in my direction anyway,’ he teased, half a step behind her. ‘So, if you’re actually a librarian, tell me … what’s that book about?’
Aleisha stopped, putting the bags on the floor once more to readjust. But before she could pick them up again, the boy-man swooped in and grabbed two of them.