The two little girls who are maybe eight or so run over to the tree, sitting under it and grabbing the books available to read.
“Oh, is there not a story time today?”Leighton asks.
I look at the sign on the board and almost tear up.My grandmother’s handwriting says that story time starts in ten minutes.“Yeah, she’ll be right back.”
Both women smile and get situated at the back of the room.
I glance toward the door where Vera disappeared.
Another group of moms comes in, and strollers are being put on the side of the register as kids are filling the mat.
Okay, Vera, you can get back anytime now.
I keep checking the clock that hangs over the tree with the line, “There’s Always Time to Get Lost in a Story.”
Some of the moms glance at me as the kids get restless.The carpet isn’t nearly as full as it was back in the day, probably only half filled, but it’s enough that if I cancel, it’s a bad look.
“I’ll be right back.”I raise my finger and head to the back.
Honor follows me down the hall.“Want me to go upstairs and get her?”
“No—”
Vera rushes in, holding Pete.
And Whit wasn’t kidding.
I feel bad for the little guy.He looks as though he’s one breath away from joining Grandma.
“I have to take him to the vet.”
“Definitely,” Honor says, and I throw her a look.
“He threw up his meds.Can you cover for me?”She looks down the hall.“Oh, story time.Sorry.Felix will be here in an hour, and he can take over.”
I tell her to go, of course, and I’ll figure it out.She leaves, and the door shuts with a bang that jolts me out of my stupor.
I’m actually in charge.
When is the last time I was in charge of entertaining anyone, much less a room filled with kids?
“Hey.”Honor stands in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders like I’m about to get in the ring with the heavyweight champion.“You got this.This is why you want this place, right?Go out there and kick ass.”
I nod and she laughs.
“I’ll stay behind the counter, okay?You get nervous, just look at me.”
I nod again, and she laughs, circling me around to head back down the hall toward all the kids and parents.
Most of the moms are watching me.I nod and realize this is all on me.I rush into my grandma’s office, swipe a book off the shelf, and head down the hall, a knot in my throat the entire time.Then I sit in my grandma’s rocking chair under the tree and try to ignore all the eyes on me.
“Good morning, everyone.”I clear the hoarseness in my throat, my eyes finding Honor.She gives me two thumbs-up.“Please give me a little grace, this is my first time doing story time.There’s been a cat emergency.”
“Cat emergency?What kind of cat emergency?”Monroe says.
“Monroe, it’s not our business,” Leighton says from the back.
“Well, Pete is twenty-one years old.He lives in the apartment above us, and he needed to go to the pet doctor to make sure he’s okay.”
