June took a long breath. Maybe Stanley hadn’t worked it out, but she had to be honest with him. “It’s my fault that the library hours have been reduced; the council have done it to punish me for joining the occupation. Now visitor and issue numbers will be down, and they’ll have the perfect excuse to close the library.”
When she finished speaking, she looked across to see Stanley watching her with a strange expression. “Have you been hiding under a rock all week?”
“I’ve been at home.”
“So, you really have no idea what’s been going on?”
June stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, my dear, you’ve inspired a revolution,” Stanley said, his face breaking into a smile.
“What?”
“I can’t believe you don’t know. Once word got out that you’d been suspended, the village was up in arms. People started coming into the library furious about it and demanding to know how they could help.”
June felt the color returning to her cheeks.
“Then I remembered what Matilda—I mean, you—had said about getting people to take out as many library books as possible,” Stanley continued. “So that’s what we’ve started asking people to do. I wish you could see it; everyone has borrowed the maximum number on their card.” He brandished the book in his hand as evidence of his own borrowing. “Even people who haven’t used the library in years are taking out books. Marjorie can’t keep up with the demand and the shelves are half-empty.”
June was still too stunned to speak.
“It’s all because of you, my dear. People are furious that the council would suspend you after everything you’ve done for the library and this community.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“There’s no way the council can claim we’re a failing library now. Why, this week Chalcot must be the best-performing library in the whole county!”
“Stanley, this is amazing.”
“We’re all going to go to the council meeting on the twenty-fourth, when they’ll make their decision. It’s our final battle against the giants,” Stanley said with glee. “You must come too, June dear. We’ll need you there.”
“Of course I will.” June allowed herself to smile for the first time in days. “We can do this, Stanley. I know we can.”
•••
June returned home with her shopping, still grinning at the news. She found her old copy ofThe House at Pooh Corneron her bedroom bookshelf and took it out into the overgrown garden. She was reading the last chapter when she heard her front doorbell ring. June assumed it must be Linda, who’d been finding tenuous excuses to come round and check up on her all week, but when she opened the door she found Alex standing on the step.
“You’ve not been answering my texts,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry, I’ve been holed up here.”
“I’ve brought you some food,” he said, lifting the bag he was carrying. “Your usual plus some extras.”
“Thank you. Come in.” As June led him into the kitchen, she was acutely aware of the tired decor and her mum’s old ornaments on every surface. “Sorry, I need to give this place a repaint.”
“Well, hello, little fellow.”
June turned around to see Alex bending down to pet Alan Bennett, who was lying in his basket.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that...” she started, but it was too late—Alan snarled and lashed out with his paw, connecting with Alex’s hand.
“Ouch,” he said, recoiling. “Bloody hell, your cat is vicious.”
“I’m sorry, Alan’s a little antisocial. He adored Mum but he’s always hated me.”
“I’ve never heard of a cat hating someone before.”
“I kept thinking he’d warm to me after Mum died and it wasjust the two of us. But it’s been eight years now and he’s still a miserable bugger.”
