“Yes, please, George.”
He headed into the kitchen and June collapsed down on one of the Chinese takeaway’s plastic chairs, her head pounding. Word had spread through the village about the council’s announcement and everyone who came into the library had quizzed her about it. June had tried to stay positive, reassuring people that nothing was certain yet, but inside she was crumbling. What would she do if the library closed? She’d have to find a new job, which might mean having to sell her mum’s house and leave Chalcot and...
June reached into her bag and pulled out a book, desperate to divert her brain.
“June Jones?”
She looked up but didn’t recognize the man with messy hairstanding behind the counter. Did he come into the library? She tried to picture what books he borrowed but couldn’t place him.
“It’s me, Alex.”
June hadn’t seen Alex Chen since he was a short, plump teenager reading Game of Thrones books on the school bus. They’d been in the same year at secondary school and had occasionally been partnered up on projects. Now he was tall with broad shoulders and a warm smile.
“Oh... er, hi, Alex. How are you?”
“I’m great, thanks. I’m just back for a few months to help out while Dad has his hip op.”
“An operation? When is it?” June had no idea that George was going into hospital, but then their weekly conversation only ever consisted of “Your usual” and “Seven pounds forty, please.”
“Next Thursday. It’s so funny seeing you again. Do you still live here?”
“Yes, I’m the assistant at the library.” June glanced at Alex, expecting him to look unimpressed, but his face lit up.
“That’s brilliant. I remember you always having your nose in a book at school; didn’t you win the reading prize every year?”
“Not every year, only three times,” June said, feeling her cheeks flush.
“I always tried to beat you but I never could.” Alex laughed. “So, can you recommend any good books I might like?”
People often asked this when they found out what June did for a living, and she was secretly proud of her ability to guess what books a person might like. “I can try. Are you still into George R. R. Martin?”
“Oh god, I was such a loser at school, wasn’t I?” Alex winced. “I’m afraid I’m not much cooler these days; I mainly read sci-fi and horror now.”
“I don’t know that much about those genres, but I can have a look for you.”
“Actually, I always mean to read more widely but I never know where to start.” Alex pointed at the book on June’s lap, which she’d grabbed off the kitchen table on her way out this morning. “What are you reading?”
“Oh, I don’t think it would be your cup of tea,” she said, trying to stuff it back in her bag.
“I’m sure it would. Go on, try me.”
June reluctantly lifted the book for Alex to see the battered front cover. She was sure she saw a look of disappointment flicker across his face, but he hid it quickly.
“Pride and Prejudice? Cool, I’ve never read that. Although I have readPride and Prejudice and Zombies.”
“What?” June was so surprised she couldn’t help but laugh. “How have I never heard of that?”
“It’s amazing. I think the plot is basically the same as the original, only in an apocalyptic world where the Bennet sisters are zombie fighters trained in Chinese martial arts. And it turns out that Wickham, who is actually undead and survives on eating pigs’ brains, is planning a zombie army to take over England, and Elizabeth and Darcy have to stop him.” Alex paused when he saw the look on June’s face.
“That is the most extraordinary plot I’ve ever heard. Are you winding me up?”
“No, I swear. I tell you what—how about I readPride and Prejudiceand you readPride and Prejudice and Zombies, and we can compare notes?”
“Thanks, but I’ve not read a horror book since we didFrankensteinat school and I had to sleep with the lights on for a week.”
Alex chuckled. “God, I remember reading that. What was the name of that boring English teacher? Her lessons were awful.”
Miss Townsend had actually been June’s favorite teacher, always recommending books and staying behind after class to discuss them with her, but June didn’t want to admit that.
