The Reading List(42)

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.

‘Oh, great,’ Aleisha hissed under her breath.

‘Look, I just want to hear about the book. I’ll just carry these some of the way for you and then leave you alone for ever.’

Aleisha slung the final bag over her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you,’ she said, ‘but I actually haven’t even started reading it. I only know what it says on the back of the book.’

‘That’s all right. What’s your name?’ he asked.

‘Aleisha.’

‘Nice to meet you, Aleisha,’ he said. ‘I’m Zac by the way.’

Aleisha thought to herself, I didn’t ask but said, out loud, ‘Nice to meet you,’ feigning a casual air.

He smiled awkwardly. Was he as nervous as Aleisha? As he struggled with her bags, lagging slightly behind, she couldn’t help but hide a smile under her hand.

‘So,’ he said, catching up with her, trying to hide the fact he was out of breath. ‘You a big reader then?’

She took a moment before replying, thinking of the old man, Mr Patel, thinking of their chats about the books so far. She felt the list burning in her phone case. ‘Not really,’ she said, honestly. ‘It’s a new thing for me. But, yeah, I’m liking it.’

‘The Kite Runner … you think you’re ready for it?’

‘I thought you didn’t know anything about it.’

‘I’ve seen the film. It’s literally the saddest thing ever.’

‘That’s what the woman at the counter said.’

‘Well, we’re right. Sad ending too—’

‘Seriously! Don’t tell me! Why is everyone intent on spoiling it?’ she cut in, her eyes wide, surprised at her reaction. She felt relaxed now – this felt normal for a moment, walking side by side with a stranger, talking about a book.

He laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not gonna spoil it for you. So …’ His eyes stayed locked on her. ‘What do you do when you’re not at the library?’