California Dreamin’
The Mama’s and the Papa’s crooned in my ears as I walked down the leaf strewn street. I could barely hear the crunch of the leaves as I hummed along to the chorus line. Cars rolled around me as if I was invisible. I raised my shoulders to the tiny breeze trying to slip its cold fingers under my collar. The summer had gone by so quick and it wasn’t one I was likely to forget.
The rejection letter from Harvard was crumpled in my hand. Josie had been accepted to Yale and Haley was going to Harvard. This would be our last summer together before becoming responsible adults and I wasn’t looking forward to it.
“Hey Hales, wanna go get a burger? Joe’s on the corner is doing a 2 for 1 deal. I’ll pay.” “Sure!” She finished putting her books in her bag and grabbed her water bottle. Haley grinned at me as she packed up her books, I was the Ron to her Hermione. I did well but hated to study. The librarian looked up as we made our way to the entrance, she nodded but her hawk like features were drawn to the book I was carrying.
“Hales, just wait for me.. I’ll be right back.” as I hoisted the leatherbound book in my hands.
Crooking her finger at me she beckoned me to her. She was a stern looking woman her hair was worn in a tight bun on her head and she looked like someone’s spinster aunt. I closed the gap between us and stood at the counter.
“You did intend to get that book yes? You know its library policy that you cannot leave without checking the book first.” She looked at me then eyed the cover again like a bird surveying the worm.
“I hadn’t given it much thought.” I layed the book on the counter. It was a sturdy leather bound book of 300 pages. The book was yellowed in spots from age. The filigree lettering said (INSERT TITLE HERE). I was drawn to the book like a moth to flame. I loved old books, to open them randomly and smell them. The first inhalation is musty and stale. By the last inhalation I was in love with the idea of where this book belonged and to whom it belonged. This leather bound book smelled of earth and fireside hearths.
Bird woman picked up the book and opened the front flap to scan the barcode. “Where is the barcode?” She half mumbled to herself and half to me. She flipped the book to the back flap only to find it was bare as the front flap. She eyed me like raw meat. “Did you take the barcode off this book?”
“No, of course not.” I said frowning at the book. She continued to turn the book over in her hands feeling for residual adhesive. Sighing she opened a drawer and brought out barcode stickers.
“Please give me a moment miss. I need to enter these serial numbers and put this book in the inventory.” She gently laid the book on the counter again as she typed away on the keyboard of her computer. I waved at Haley who was still waiting for me by the lobby doors. “One more minute”I mouthed. With both her thumbs up she winked at me. Haley began rummaging in her bag for her phone.
“Do you have your library card?” Bird woman stuck out her hand. “Yeah here it is.” I handed her my dirty scratched library card. Her eyebrow went up. She gripped the card by the corner like grabbing the end of a used diaper. Germaphobe, probably. She handed me my card and continued with the stamp. “There is a 14 day loan restriction on this tome.” She stamped the book with the due date and presented me with the now newly inventoried book. “Please see that this gets returned on time.”
They had put in for college during senior year. I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I thought I would naturally just know when it came down to that time. But here I was submitting my choices and playing the waiting game. I knew that there would be a waiting period so I had made plans to just get a job until I was accepted somewhere. Haley had been hounding me to get registered for Harvard, she thought we could share a dorm together. I couldn’t tell her that my heart wasn’t in it. I love Haley but I didn’t want to go to Harvard. It was just too much responsibility. But there it was.. the letter crumpled in my hand.