Free The Opposite of Wild by Kylie Gilmore

isn’t that interesting,” pinchy-lipped Diane intoned as she took a seat next to Liz.
    “Very nice,” Pam said, bobbing her head with approval, her gray bun already slipping from its knot. She had enough sweetness to take the sting out of Diane’s sour.
    “Thanks,” Liz said, picking up her knitting. The other women pulled out their projects, and a few minutes were spent exclaiming over everyone’s progress since the previous week. There was a poncho, a complicated multicolored blanket, a cardigan, a pair of striped socks, and an adorable baby sweater for Pam’s new granddaughter.
    “Awww…” Liz said . She decided her next project would be a sweater for her nephew. She worked with renewed enthusiasm on her scarf.
    “I heard your sister got herself in the family way,” Diane said, looking down her nose at Liz. “How nice for your family,” she added with all the sincerity of the devil himself.
    Liz narrowed her eyes. “It is nice. Thank you.”
    “Watch yourself, Diane,” Maggie warned.
    The room fell into an uneasy silence, and there was just the click clack of needles working back and forth. Liz was just starting to relax again when Maggie asked, “Who’d like a drink?” She pulled a bottle of white wine out of her giant tote bag along with a stack of plastic cups.
    “Maggie, it’s ten a.m., and this is a public place,” Diane said, lips pinched so tight they were white.
    Maggie ignored this and began pouring cups of wine. She handed one to Liz.
    “I’d better not, Maggie,” Liz said. “I’m driving us home.”
    The other ladies looked nervously at each other.
    “It is against the rules,” Pam said softly. “We’re not supposed to have food and drinks in here. Miss Smith could kick us out.” She glanced nervously at the door. Miss Smith had been librarian so long some people thought she came along with the building back in 1896. No one was quite sure of her age, but she was eagle-eyed—thanks to both reading and prescription glasses—and her hearing rivaled only dogs’.
    “So let her try!” Maggie said, raising her glass in a defiant toast. “We all pay taxes to this fine institution. Please, help yourself, ladies.” Maggie indicated the cups of wine.
    Nobody moved.
    Liz and the rest of the ladies went back to their knitting. Maggie alternated knitting and drinking. The conversation turned to the Clover Park Women’s Club charity dinner and whether or not they should have paper or linen napkins.
    “Who cares?” Maggie barked. “Get the paper napkins to save money.”
    “But we have environmental concerns too,” Barbara said. “That’s what we’re trying to balance.”
    “New topic!” Maggie declared. “Should our next Ladies’ Night Out include strippers? Discuss!”
    The ladies’ mouths opened in shock.
    Miss Smith poked her head in the room, her beady eyes glaring through cat’s-eye glasses. “Ladies! Please keep it down in here.” She eyed the plastic cups. “This is your first warning. Food and drinks are prohibited in the library. Please either remove them or remove yourselves to another location.”
    “Oh, hold on to your skirt, Gretchen,” Maggie said.
    “Maggie O’Hare!” Miss Smith shook her finger. “This is your second warning! Quiet down or else!”
    “I’ll take care of it, Miss Smith,” Liz said.
    Miss Smith huffed. “Thank you, Liz.” The woman gave them all one final look of warning and left the room.
    Maggie grinned. “I say yes to strippers.” She finished her wine and took another.
    Liz leaped up and quietly shut the meeting room door. She returned to the table and stared at the remaining five cups of wine. Should she take them away from Maggie? Drink them herself? She didn’t want to embarrass her—
    “Yoo-hoo!” Maggie called, pushing open the window. “We could use some men in here!”
    Liz leaped out of her seat. Maggie turned, a huge goofy smile on her face.
    “Maybe we should go,” Liz said, taking the older woman’s