Free The Cupid Chronicles by Coleen Murtagh Paratore Page A

book after you.”
    I nod my head. I understand.
    â€œA book is a living thing, Willa. It soaks into your mind and heart and shapes how you think and feel. Every book you read becomes a part of you.”
    Mrs. Saperstone walks to a case and runs her hands over the spines. She turns to me and laughs, a faraway look on her face.
    â€œSometimes, Willa, I’ll see a smudge of sauce on apage where there’s a funny scene and I think maybe the person who read this book before me was eating pizza when she laughed at this part. Or, I’ll see a tear-size stain on a sad page and I’ll wonder about the person who read this passage and was moved to cry just like me.”
    When Mrs. Saperstone finishes, I am excited. “You’ve got to tell this to the council tonight, Mrs. Saperstone.”
    â€œNo, Willa, they’ve heard me so often, they don’t listen anymore. This old library needs a new champion.”
    I look at
Fahrenheit 451.
“Why did you pick this for me?” I ask.
    â€œRead it and you’ll understand. It’s one of those books you never forget.”
    I start signing my name and as I do I get an idea. “You know the council members, right, Mrs. Saperstone?”
    â€œOf course, I know them well.”
    â€œAnd did they sign out books from this library when they were kids?”
    â€œWell not the wash-ashores like Harry Sivler, but Phinny Langerhorn surely did, and Phoebe Slingerlands, and of course Josiah Bulmer’s father is the one who donated the whale fountain because he was such a fan of
Moby—”
    â€œThat’s it!” I nearly knock Mrs. Saperstone down with a hug. I tell her my plan.
    â€œOh no, Willa. I can’t.”
    â€œYes, you can, Mrs. Saperstone. Yes, you can.”
    Finally, Mrs. Saperstone agrees. She makes a list of the seven people on the Bramble Town Council and then says “Okay, let’s go.”
    I put
451
in my backpack and follow Mrs. Saperstone upstairs, past the reading room, where JFK was writing that day She opens a door at the end of the hall and pulls a string to turn on the light. There are rows of dusty filing cabinets with dates on the front of each. Mrs. Saperstone locates a certain cabinet, unlocks it, and begins shuffling through the files. She closes one and moves to another cabinet, making notes.
    â€œThis is the bravest thing I’ve ever done,” Mrs. Saperstone says.
    Wow Zip the lips, Willa. Zip the lips.
    â€œI could lose my job over this.” She lets out a laugh. “But then, I probably will anyway. I might as well have some fun. You know, Willa, since I was a little girl, I’ve done what is expected me. I’ve followed the rules. I’ve toed the mark. I’ve never ruffled any feathers. Today, I’m going to be a ruffler.”

CHAPTER 14
 
In the Pocket

 
    All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts …
    â€”Shakespeare,
As You Like It
    The first person I recognize when we enter Town Hall, Meeting Room A, is Ruby Sivler’s father. He’s sitting with the other council members at the long table at the head of the room. He says something and the man next to him laughs.
    â€œSpeak loudly and clearly” Stella says, coaching me, “and make eye contact with the decision makers.” Stella is happy to share the wisdom of her MBA. “And if you start shaking or sweating, just keep smiling confidently and no one will notice.”
    Oh, great.
I know Stella’s intentions are good, but she’s making me even more nervous. The spaghetti from dinner is swirling in my stomach.
    Sam walks me to the check-in area and I sign my name under the “Public Comments” heading. I tell him about my stomach.
    Sam puts his hand on my shoulder. “Butterflies are good, Willa. Actors hope for butterflies before they go on stage.