keep a pleasant tone in her voice, “what I wanted to emphasize was that this event tonight proves that the library can be a much more valuable community asset than it has been for many decades. If it can regularly accommodate groups like ‘Who’s Who in Cherico?’ and the proposed ‘Becca Broccoli in the Flesh,’ and, of course, The Cherry Cola Book Club, it is performing a useful service. Over time, that usefulness will expand and become more essential, and the taxpayers will more than get their money’s worth. Those who support the library for these and other purposes such as student research after school hours and adults hunting for job leads should make their views known to Councilman Sparks and City Hall as soon as possible.”
“What about right now?” Miss Voncille put in quickly, waving her hand energetically.
Knowing better than to cross her, Councilman Sparks deferred. “Go ahead, then, Miss Voncille. Speak your piece to us.”
“I will do just that, Durden. You can’t brush aside us library users so casually. I’ve had a wonderful ally in Maura Beth Mayhew for my ‘Who’s Who?’ organization from the day she arrived here in Cherico. Yes, Annie Scott was cooperative, too, but she was never as pleasant about it the way Maura Beth has been. Annie always acted like I was bothering her, intruding on her precious time, whereas Maura Beth has given me the respect a devoted daughter would have.”
Surprisingly, Mamie Crumpton was out of her seat. “My sister and I always look forward to coming to the library and hearing what Miss Voncille has to say. We enjoy the sense of continuity. Our parents were big library users. And, Durden, a little birdie told me not too long ago that you were seriously considering this library closure. Of course, I was shocked, and you might as well know that such a move would not be without consequences, I assure you.”
Councilman Sparks dropped his trademark smile as he responded. “I understand and respect what you’re saying, Mamie, but these club functions can easily be accommodated elsewhere, and, I might add, with more space available in the homes of private citizens, to name at least one alternative. Tonight, this library appears to be bursting at the seams, but it might also be considered something of a dog and pony show. Emphasis on the show. I think we all know very well that the library usually just sits here collecting dust, your genealogy meetings excepted.”
Maura Beth intervened, feeling the anger rising in her blood but managing to steady herself. “With all due respect, Councilman, I think what has been discussed here tonight so far has been substantive. We’ve brought some very diverse elements of the community together to reflect upon their shared history and, by the way, just have an old-fashioned good time together. How many things can you say that about? I think The Cherry Cola Book Club has a promising future, and I trust it will take place right here.”
Surprisingly, it was Becca who took the floor next. “If I could just say something. Mrs. Bedloe triggered some pleasant memories for me. I’m so sorry she couldn’t come to the library and use it in her day, but I could and did in mine. My mother enrolled me in summer reading every year, and I had a ball. At the time, Miz Scott gave out blue ribbons if we read so many books between the first of June and the end of July. If you fell short, you still got a red ribbon. Let me tell you, I still have every ribbon of every color I won tucked into one of my scrapbooks up in the attic somewhere. It would be a shame not to let Cherico’s current crop of children earn those kinds of memories during all the summers ahead of us.”
But Councilman Sparks would not back down. “I don’t want to come off as the bad guy here, Miz Brachle, but the library is just not an essential service. There are other departments that everyone here would agree we can never do without, such as police, utilities, water, sewage, and fire protection. On the bright side, if our proposed Cherico Industrial Park does bring in industries the way we hope it will, maybe then with more taxes to collect we can consider reopening the library down the road.”
“But closing it isn’t a done deal, is it?!” Donna Gordon exclaimed out of nowhere. “My friends and I were looking forward