The Inaugural Launch of the Hammingway County Library Book Club

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This week's assignment is to write a story in which a celebration coincides with a weather anomaly. This week's tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the kidlit mystery series Corgi Capers. 

The Inaugural Launch of the Hammingway County Library Book Club

by Val Muller

Emily adjusted the book in the middle of the picnic table again. She eyed the centerpiece. Then she wiped the sweat from her brow. A wool sweater and a plastic campfire made the heatwave seem that much hotter. Hundred-degree days in September seemed...wrong. With pools closed after Labor Day, it seemed like a cruel joke from the universe. 

And a cruel joke for her first day on the book club project. It was her first community outreach assignment, her first day away from the circulation desk and the stacks, the inaugural launch of the Hammingway County Library Book Club. And here she had chosen a book with strong late fall vibes. Back in June, when she imagined September, she thought the rustic picnic spot would give Halloween vibes with a kiss of frost.

But now, the heat wave. It was being called "historic." And the book had been a disappointment, too. The whole thing followed this stalker, the crisp fall weather being a metaphor for his cold intentions, but he never actually did anything. It was almost entirely stream of consciousness except for a few pointless interactions. Even the stream behind Emily seemed to laugh at her choices. Would anyone even trust her to pick a book again, let alone plan the meetup?

Just as she was starting to think, or maybe hope, no one would be coming, a car's tires echoed on the gravel parking lot. Three doors opened, and out stepped four adults, four women and a man. Two of the women carried tumblers. 

"Oh good, we didn't miss it," one of them said. She sloshed her tumbler around in the air. "See, I did have time to stop home and grab my special drink." The other one with a tumbler shared a smile, and the group headed toward the table. 

"Hot enough for you?" Emily said lamely.

"You know," one of them said, "It's just nice for us to be out of the classroom."

The man picked up a pinecone from the table. "We're all teachers, and we've reached that point in the year where the honeymoon is over, and Thanskgiving's not close enough. We thought the bookclub would be a nice break. Sure is hot, though." His brow had already beaded in sweat. More tires on gravel, and out stepped a frazzled-lookikg mom and her children.

"Mommy, mommy, there are already people at our picnic spot!" a child moaned. 

"It's not 'our spot,' Billy. It belongs to everyone."

The boy eyed Emily, then the group. The two women with the special drinks shared a laugh. Then the boy sprinted to the stream and splashed. Even Emily felt the wave of jealousy pass over the group. 

"Come on in," the boy shouted. " This water is so refreshing!"

The man eyed the pinecone in his hand. "I'll be honest," he told Emily. "I didn't get past chapter 9. I mean, the guy just didn't do anything."

Before Emily could answer, he was already taking off his shoes. 

*

A half hour later, a soaking Billy made his way to his mom's car, with four half-drenched teachers in tow. The man stopped to shake Emily's hand. "Really fun time," he said. He picked up the pinecone again and chucked it toward the stream. It landed with a plunk and started its spiraling journey downstream. 

The two teachers picked up their empty tumblers and giggled. "You'll have to let us know when the next book club meets," one of them said. "Only, maybe the protagonist could actually do something next time."

"And maybe it won't be so hot."

Emily nodded, already taking mental notes, thinking how to attract even more patrons next time. 

"The weeks between winter break and spring break are especially long," one of them added helpfully as the group continued to their car. 

Emily nodded again, cleaning up the centerpiece. Then she giggled, picked up the book from the centerpiece, and threw it into the stream.

The Spot Writers—Our Members: 

Val Muller: http://valmuller.com/blog/

Catherine A. MacKenzie: https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Phil Yeats: https://alankemisterauthor.wordpress.com

Chiara De Giorgi: https://chiaradegiorgi.blogspot.com/