Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
the book was the one on the wire rack in the school library
that caught my eye that day.
I’d heard it was a crazy story, but good.
The cover was crisp,
seemed like not a soul had ever bothered to open it.
I went to the counter and put my library card and the book down.
The librarian looked at me with big round eyes,
like seriously, she was shocked.
“Are you actually going to read this?” she said in horror.
She was actually trying to get me to turn back and check out a different book.
I had never heard of a librarian trying to stop someone from reading a book before.
“Yes.” I said with confidence.
But now inside my confidence was shaken.
She raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything more.
Well to be honest there was so much going on in my teenage life.
Things at home weren’t great, and I was trying to figure out my place and how to handle things.
I was starving half the time, hinting at friends for food.
Didn’t know when we would have to pack up and move again at a moment’s notice.
It was hell, crazy hell.
I was looking for a book that would let me escape into a different world,
even if it was only for a while.
But I let myself be intimidated by the librarian’s attitude
and never got far into the book.
I quietly returned the book when it was time,
feeling very small.
The book was only slightly less crisp than before.
Today while writing this post
and thinking back on it all,
I decided to make a resolution to read the book
as a toast to my old self…
…and as a flip of the finger to that librarian with the raised eyebrows.
xo,
Anita
P.S. How about you?? Have you ever had a librarian (or someone like that) try to discourage you from reading a book? Tell me your story in the comments below!
