Tara's Book

It was probably the dumbest thing ever, not that anyone would agree with Tara. That probably didn’t matter, either. Because Tara knew the truth. She sat perfectly low, perfectly still in the back of the classroom. In a corner behind a few boxes so that she’d not be noticed, but by a window so that she could notice everything.

Detention.

Ugh.

It wasn’t fair, but here she sat. She’s been known for sitting. Tara is really good at that, actually. Sitting is what got her in this situation in the first place. Sitting at the right place at the wrong time.

The library.

Right before school even started.

Something else Tara is known for.

She’s always had a huge love for reading. There’s a really nice corner at the library that usually had her name on it. Not anymore.It would seem that sitting somewhere you weren’t supposed to be noticed would get you into trouble. All Tara knew is that Mrs. Lansing said they’d be getting in that new dystopian series that week. You know the one. It’s like Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones with a Riordan feel. Tara had to get to the book first.

Her mind went back to that fateful moment. The moment that she did absolutely nothing wrong, but found herself paying a heavy price.

Book one was already on sale, but Tara didn’t get paid for two weeks from her new part time job. She could count the kids at her high school to not read. Not that they couldn’t. They just didn’t have the same passion for words as she did. She loved being at the library since no one at her school made it a point to be there.

Tara smiled down at the cover of the first book. It seemed so surreal that she even had it in her hands! She brushed her hand over the matte cover and sighed. The fact that she was the first to get her hands on the new series at the school library sent a nice, fuzzy feeling through her soul. Tara sighed while sitting and starting chapter one...

“Hey!”

While Tara wasn’t used to other people being in the library (except for Mrs. Lansing) she wasn’t startled by the deep voice, either. Rather, she was already entranced by the first few pages to care that someone was saying anything in what should be a quiet place.

“Dude!” the voice grew louder if that were possible. “I’m talking to you.”

Tara looked around and shrugged. “I’m so not a dude.”

“I’m talking to you, bro!”

“Not a bro, either.”

“Dude!”

“Are those the only nouns you know?”

The voice growled, which made Tara look to see where it was coming from. Towering over her was a tanned and muscular jock like figure. She never paid attention to people, so she didn’t recognize him. Tara was a bit of a loner and had no problem with that. Outside of school, she had plenty of friends. At school, she learned, she turned in assignments, she went home. Why people wanted to make memories at a place they didn’t even want to be at was beyond Tara. Nothing personal, which was why she didn’t have any personal attachments there.

“You’re reading my book.”

Tara looked at the inside cover to make sure the usual tan pocket that held the tiny index card listing who borrowed the book was there. And, of course, since it was a brand spanking new book, there were no names on it yet. Of course, Tara’s name was destined to be there first.

“First come, first served, my man,” Tara sank further into the only comfortable armchair in the place.

The boy’s face turned beet red.

“Good news is I’m a very fast reader. If you give me like 24, 48 hours, the book will be ready for pick up. Promise.”

“That’s not good enough, bro!” he growled and stepped closer. “Mrs. Lansing said the book would be here and that she’d hold it for me.”

“The book is here.” Tara agreed. “But she doesn’t hold books for anyone. Hence why I got here so early and why I’m trying to enjoy my victory. Now, do you mind?”

“Give me my book!” he yelled.

Tara held the book close to her chest. “What’s with all the yelling, my man? It’s rather simple. I got the book first. Now, be a good little boy and wait your turn. Or see if one of your girlfriends will buy it for you.”

He frowned. “I said, GIVE ME MY BOOK!”

“It’s the library’s book,” Tara corrected, still not fazed by the jock’s obvious attempts to intimidate. “And I got to it first. Sorry, not sorry.”

“What’s going on?”

Tara and the jock both turned to the new voice that entered the room. Here stood another buff looking sports player. “Coach is gonna kill you if you don’t get to early practice, bro.”

“I’m…busy,” he answered his teammate.

“Busy?” the other boy looked around. “At the library? Dude, nothing goes on here. See that loser is the only one here and she doesn’t even look busy.”

Tara simply shook her head and went back to reading.

“She has something I want and she won’t give it to me.”

“Seriously?” Tara didn’t look up from the book this time. “You’re tattling?”

“Well, you do have something I want!”

“And you’ll get it,” Tara turned a page. “In like two days, my man. Chill.”

“Chill?” The boy was breathing heavily. “What do you know about being chill, bro? You won’t even share the book!”

“Book, bro?” Tara and the other guy both looked at the third party they completely forgot about. “All this over a book? Dude, you can get one of those from any teach here, yo. Why you want hers?”

“It’s not hers!”

“Not yours, either,” Tara pointed out.

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem handing it over!”

“And you shouldn’t have a problem waiting your turn.”

Still unhappy with not getting his way, he flipped the table he was sitting by, books and bookends flying wherever gravity felt it would look best. Its own way of decorating, maybe. Tara looked in equal parts shock, disdain, and humor. This guy couldn’t possibly be that serious.

“What on earth?” Mrs. Lansing ran around the corner, long black locks flowing behind her. From the look on her face, Tara knew there’d be trouble.

And even though she had nothing to do with the table massacre, she was in detention paying handsomely for it.

Jock one and Jock two got out of it because of a basketball game scheduled for that night. Jock one was the one who flipped the table! Not only did he not have to go to detention, but he also got the book Tara wanted. Boy, don’t jocks get all the breaks.

She sighed, looking outside of the window again, praying for a quick hour so she could go home. People always say teens are so dramatic. Might be the case for Jock. Tara, on the other hand, was a simple creature. A good book, some hot tea, and a nice corner. Maybe you’ll see her in a few days.

Her phone buzzed, reminding her that she did have that bit of entertainment at least. She smiled warmly when she saw it was her mom,

“Hi,” Tara answered.

“Hey, honey,” her mom spoke back. “Detention, huh?”

“Totally unfair.”

“I heard. The librarian called me all in a rage about the table being flipped over and whatnot. After she calmed down and thought about how you were sitting with a book and the other boy was standing over the mess…yeah, she feels like a bit of a heel.”

“She should,” Tara grumbled. “Since I can’t do anything athletic, I guess this is my way of contributing to society.”

“She should be coming down there to let you go. Just wanted to let you know I’m sitting outside waiting for you.”

So, the day did get a little bit brighter. Mom wasn’t mad, teacher realized she was a douche. The world can make sense sometimes.

Except, you know, Jcok one got the book. The only book she craved right now. And he’d probably lose it with his homework or something. She could kiss reading that book goodbye, at least for two weeks.

The inhumanity.

As Mom told her, Mrs. Lansing came and talked to the detention teacher, who waved her forward. After scratching her name off his list, he waved her out. Mrs. Lansing didn’t seem to run when she had the chance.

“So, Tara, I’m really sorry.”

“Sure,” Tara answered, walking quickly towards the exit.

“You’re mad. And you should be,” Mrs. Lansing kept up. “I should have known better. You’re one of the few students who actually use the library for what it’s for. And I’m pretty sure you’re the only one who ever borrows any of the books.”

Tara was still trying to get to her mom’s car.

Mrs. Lansing grabbed her shoulder gently to stop her. “Just a minute. I was wrong, I know I was. Now, anyway. When you’re angry, sometimes you just aren’t reasonable. Shoot, I don’t even think the random kid who showed up had anything to do with it, but he would have been in detention, too, if it wasn’t for the basketball game.”

“Go, panthers,” Tara deadpanned. “I’m sorry, but my mom is waiting for me, and I’m sure you realize school is out.”

“Well, if you don’t want the long, drug out version of my apology, perhaps the cliff notes version would be best.” Mrs. Lansing handed over a Barnes And Noble bag…

Barnes and Noble?

Tara yanked the bag opened and gasped in pure joy. There was her book. The very book she waited eons for. She grasped it and opened the cover. No pocket with the index card to borrow the book. Just a receipt in the bag.

“It’s all yours, Tara,” Mrs. Lansing said. “Again, I am very sorry.”

A huge smile spread across her face and she pulled Mrs. Lansing into a huge hug. “This never happened,” her voice was muffled in Mrs. Lansing’s hair.

“You don’t have friends here. Why would anyone care?”

“I have a rep,” Tara pulled back. “People usually don’t mess with me.”

“Huh,” Mrs. Lansing stood back. “Fair enough. This never happened. But, I know you’ll enjoy the book. It’s a great read.”

Tara tilted her head slowly to the left. “You didn’t.”

“One of the breaks being the librarian. I always get first dibs.”

“Whatever,” Tara looked back down at her gift. “This more than makes up for everything. Quite possibly world hunger.”

“If you say so,” Mrs. Lansing shrugged. “So long as you forgive me. I plead temporary insanity. You in detention? That never should have happened.”

“Well, that’s okay, I guess. Goes with my rep.”

“Maybe we could say you flipped the table,” Mrs. Lansing smirked. “That would really add to your street cred.”

“Hey, why not? I don’t care,” Tara shrugged. “Going to be at home reading this, anyway.”

“Get to it, then,” Mrs. Lansing stepped aside, giving full view to the four sets of double doors of the school’s main entrances and exits

Tara waved, clutched her now owned book close to her chest, and walked out into the sunshine.