The Library
/Woman seeking new apartment for her and her dog
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It was a mild mid Summer day in Pasadena. The late afternoon sun had begun to produce dazzling reddish orange hues that danced around the quiet neighborhood. Shannon was showing the house, to Kelly, in order to finalize the sale of the house she had lived in for over nine years. Shannon waited to show the Library last on the tour.
"And here is the Library," said Shannon from the hallway. She threw open the doors to reveal a large collection of books in a well maintained room. On the first couch sat a lovely young woman comfortably dressed in light colored clothing. Kelly did a slight wave and took a seat in the recliner closest to the fireplace. The library had dark red colored walls, an ergonomic desk chair, and an antique desk, near the window, with books and journals thrown about on top.
There was a designer lamp on top of a night table between the dark green recliners, large floral paintings, and a stopped cracked clock on the wall. One side of the bookshelf was filled with the standard print and color of romantic fiction. Another side had the titles and width of the traditional non-fiction book. The remaining shelves were filled with classical fiction and critical essays that Kelly used to teach her own classes. In the center of it all was an 'inactive' fireplace with a multi-colored urn on the mahogany mantel above.
"Carla took pride in building this room. Carla...,"Shannon's voice suddenly fell off as she turned away from the bookshelf nearest the doors.
"I built the collections. Romance is my favorite genre. I love Jane Austen... Shannon never had much time for those," said Carla demurely after putting her book in her lap and staring up at Shannon.
"Romance was never my genre. Carla would find all these early additions through yard sales, and browsing the local bookstores. You said you are a literature professor right? Because you can keep the classical books if you like," said Shannon, a young 40 something who wore tailored clothing that could only be maintained with weekly trips to the dry cleaners.
Carla nodded.
"That's right! I am an English Professor at the University. This is my first semester tenured. I decided it was time to purchase a home for me and Max," said Kelly.
Carla and Shannon asked in unison, "Who's Max?"
Carla looked over and smiled at Shannon. Shannon looked over at Kelly.
"Max is my six year old rescue Newfoundlander...short for Maxine. She is brown and slumbers all the time. I grew up with a German Shepard named Claire. When she passed I was about to enter college. I never could bring myself to get another German Shepard even after I moved into my first apartment. Max was part of a rescue campaign with one of the Animal Rights student groups. I took her home and it was love at first lick," said Kelly.
"I had a German Shepard once. I gave her up because of Shannon's allergies," said Carla.
"I'm allergic to dogs. Carla wanted pets. On the other hand the hard wood floors have been maintained without any nail scratches. We never laid down carpet. A quick finish is all it needs. One of Carla's cousins can do it. I can give her a call if you like? I'm sure it will be a fair price," said Shannon.
"Geraldine...she always does a great job, and Shannon will ask her to keep it at a family member price," said Carla.
"Yes, that sounds good. Once we finalize the purchase we can move forward with the odds and ends. I will probably have carpets installed throughout the house. You don't by any chance know any carpet layers do you?" asked Kelly.
Both Carla and Shannon said in unison, "Melvin."
"Geraldine's brother," said Carla smiling at Shannon.
"He is another of Carla's cousins. He will even pick up the supplies, carpet, whatever you need to make this place your own. I am sure you and Max will have many wonderful memories here," said Shannon.
Shannon moved over to the lamp on the night table. She hovered over it as if deciding whether to turn it on.
"Shannon gave me that lamp on my last birthday. I turned thirty. She told me that now we would always be the same age because no woman ever ages past 29...no matter how she looks," said Carla.
Shannon did not look at Carla, but let her finger slip away with the lamp still off.
"The lamps create a certain kind of ambience in this room. If I were you I would invest in lamps. The ceiling lights do not have the same appeal...particularly if you entertain guests here. This lamp is one of the few furniture pieces that will be moved to the new place. A smaller place. But one still needs the right ambience," said Shannon.
"Of course you will take it with you. I love the detailed design. I am so grateful that I was able to find a house on the market that came furnished. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. It is just that even with my new salary...well every little bit counts," said Kelly.
Shannon moved over to the fireplace, and began to fiddle with the urn.
Carla Looked from Shannon to Kelly with a sad face.
"You might need to add some dishes. The last earthquake knocked down the large kitchen stand alone cabinet, and sadly most of the dishes broke. Many were gifts from our wedding guests at our wedding twelve years ago. I was cooking dinner at the time. It was another late night at work for Shannon," said Carla.
Carla looked at Shannon. Shannon did not look up. Shannon gripped the mantle a little harder.
"So sorry, I was lost in thought. I wanted this room to be turned into our den, but Carla had her hopes set on this room as the Library. If I remember it was the only reason she agreed on this home," said Shannon.
Carla smiled.
"I remember the asking price was more than we had intended, but it was so close to my job at the bank. I remember thinking the savings in gas alone would be worth it. I thought I would be home more often." Shannon's voice dropped off and she looked pensively at the painting above the fireplace.
Carla smiled and said, "There were other reasons I agreed. I thought that she would be home more often since she was so close to work. I thought we might someday have children...the schools are very good in this neighborhood. I thought we would live here until we were so old that we had to lean on each other when walking to the park around the corner."
Shannon looked on the verge of tears.
"Max and I take long walks after I get home from work. We take three walks a day around the block, but the park will be even better. I swear she keeps me active and healthy. While I am at the University I spend all my time grading papers, having student conferences, and preparing my lectures. It is a whole lot of chair work. I have no idea when I last saw the inside of a gym," said Kelly.
"Both of you will love the park," said Carla.
Shannon moved about in a chipper manner with regained composure. "Do you want to see the park tonight? We can walk over there on our way out."
"I think that is a great idea! I could do with a walk around the neighborhood to get situated," said Kelly.
"I can show you some other great attractions after you move in...the new house is smaller, but practically around the corner," said Shannon.
"I think I will remain here among my books for a little while longer," said Carla.
"I always have a warm feeling after spending time in the Library. It has become my favorite room in the house. I can almost see you and Max lounging here by the fire. I'm almost certain this may become your favorite room as well. Let's go see the neighborhood!" said Shannon.
Kelly said, "Perfect!"
Kelly followed Shannon out of the Library.
Carla rose out of the chair.
She looked out the window and said out loud to herself "She seems like a nice woman," as she exited the door with her book clutched in both hands.
Voices approached the library and reverberated in the hallway.
Shannon said, "I don't understand."
Kelly dashed into the room looking around wildly.
"Where is she?"
Shannon asked, "Who?"
"Carla of course. She was just here with us," said Kelly.
Shannon stops in her tracks by the clock.
"You can't be saying...,"
"She was here she told me about her love of romance, and you gave her that lamp for her 30th birthday last year...," said Kelly.
Shannon sits down in the exact spot where Carla had been sitting.
"Three years ago...that was her last birthday...She died in the Earthquake of '03...in the kitchen...she was only 29," Shannon begins to sob in her hands. Kelly runs over to her, kneels down, and holds her.
By Alex Almeida
From: United States
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