[PA Libraries] FW: ASSOCIATES July 2003 - Fiction - Massey
- From: "Leslie Spotkov" <LSpotkov@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <palib@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 10:43:29 -0700
Anyone in PA interested in penning a line or two?
LaRae
Peninsula College Library
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-associates@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-associates@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Wendee Eyler
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 9:29 AM
To: associates@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: ASSOCIATES July 2003 - Fiction - Massey
Rainbow's End
Introduction
by
Tinker Massey
It is with great pleasure and some trepidation we introduce you to a
different form of literature for ASSOCIATES. Rainbow's End is a story
involving people who work in libraries: their lives, their work, their
good and bad days. It is hoped that not only the initial author of this
story, but many of you, will join in the creation of this story by
sending ideas for characters, plots, incidences, etc. The original
author will meld those ideas into storyline and submit each chapter with
succeeding new issues of the journal, giving preliminary credit for
those whose ideas were used in that chapter. It is hoped that we can
show all the range of library work and workers, while concluding in the
end that there is truly a rainbow, but perhaps no end in the life cycle.
Some chapters may be sedate, setting scene and character for following
chapters, while others may be very energetic or aggressive. The author
will continue to submit chapters even if there are no ideas flowing from
the group, but we hope you will take up this challenge and join our
interactive game. We think it can be fun and stimulating, and perhaps
get a few of you energized into writing on your own. The readership is
full of people with wonderful and bountiful ideas just waiting to
contribute, so don't wait. Be the first to send in suggestions!
We might even be lucky enough to develop a novel worth publishing in
some format!?
Since this is a large and "virtual" writer's group, it would be most
effective for you to send ideas to Tinker Massey directly at her e-mail
address: MMassey@xxxxxxxxxxx Replies will be made to you during weekdays
only. Good luck to everyone!
************************
Rainbow's End
Chapter 1
by
Tinker Massey
Shots fired!... Man down... More shots...Sedately he walked to the
stairs, paused, then sat down hard in a padded chair. He fumbled with
the bullets to reload the chambers and then sighed as a student worker
slowly talked him out of the gun. He was confused and deep in a chaotic
nightmare. What had happened? Someone was talking. What gun? White hot
flashes ran through my mind and I was sent reeling into my childhood...
Someone was talking. Yes, I wanted to ride on the book truck. Yes, I
wanted to help put the books on the shelves. Ooh, but they were so large
and black and heavy. How was it possible? Step by step, each book
received its final resting place and we were done. I looked around to
see all "The Boys," my grandmother's pet name for her students that she
housed and tutored and fed cookies in the wee hours of first light. They
marveled at my strength at four years and my ability to place the books
correctly. I loved the feel of the books and the smell of old leather as
it slipped from my hands to the shelf. It was my passion to shelve
books...a true challenge for the young and adventurous. I could never
forget those days, because we also visited Great Grandpa David in the
nursing home after work was completed. A perfect day for one so young
and full of the newness of life. I would climb on his bed, hug him so
tight, and proceed to tell him all the things I had done; pinning
pictures on his wall to make sure he would remember all the stories till
next time we visited. That day was the last I remembered of him. We
didn't go to the home anymore. Instead, we said goodbye at the church
and the cemetery. How green and luscious the grass...fragrant flowers
filled the air with their unforgettable aromas on the light breeze and
Memie was quiet and still, only moving enough to squeeze my hand as
someone lowered his box. I brought one last picture and placed it on his
resting place, as if he could see it and laugh at my silly drawings of
elephants and dogs. I wanted him to remember...to remember...to
remember...
Someone was talking. Yes, I was ok. Yes, I wanted some water. And, yes,
I wanted to get out of there. None of us was able to move...just
watching as they took the Director out on a stretcher...as they led
David away in handcuffs... as staff stood silently in the pall of an
April morning wondering what had happened. The smell of old leather
books and sulphur filled my mind and I was not aware of the differences
those events made in my life. Time has a way of turning back on you when
you least expect it and rainbows are very hard to find on those darkened
days. Libraries are peaceful places, so the phrase goes, but people are
a different story...as I remember...remember...remember...
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