George’s Independence Day
Alan Cadman
instant coffee from a vending machine
George sensed everyone was watching him. He risked a
glance around the room.
A middle-aged man, in front of him,
struggled with an automated
checkout device. To his left, a young woman
tapped on a keyboard. Other library users
were selecting books; reading newspapers or
magazines. He shook his
head. No one displayed any
interest in him after all.
He’d been going
there for as long as he could remember. Once a month, on his way home from
junior school, he’d run into the building; grab a Just William, Famous Five, or
something about football. During his teenage years it became Haynes car manuals
or vinyl LPs to record on cassette.
George gained more
confidence, propelled his wheelchair towards crime fiction. Pride prevented him
asking for assistance, but he was lucky. The latest Peter Robinson was at waist
height. Balancing the detective novel on his knees, he also spotted a Rankin he
hadn’t read before.
He remembered the
abundance of reference books upstairs. Conscious of the new open staircase and
original stone steps confronting him, he wondered if there was a lift for
service users. He mustered enough courage to ask an assistant, smiled at her
positive reply.
He looked forward
to browsing through pages of art, local history and music. Earlier, his wife had
wheeled him to the disabled entrance. At his insistence, when the door slid
open, she left him there. It was his first visit alone since being diagnosed
with a chronic illness. Yes this was his day for being independent. George was
grateful that his beloved library was user-friendly for everyone. A few years
ago it hadn’t even crossed his mind.
About the author
Alan has been writing short stories for ten years. In
2011 he made the short list for one story and a prize winner for flash fiction.
He also won first prize, of £100, in a poetry competition in 2013. The three
accolades were awarded by the best-selling UK magazine for writers. His work has
been read out on Internet radio and published in hard copy magazines and
e-zines.
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