Every Saturday, Lucy walked past groups of high school kids smoking in the arched library entrance.
“Hey, Lucy! Headed in for Toddler Time?”
“Mother Goose?” they mocked.
She grinned. “Dr. Seuss today, boys. Care to join?”
“Do we get a juice box?”
Lucy climbed the brick stairs and closed the door on their laughter.
The librarians busied themselves when they saw her.
“No worries, ladies. My kind of crazy isn’t contagious.”
Some of them had the decency to blush.
She reached the children’s section, charred from last year’s tragic fire, and smiled at the little ones waiting for her.
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
March 2, 2016 prompt: Libraries – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes a library
Lemon Shark Reef 
You’re awesome. #mast ❤
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Thanks. ❤️ #mast
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Love how Lucy embraces boldly who she is despite the mocking and those who try to ignore her. I can’t help but contemplate — did a cigarette start the fire? Great flash!
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I thought of her as kind of mousy but this is how she turned out. 😄 Sassy. Pantsers never know. Yeah, I was thinking of the link between the cigarettes and the fire… Need more room to explore.
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I liked this flash! High school kids are brutal with their mocking of others. I liked how Lucy ignored them, knowing what she was doing was valuable and clearly appreciated. Great message. 🙂
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Thanks. ❤️ Though…I cut this one way down and clearly edited out the “ghosts” in my ghost story. 👻
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Yes, much more than “just” a library story. Gutsy your girl. Not so easy in high school to be true to yourself.
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Thanks, Jeanne. I have to go back and work on this one. 😊
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Really liked this, Sarah. I am soo over the cool, mean kids and really appreciate someone giving back. Great role model. xx Rowena
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I clearly revised this one too much! 😄 I cut out some crucial parts. But I’m glad everyone likes Lucy.
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I know what you mean about cutting bits out to reach the word limit. I checked it out on my husband one week and realised I’d done that.
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This was fantastic. Really enjoyed what you did with the prompt. Voice is clear and distinct; sense of place is magically evoked. Well done.
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Thanks. 😀
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Out of the box thinking shows, great write Sarah.
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Thank you!
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Lovely flash, Sarah. Story time is so important. I could be that eccentric older lady heading off to the library for story time each week. That would be just wonderful! One day perhaps. I love the way your story shows the importance of it to those who really matter.
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