by Nancy Julien Kopp
Wilhemina Higgins’ long braids bounced as she ran down the narrow tunnel the bookshelves made in the Westlake Public Library. Her untied shoelaces slapped against well-worn sneakers. Past the Js, Ks, and Ls she flew, slowing only slightly as she rounded the corner.
Her heart thumped when she spied the dragon waiting at the end of the row of shelves. She screeched to a sudden stop.
At first it was silent then the monster snorted a little, lifted its huge head, took a gigantic breath inward and fell silent again.
Wilhemina swallowed and took one step back. Before she could turn and retrace her path, the enormous dragon reared back on its hind legs, threw its massive head backward, and breathed out with a whoosh! Smoke curled from its nostrils, and flames poured forth from the great mouth. The dragon clawed the air and flapped magnificent wings. The green and purple scales that covered the beast from head to toe gleamed under the library lights. Its amber eyes glinted like cut crystal.
“Wilhemina Higgins!” the dragon shouted. “How many times have you been told there is no running in the library?”
“Do you mean today, Miss Philpot?” Wilhemina looked right into the dragon’s eyes. “Or did you mean all week?”
“You know the rules,” the librarian said. “Why do you come here, if not to read?” Miss Philpot breathed heavily, as she opened and closed her claws.
Wilhemina feared she might start snorting and breathing fire again at any minute, but her voice was as firm as Miss Philpot’s. “My mother doesn’t get home from work until 5 o’clock. She says the library is a safe place for me to stay after school.”
The dragon pulled her sweater close around her shoulders. “If you cannot follow the rules, you must go outside.”
“It’s cold as a bowl of ice cream out there, and it’s going to rain, too.” Wilhemina answered.
“Then go sit on the steps.”
“The steps are hard as rocks.”
“You could stay at school,” Miss Philpot answered, barely moving her lips as she spoke.
“There’s no one there,” Wilhemina answered back in the same way, lips scarcely moving.
“Then you must study.” Miss Philpot’s eyes flashed, and her hands turned claw-like once more.
“I’ve studied all day,” Wilhemina told her. She folded her arms and spread her feet apart, ready for battle.
The dragon hissed and narrowed its eyes. “Don’t be insolent.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Wilhemina said.
“Then go look it up!” Miss Philpot cried as she turned away and moved rapidly to her desk.
Wilhemina felt a tug on her shirt tail. “What do you want?”
Eyes wide, the culprit looked up at Wilhemina. “Is she mad at you?”
Wilhemina sighed. “Every day. So, what’s your problem, Lucy Ann?”
“I’m bored.”
“Then go read a book.” Wilhemina thought her answer sounded a great deal like Miss Philpot.
“Can’t read yet,” Lucy Ann replied. She pushed her bottom lip over the top one and stared at Wilhemina.
“Oh go away and leave me alone,” Wilhemina said. She walked quickly along the line of shelves ignoring the brightly colored book jackets she passed. She stopped at the tall library windows where rain beat against the panes and thunder made them rattle. She put her elbows on the windowsill, curled her hands around her cheeks, and watched the wind bend the tree branches outside.
There was another tug on her shirt. Without looking around, she said, “What do you want now, Lucy Ann?”
“Read this to me,” Lucy Ann said, holding up a large picture book.
Whilhemina accepted the book Lucy Ann held out. “Why not?”
They marched past the dragon’s desk. Miss Philpot watched silently, but Wilhemina thought she could see tiny wisps of smoke curling from under her nose.
The two girls sat at a round table, and Wilhemina read aloud in a quiet voice, wriggling on her chair as she turned the pages.
“You can do better than that, Wilhemina.” She scowled. “You sound dull.”
There was a moment of silence. Then Wilhemina said, “You’re right!” She sat up straighter, flipped back to page one, and read with more feeling. She used a different voice for each character in the story. Halfway through, she noticed three more listeners around the table.
“Go on,” one of them said when she stopped reading.
Wilhemina laughed and continued reading the story and showing the pictures to the younger children.
From the corner of her eye, she spied a fluffy, long-haired cat. Its amber eyes surveyed the group at the table as it danced about on dainty paws. The cat purred deep in its throat.
When Wilhemina closed the book, the cat purred again said, “Wilhemina Higgins, you read that book most wonderfully well. Perhaps you could start an after-school story club. What do you think?”
“I think I would like that very much, Miss Philpot.” Wilhemina reached out to shake the paw the librarian offered her.
the end.
Question Time
1. Why was the dragon upset with Wilhemina?
2. Why was Wilhemina in the library?
3. What did the little girl ask Wilhemina to do?
4. Who was the dragon and the cat?
