By now Kenta and Moira had worked in the greenhouse for an hour and Moira’s stomach began to rumble. Kenta laughed and said that they could call it a day because they had done everything that needed to be done, anyway. He wanted to treat Moira to eat sandwiches at the arboretum’s bistro, but since Moira brought lunch they found a gazebo and had a picnic.

Aunt Zoe had packed chicken fried rice and apple juice, with apricots and chocolate pudding for desserts. Kenta seemed to savor his share of the apricots, which was good since Moira was not a fan of apricots, so Kenta also took hers. After eating, Moira asked Kenta about the other job he mentioned yesterday, the one at the local library.

“Oh yeah, that job. I talked with the library’s owner last night after you went home and she said her daughter would show you the rope. I can drop you off at the library if you like and then come pick you up, except if you want to go back to my apartment first and get your bike so that you can go to the library yourself if you prefer,” said Kenta. Moira said that Kenta had been very kind but she needed more exercise, so she would just go to the library on her own.

The library was a tiny building attached to an elementary school. Moira had to go cross a playground to reach the library’s entrance. Once inside, she went to the front desk, where a girl on a wheelchair was busy typing on a computer. Moira cleared her throat and the girl stopped typing, frowning at Moira for breaking the number one rule of libraries: no making noises.

“You could have just tap my shoulder or something, you know. What do you want?” the girl glared at Moira, who gulped and stared at her shoes because she felt uneasy. “Answer me!”

Moira was startled and looked up at the impatient girl. “Uh, I’m Moira. I’m starting an apprenticeship with the head librarian and has been told to look for her daughter.”

“That’s me! My name is Vannie. My mom and dad are taking the day off so you would be my responsibility. So, why do you need to be our new apprentice? You don’t seem like a bookworm.” Vannie surveyed Moira, making the teenager even tenser.

“I am going to apply for a scholarship to become a research assistant for Dr. Lee Kinoya, he is a professor at Blue Orchid University. I need to secure some letters of recommendation, hence why I need a few jobs and being a librarian in training would be one of several.”

“No kidding? I am going to Blue Orchid this spring semester too! We might end up being classmates!” Vannie’s voice suddenly turned cheerier. “Oh, I’m so happy that I would have a familiar face around when I finally get to campus! So, about the apprenticeship with my family. Your main duty would be to read book to the elementary school kids who stay after school for an enrichment program. Today is a weekend, so of course school is not in session, but tomorrow you can hang out with cute kids! I hope you don’t hate kids.”

“No, I don’t hate kids, I think some can be very adorable. I mean, we used to be kids ourselves. So, could you show me what kind of books the elementary school kids are into?”

Vannie walked Moira to a section of the library that was full of bean bag chairs and giant stuffed animals. She pulled out a book and hand it to Moira. It was a pop-up book. Then Vannie motioned for Moira to sit down and she left her alone for a moment, returning with two sock puppets shaped like a puppy and a kitten.

“This is an anthology, so it has a lot of different stories. My favorite is the one about two little kids who don’t get along because they have different interests, but one day their teacher tell them a story of a puppy that grew up with a kitten and the fighting kids learn that if different animals can be friends then they too can set aside their differences. I think this book has a good message. Why don’t you take it home for now and read it yourself? You can also take the puppets home and practice some animal sounds. I will also e-mail you some tips on how to read story to young readers,” Vannie said. “The actual story you will read to the children might not be the one I mentioned but I’m sure you’ll do fine either way,” she added.

“You want me to take the book home? That’s great! Thank you so much. Until tomorrow, then!”

With a new book in her backpack and sock puppets in her pockets, Moira rode her bike home. She was on cloud nine because she now knew that Vannie wasn’t as standoffish as she had feared. Moira couldn’t wait to tell Neesa all about Vannie!