Chapter 2

Pondering the keys in her hands, the library manager’s yellow-green eyes glistened from the light passing through the window. The sunlight seemed to make her eyes glow. So deep in thought on the depth of the meaning of the keys in her hands and mentally traveling back in time, she felt as if for a moment she was floating in that in-between space in time. 

The sound of approaching feet and laughter brought her back to the present moment. 

Alainna looked up and smiled at Darcy as she sauntered into the office with a sly grin. Darcy was always ready with a quirky story or quip. She always found humor in every situation.

‘Evan is at it again!’ Darcy gleamed.

‘He just couldn’t take it anymore,’ she continued. Darcy is the storyteller. She has a way of weaving tales from the most mundane of events. She will draw you into her tales and have you engaged and laughing with her quick wit and often wicked sense of humor.

Evan is the conversationalist. He has notions and opinions about everything. One of the things that draws his attention most, however, is when the young visitors begin to get disruptive and unruly. Like radar, he’s marked the one who needs either the scolding, the lecture, or both. In the end, all of the young ones receive a bit of his lecture. Evan has the biggest heart of all but would deny it immediately. 

The combination of Darcy and Evan whip up several opportunities for both amusement and creativity. Within both, they have the ability to fashion from simple objects enough adornment for the whole of the library causing visitors to wander about with a smile on their faces. Evan usually had the majority of the ideas and Darcy had the right skills to bring them about.

Alainna’s eyes darted over to the far corner of the library to see the animated, lanky figure of Evan over his prey. The three visitors frequented the library and seemed to have aimless pursuits and to be content with their current state. Evan knew more and could see their potential. It was as if he saw the flicker of a flame within them and would do all he could literally and physically to fan the embers of that flame.

‘Do you think he’ll make a difference today,’ Alainna inquired.

‘He gets all the points just for trying,’ Darcy returned tilting her head sideways and leaned in toward Alainna.

‘This reminds me of the time when…’ Darcy launched into a story with her own style of animation and gaiety that drew delightful tears to the eyes of Alainna. At these moments her eyes appeared to be as green as the deep oceans. Her eyes were her power and her strength. Through her eyes, she could see both the present and beyond. She could see what was important for the moment. Those moments all knew something was about to happen as she would tilt her head slightly downward, rise to her fullest height, which wasn’t all that much, to begin with, square her shoulders and stride toward the person, the place and the moment of her purpose. 

Alainna thoroughly enjoyed the company of her team. To the small world around them, they were simply the staff who met the needs of the visitors and who maintained the order of the library’s state and collection. But they were more, much more. These individuals each possessed gifts, knowledge, and skills that were integral to their purpose. This small cadre of companions is more than what they appear to be. They are guardians of the library. They possess the necessary elements passed down from the very beginning of the first moment of the first day of the first group assembled ages ago.

The Team, Alainna always thought of the members of the staff at the library as a team. Each member held their own magic, their own skill which each in their part was necessary for the whole of the group. Each though very different is a vital part of the success of the mission of the library to this small growing community.

Like a storybook patchwork quilt, each square being different was a part of the beauty of the whole. 

Although each member of the team exercised their various skills and talents differently, each one willingly did each day those things that had become a part of their daily routine. They would willingly do all to ensure the flame of the magic of the whole of the library would function seamlessly and seemingly without much effort.

The library is the heart of this new and growing community. It is the lifeblood and the center of all activity. The library holds vital information about the community and volumes of books filled with all the knowledge one would need to continue to grow and to build the community. 

The Guardians knew most of the secrets and magic. What the guardians knew they knew of their full meaning and knew their mission. So each day they would come to open the doors to the library and to welcome all who came. Each day they would do their part to ensure the vision and the promise of the travelers from time past. 

Alainna saw all of this. She saw this with her eyes, heart, and mind. She felt the sense of duty in each and felt their joys, frustrations, and their determination. Although Alainna held the keys to the most important and most sacred of information hidden and protected at the library. It was her eyes and heart that were the real keys. The physical keys were an extension of the magic that was within Alainna.

As Evan sauntered through the office door the phone rang. It was Dara. Dara is the kindest of them all. This is the heart of her magic. She has a way of befriending all and welcoming all no matter what. As Alainna picked up the phone and said, ‘Hello Dara, how can I help you’...Evan smiled and waved pivoting back out of the office and back into the fray of the activity in the library. 

The truest meaning of the words friendliness, kindness, and helpfulness have their foundation in the heart of Dara. She is one of the originals. She has the longest history at the library and carries on her part with a sense of ease and competence.

“Alainna, I have a question,” Dara began. Alainna smiled. Dara always paid attention to the details and would always ask questions. Sometimes she knew the answer and simply wanted to have it confirmed. As if the answer to the question was something physical and tangible. 

“Sure, what is it, Dara,” Alainna replied.

“I’m reading this document from the treasury room. I’m wondering about this statement on the foundation of the first building…” Dara continued.

Alainna knew what she was wondering about and considered her reply as she continued to listen to Dara.

“Why don’t we discuss this further when you’re here,” Alainna offered. She knew there was more and knew this question was bound to come up. She wasn’t surprised that it would be Dara to discover this and seek answers.

Just what answers Alainna would give Dara. She wasn’t sure. Timing is everything and she knew that now was not the right time to open doors to information that could change so many things. Things had to happen in a certain order and this was just not that time.

Alainna knew this was coming. She felt it. As she hung up the phone she once again held the keys in her hands and looked off into the distance. She knew that whatever answer she gave Dara, that Dara would accept and would go on about her duties and continue to spread her particular magic. She also knew that Dara’s inquisitive nature would bring this subject right back around, perhaps from a different perspective. Dara always wanted to know the truth and just what it meant. 

With a sigh, Alainna stepped outside of her office and smiled at the patron entering the door. This one is one of the community’s sweethearts. This one has a gentle manner and love for everyone. The conversation with Dara and perhaps the others would be for another day. 

Today, Alainna would continue to oversee the workings of the library. She’d slightly listen to the banter between Evan and Darcy. She would walk around and speak to all who entered the library. She would walk among the books and listen to their conversations...the hushed whispered voices of so many stories to be shared. Today, Alainna would enjoy the brightness of the day and wait. 

As she wandered among the books she held the charm that held the keys on the chain around her neck.

The charm was in the shape of a dragonfly. The dragonfly symbolizes Alainna and her nature. The ancients had given special gifts to certain ones to be passed down from generation to generation. The dragonfly became the symbol of those who held special wisdom, light, and adaptability. These people were gifted to the community to bring to light and to remind them of the need for joy and lightness in life. 

This wisdom and lightness also bring about a sense of peace and contentment to the community. This Alainna knows this sense of peace and contentment is vital and important to any group, community, or team. To continue and to maintain their daily work that is so necessary to the heartbeat of the library. So she continued to wander through the books thinking through the conversation that was still yet to be had. 

‘Tomorrow’, she said aloud. To herself and to the books. The whole room seemed to expand and contract as she exhaled once more with a sigh then joined the companionable two at the other end of the room smiling as she approached them.