When the children walked through the door, Miss Dolly, the librarian, greeted them and said, "What's on your mind? What can I help you find?...Noodles and cheese, handy recipes, caliopes, chickens in the rain, castles in Spain, Curious George, Vulcan's forge, King Arthur's Court, an indoor sport, games by the score, Odin or Thor?...Maps, traps, stars, Mars, pirate's treasures, rules, and measures, ships and sails, puppy dog tales...nooks and crannies, crooks and nannies?...Shakespeare's rose, Pinocchio's nose, Santa Claus or toothy jaws? The choice is yours: I just open the doors," said Miss Dolly.
"Polite hosts, phantom ghosts, flowers, towers, elves, goblins, cops and robins, histories, mysteries, midnight rides, travel guides, Timbukto or Tippecanoe...clocks, chimes, nursery rhymes, Casey's bat, a Cheshire Cat, cows, cowpokes, riddles and jokes, tragic rings, magic wings, ladies fair, castles in air...What do you prefer, wild or mild?", she asked a child. He shrugged his shoulders.
"What's over here?", asked a little girl.
"Lion, a squirrel, Mark Twain, Ichabod Crane, leprechauns, fairies, dental caries", said Miss Dolly.
"What's that?", said the little girl.
"They rot your teeth," Miss Dolly answered.
"That's absurd. You don't have all those things", said the little boy with a sour look, as he picked up a book.
"Yes I do", said Miss Dolly with a smile. "You'll find them all if you stay awhile."
"What's over here?", said the little boy named Leroy.
"Dragon's fire, Apollo's lyre, musical notes, famous quotes, Twenty-One Balloons, cartoons, The Little Prince, helpful hints, Uncle Sam, Green Eggs and Ham..."
It was a jolly way to spend a day with Miss Dolly.
Story by Elissa Catherine Alter
copyright 1980
