Shhh! – Daniel 54

[For a quick guide go here: Quick guide.]

[There's some back story here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Daniel episodes maybe this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

Stuff it, thought Daniel on his way to pick up Daisy, we’ve been over a week out of complete and utter lockdown, there must be something new we can do.

Daniel’s determination to do something different was rooted in the idea that he wanted to show Daisy that things were getting better, getting easier, overall less dangerous. There was an element of anxiety in her – had been for a while now – and he suspected her staying with Chrissy, and staying in with Chrissy or just playing in their garden at most, had done nothing to reassure her that things were getting better.

However, doing something new was sort of difficult since all the distancing was still in place at school, so too were the masks at pick up time and the stilted, apologetic conversations with the other parents in the park on the way home. The ones where the adults maintained a respectful two metres from each other while the kids just did what the hell ever because they were in the same bubble at school so what difference would that make now? And besides, they were kids. It was another one of those situations where he guessed they hoped the virus respected age difference or the difference between fun play (not dangerous) and serious conversation (very dangerous).

Shops were open, thought Daniel, so masked up they could call in at a previously closed non-essential shop. Although he had to decide which non-essential shop they could reasonably go to. Toy shops were a nice idea, but he suspected they’d come away with some huge new toy that would take £20 out of his pocket before giving just half an hour’s airplay. Cafes were all well and good but he suspected he’d have to book ahead, and the local hardware store still didn’t really stock anything that would excite his small daughter. Or at least nothing that would excite her without worrying him.

Which is how he came to decide on the library.

“It’s a library,” he said to Daisy in hushed tones, “There are lots of books we can look at.”

“I know what a library is, silly,” said Daisy, in not so hushed tones. “We have one at school. But it’s not so big and a lot of the books are sticky.”

Her voice drew a few sharp ‘hush’ looks from the people in the building, but she drew some smiles too.

“We need to be a little bit quieter,” said Daniel, demonstrating his hushed voice – more for the people with the looks than Daisy, if he were honest.

“Why?” said Daisy suddenly. “Do the books not like it?”

“No, people are trying to read,” said Daniel.

“I can read,” said Daisy with pride. “I can read when it’s really noisy too. Like it is in my classroom sometimes. But that’s OK because I just read louder. Mrs Chistlehurst says I have a lovely reading voice. And it is a big voice too. She likes it most when it is big and impression.”

Daniel was wondering whether to cash in on the mis-speak and find out what impression his daughter did, but instead he tried again to get Daisy to hush. Maybe he wouldn’t take her over to the kids book corner after all, he wasn’t certain the other library users were ready for what might ensue. Indeed he was about to turn and leave when a friendly looking women looked up from behind a desk.

“Were you looking for any book in particular?” she asked in a straightforward normal sounding volume voice.

“I er...” began Daniel, looking around for someone he’d need to apologise to for the loudness of their conversation.

“I used to like unicorns but now I only like quiz shows and I don’t know if Rylan Clark-Neal has ever written a book but if he has I want that one,” said Daisy. “But my mum says I should try reading something French because I’m clever like that.”

Daniel stared at the librarian. The librarian didn’t miss a beat and headed towards the children’s section.

“Well, now,” she said, “If you don’t like unicorns maybe we can find some trolls who are funny?”

Daisy took Daniel by the hand and led him forwards.

“See,” said Daisy simply. “The books don’t care how loud you speak.”

They settled down with a range of books for Daisy to browse through and ponder over. The librarian told them to take their time and not to worry at all about the noise they made. Whatever they wanted to do was fine. 

“Thanks,” said Daniel. “Libraries weren’t like this in my day.”

“Not much is like it was in anyone’s day,” observed the librarian, “But you have a lovely daughter and she seems to be doing very well.”

Daniel tried to smile but found he couldn’t without his eyes stinging so he stopped and looked at the next book.