Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Brave Soldier ❯ Book Van ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three: Book Van:

Summer 1997

“Toshiki-kun, look!”

“Huh?” I turned my head. My jaw dropped. There was a light blue van parked in the entrance to the park. A sign stood next to it. I could see all the way through the open back. Yumi, just as stunned as I was, walked over for a closer look. I had to follow behind.

“Whoa!” I said. So many books back there. This van looked like someone took a part of a library and shoved it back here. Two black mats covered the checkered floor.

“What is this?” Yumi asked. I looked down the van up and down.

“I don't know,” I said. “Some sort of a book van or something.” Yumi walked closer and stuck her head inside.

“No, don't!” I said. I tried to reach out and grab her arm. She slipped out of my grasp. Yumi looked like an excited little child looking around. It was funny. She talked about wanting to see one of these vans in real life.

Spring 1989

“I always wanted to own a mobile library.”

“Huh?”

“A mobile library.”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time. That was just kind of random.”

She rested her head on my chest. I looked down at her.

“Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why do you want a mobile library?”

“I don't know. I like the idea.”

“Right…”

“I'm serious. Think of how cool that would be. I could just drive around the city and let people come and check out a book from the back.”

“Is that safe?”

“Of course. Why wouldn't it be?”

I shrugged. “I don't know. Maybe someone could accuse you of trying to abduct a child or something.”

“It wouldn't be just for children. Adults could enjoy it too. I could just drive around in the summer and just let them come to me in the park for a good book.”

“But would that even work?”

“I don't know. I won't know unless I try.”

Summer 1997

“Excuse me,” someone spoke up. I looked up and Yumi backed out of the van. A man in his forties stood by the passenger door of the van. He was dressed like a farmer in blue jeans and a red and brown plaid shirt. I could tell that he didn't have time to take care of his wild beard.

“Oh. Is this your van? We're so sorry,” I said. The man broke into a smile. Said smile on his rosy face made him look like a jolly grandpa.

“Oh no, it's fine,” he said.

“Is this a mobile library?” Yumi asked.

“Why yes,” the man said. He bowed.

“My name is Ito,” he said. “It's nice to meet you.”

“I'm Yumi!” she said. “This is my fianc�, Toshiki.”

“Hi,” I said with a little wave. Ito whistled aloud.

“Well, I'll be!” he said. He turned out to be a cool older guy. The three of us sat on a park bench, talking.

“How long have you been doing this?” Yumi asked.

“Oh…” Ito tried to count up in his head. “I think I started this around 1970.”

“Wow!” I said.

“So is this what you do all summer?” she asked.

“Absolutely.” He sounded so proud when he said that. I kind of envied the guy in a way. He took simple joy in just sharing books with the public for anyone who wanted to read.

“Aren't you worried about books getting damaged?” Yumi asked. “Or lost or stolen?” Three little boys walked up to the van for a look. Ito threw back his head and laughed.

“No, darling,” he said. “Some people come by and donate old books.”

“Just like that?” I asked.

“Yep. Just like that.” The old man shrugged. “Better than seeing them get thrown away, I suppose.”

“How many books do you get a day?” Yumi asked. Ito had to count up in his head again.

“It's hard to say, to be honest,” he admitted. “So many books come and go every day.”

“What made you want to do this?” I asked. Ito leaned back on the bench and chuckled to himself.

“I got tired of doing nothing around my house,” he said.

“Huh?”

“How much time do the both of you have?”

Yumi and I looked at each other for a moment. It was she who answered for the both of us.

“We've got time,” Yumi said. Ito smiled before he told us about how he went from being retired and widowed to making his way to the city every summer to be a mobile library. Yumi was spellbound by each word. I'm not sure why, but it felt nice to hear his story. I think Ito-san was just happy to have someone to talk to for a day.

Frankly, I could relate.