Alex – POV
Spring finally made its way back to Pelican Town. The grass was growing greener by the day, birds chirped obnoxiously early, and the air had that perfect not-too-hot, not-too-cold vibe that made it feel like the year was finally shaking off its seasonal depression. Honestly, so was I. Winter's a real downer for a guy like me—cold, quiet, and full of memories you'd rather not sit still with.
But today felt different.
Today I was going to the library.
Yeah, me. Alex. The guy who used to think libraries were just dusty buildings full of judgment and overdue fines. But things are different now. Penny—kind, brilliant, possibly too-patient-for-her-own-good Penny—has been helping me out with something kind of important.
I'm working toward getting my high school diploma. The real one. Not the quick-print, government-issue "Congrats, you can spell your name" GED I got after dropping out at fifteen. I mean, I'm still proud of that. Sort of. It got me where I needed to go. But I want more. I want something that no one can say was handed to me just because I could throw a ball 40 yards or squat a small car.
Still, I made Penny swear on a stack of dictionaries not to tell anyone. I've got my pride, after all. And nothing bruises a man's ego like having to sound out "existentialism" while the town gossips about your biceps.
After my morning workout—because let's be real, even Personal Growth Alex is still Gym Bro Alex—I headed down the dirt path to the library instead of my usual stop at the saloon or the river. Gunther was in his usual spot at the front desk, looking like the human version of a grandfather clock: unmoving, precise, and somehow still a little dusty.
He didn't even glance up. Just nodded and kept reading some ancient artifact catalog like he was guarding the Ark of the Covenant.
I stepped into the reading area, where Penny was at a table with Jaz and Vincent. Jaz had pigtails that looked like they could take flight in a stiff breeze, and Vincent was proudly holding a glitter-covered craft that looked like a bird exploded on construction paper.
"Hey, guys." I dropped my football on the floor beside me and plopped into the seat across from them.
Vincent squinted. "Why aren't you playing football?"
"Because even football stars need to learn how to spell." I grinned. Penny giggled softly, her eyes twinkling.
"School?" Jaz blinked at me, confused. "But... you're old."
Penny chuckled, graceful as ever. "Jaz, let's rephrase that. Maybe ask, 'Why do you want to go back to school?'"
"Yeah, what Ms. Penny said." Vincent nodded seriously, like he was her tiny apprentice.
"I just think you're never too old to learn something new," I replied. And for once, it didn't feel cheesy. It felt true.
Penny smiled—one of those smiles that made you feel like you just won a gold star and a cookie. "That's a great point."
She handed me a couple of books, including Of Mice and Men. I was honest with her about my reading struggles. I could read, sure. But half the time I skimmed, skipped, or made up my own endings when the words got too dense. Growing up, books didn't offer me much comfort. If football wasn't going to fix what was wrong in our house, nothing was. At least, that's what I used to believe.
Now I know that learning—really learning—is power. It's the one damn thing you can control in a world that throws everything else at you.
I left the library with a stack of books and a dictionary so fat it could double as a self-defense weapon.
On my way out, I nearly collided with Sam.
"Yo, Alex," he said, raising an eyebrow at the books in my arms like I was smuggling something illegal.
"What's that?" he asked, clearly trying not to laugh.
"Books," I said, like it was classified.
"Books? As in, words and pages?" he teased.
"I thought you were too macho for books," Sam grinned.
"I am too macho," I replied dryly. "That's the problem."
He chuckled. "Penny said she had a new student, but I didn't expect him to be so... uh, muscular."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't tell anyone about my new hobby. I've got a reputation."
Sam threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Who? Me? I've already forgotten."
I clapped him on the back with my free arm as I passed him. "Good man."
Later that Night
Back home, I cracked open Of Mice and Men, expecting five pages of torture before I could reward myself with a protein shake or something.
But... the next time I looked at the clock, an hour had flown by. The dictionary was open like a cheat code beside me. I'd looked up twelve words—maybe more. Some of them I still couldn't pronounce, but I understood them.
I closed the book and leaned back, feeling something I hadn't in a long time.
Pride.
Books weren't so bad. For an hour, I'd escaped into someone else's story—and didn't have to wrestle with my own.
I left the books on my bed and wandered into the kitchen, where Dr. Harvey was doing George's monthly checkup.
"All right, deep breath in... and out," Harvey said.
"I know how to breathe, dammit," George snapped.
I laughed from the hallway. Classic George. The dude would fight a bear if it told him what to do.
Seeing Harvey reminded me of Hannah. It was spring now, and I still hadn't seen her since early winter. It's weird. The town feels almost normal again, but it's like there's this empty seat at the table no one's talking about.
She's not here. And even if I don't want to revolve around her anymore... it doesn't mean I don't notice the silence she left behind.
But for now, I've got other pages to turn
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZivBghEOf
