The Book She Chose for Everyone
Chapter 1The Good Recommendation
At the class book table, Faigy held up The Little Garden Gate.
She loved its long descriptions of flowers. She had read the last chapter twice.
"You'll like this," she told Esty.
Esty looked at the cover.
"I'm looking for a book with short riddles."
Faigy waved the garden book gently.
"But this one is really good."
She placed it beside Esty's empty borrowing slip.
Chapter 2The Closed Cover
Esty opened the book, read a page, and closed it.
"Not this time."
Faigy felt as if Esty had shut a door on her favorite garden.
"You hardly tried it."
"I want riddles today."
Faigy began describing her favorite chapter. Esty glanced toward the other books.
The more Faigy talked, the less time Esty had to find the kind she wanted before the teacher checked the slips.
Chapter 3The Actual Reader
Mrs. Adler, whose hair was covered by a dark tichel, came to the table.
Faigy told her the garden story was the best book there.
"Best for which reader?" Mrs. Adler asked.
Faigy looked at Esty.
She had known what she herself enjoyed. Esty had said what she wanted, and Faigy had talked over it twice.
"You're looking for short riddles," Faigy said.
Esty nodded.
"Something I can finish one bit at a time."
Chapter 4A Different Cover
Faigy asked whether Esty wanted help looking.
"Yes, if you see a riddle book."
They checked the teacher-approved table. Faigy returned the garden story to its place instead of keeping it under Esty's slip.
Esty found a slim book with a question on each page and answers at the back.
Mrs. Adler checked that it was suitable and available for borrowing.
Faigy looked at one riddle with Esty's permission.
It asked about something with teeth that could not chew.
Chapter 5Teeth Without Lunch
"A comb," Faigy guessed.
Esty checked the answer.
"Right."
They laughed at Faigy's quick drawing of a comb looking hopefully at a sandwich.
Esty filled out her borrowing slip for the riddle book. Faigy chose the garden story for her own reading time.
"I kept trying to give you my favorite instead of listening," Faigy said.
"You can still tell me why you like it," Esty answered. "I just don't want to borrow it today."
Chapter 6Two Slips
The teacher checked both slips.
Faigy told Esty one small detail about the garden gate: it squeaked whenever the rabbit tried to sneak through.
Esty smiled, then read her next riddle.
The garden book had not become bad. The riddle book had not become best for everyone.
Two readers carried two different books back to their desks. Faigy opened to the chapter she loved without needing Esty to open the same page.
