Page 239 - The Midnight Library

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Yes, she was different now. She was stronger. She had untapped things

inside her. ings she might never have known about if she’d never sung in
an arena or fought off a polar bear or felt so much love and fear and courage.
ere was a commotion outside Boots. Two boys were being arrested by
police officers as a nearby store detective spoke into a walkie-talkie.

She recognised one of the boys and went up to him.
‘Leo?’
A police officer motioned for her to back away.
‘Who are you?’ Leo asked.

‘I—’ Nora realised she couldn’t say ‘your piano teacher’. And she realised
how mad it was, given the fraught context, to say what she was about to say.
But still, she said it. ‘Do you have music lessons?’
Leo looked down as the handcuffs were put on him. ‘I ain’t done no music

lessons . . .’
His voice had lost its bravado.
e police officer was frustrated now. ‘Please, miss, leave this to us.’
‘He’s a good kid,’ Nora told him. ‘Please don’t be too hard on him.’

‘Well, this good kid just stole two hundred quid’s worth from there. And
has also just been found to be in possession of a concealed weapon.’
‘Weapon?’
‘A knife.’

‘No. ere must be some mix-up. He’s not that sort of kid.’
‘Hear that,’ the police officer said to his colleague. ‘Lady here thinks our
friend Leo ompson isn’t the kind of kid to get into trouble.’
e other police officer laughed. ‘He’s always in and out of bother, this

one.’
‘Now, please,’ the first police officer said, ‘let us do our jobs here . . .’
‘Of course,’ said Nora, ‘of course. Do ever ything they say, Leo . . .’
He looked at her as if she’d been sent as a practical joke.

A few years ago his mum Doreen had come into String eor y to buy her
son a cheap keyboard. She’d been worried about his behaviour at school and
he’d expressed an interest in music and so she wanted to get him piano
lessons. Nora explained she had an electric piano, and could play, but had no

formal teacher training. Doreen had explained she didn’t have much money
but they struck a deal, and Nora had enjoyed her Tuesday evenings teaching