Are You Afraid Of The Dark   ::   Sheldon Sidney

One day she said, "It's nice to see a young person enjoying reading so much. You spend a lot of time here." It was the opening gambit of a friendship. As the weeks went by, Kelly poured out her fears and hopes and dreams to the librarian.

"What would you like to do with your life, Kelly?" "Be a teacher." "I think you'd make a wonderful teacher. That's the most rewarding profession in the world." Kelly started to speak, then stopped. She was remembering a breakfast conversation with her mother and stepfather a week earlier. Kelly had said, I need to go to college. I want to be a teacher.

A teacher? Berke had laughed. That's a dumb-ass idea. Teachers make zip. Do you hear me? Zip.

You can make more sweeping floors. Anyway, your old lady and I don't have money to send you to college.

But I've been offered a scholarship andSo what? You'll spend four years wasting your time. Forget it. With your looks, you could probably peddle your ass.

Kelly had left the table.

Now she said to Mrs. Houston, "There's a problem. They won't let me go to college." Her voice was choked. "I'll spend the rest of my life doing what I'm doing!" "Of course you won't." Mrs. Houston's tone was firm. "How old are you?" "In three months I'll be eighteen." "You'll soon be old enough to make your own decisions. You're a beautiful young woman, Kelly.

Do you know that?" "No. Not really." How can I tell her that I feel like a freak? I don't feel beautiful. "I hate my life, Mrs. Houston. I don't want to be like— I want to get away from this town. I want something different, and I'll never have it." She was trying hard to control her emotions.

"I'll never have a chance to do something, to be somebody." "Kelly-" "I never should have read all those books." Her voice was bitter.

"Why?" "Because they're filled with lies. All those beautiful people and glamorous places and magic…" Kelly shook her head. "There is no magic." Mrs. Houston studied her a moment. It was obvious that Kelly's sense of self-worth had been badly damaged. "Kelly, there is magic, but you have to be the magician. You have to make the magic happen." 'Really?" Kelly's tone was cynical. "How do I do that?" 'First, you have to know what your dreams are. Yours are to have an exciting life, filled with interesting people and glamorous places. The next time you come in here, I'll show you how to make your dreams come true." Liar.

* * *



THE WEEK AFTER Kelly graduated, she returned to the library. Mrs. Houston said,

"Kelly, do you remember what I said about making your own magic?" Kelly said skeptically, "Yes." Mrs.