when he got to town, joe found the library without any problem, and walked up its broad steps and went inside.
there were three desks just inside the front door. they were occupied by the fattest woman joe had ever seen, the skinniest woman he had ever seen, and the most ordinary looking woman he had ever seen.
there were no signs or name tags on any of the desks, not that joe could have read them.
he decided to approach the ordinary looking woman.
hello, joe addressed her.
hello, young man, what can i do for you?
i want to learn how to read.
don’t you go to school?
no.
why not? they could teach you to read. and a few other things besides.
i don’t want to.
why not?
they will not teach me what i need or what i want to know,
well, that is a pretty good answer, and one i do not hear every day, the ordinary looking woman laughed. what is your name, by the way?
my name is not by the way, it is joe.
do you have a last name?
no.
your last name is no, or, no , you do not have a last name?
my name is joe.
all right, joe it is.
not joe it is, joe.
got it, and you want to learn to read?
yes.
well, we have two options. you can enroll in the weekly reading class, which convenes every tuesday here at ten in the morning. it is frequented mostly by smelly old bums, many of whom like to talk a lot and interrupt and argue with the teacher, and some of whom might want to take you home and barbecue you.
what is the other option? joe asked.
i can give you a little book that you might be able to teach yourself with.
i will try that.
the woman reached under her desk and produced a little book.
the book had no lettering on its cover. the cover did have a picture of a cat, a bear, and a dog, all three of whom were looking up at a tree with a bright red apple on it.
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