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The Silent Library

By Martha M

The Silent Library by Martha M

Read by John Lightbody from the 大象传媒 Radio Drama Company.

Once there was a librarian, her name was Silent Susie. She was a very nice lady but there was one thing about her that was bad. She would never let ANYONE speak. This caused some problems in the library.

One day a girl came into the library. Her name was Laughing Lily. She was four years old and was very excited about books. She spent half an hour reading, nothing could distract her from the books when suddenly she needed to go to the toilet. She went up to the counter where Silent Susie stood.

Laughing Lily said, 'Excuse me.....'

SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Said the librarian.

'But....' said Laughing Lilly.

SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Said the librarian.

Laughing Lily tried again.

SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!! Said the librarian.

Laughing Lily gave up and ran out of the library to find a toilet. By the time she got back the library was closed. She was very sad and cross.

The next day Laughing Lily went back to the library. She chose a book and started reading but accidentally ripped one of the pages. She felt guilty and decided to tell the librarian. She went up to the counter.

'Excuse me' said Lily.

'SSSHHHHHHH' said the librarian.

She tried again. 'Excuse me'.

'SSSHHHHHHHHHHH' said the librarian.

Laughing Lily felt so bad she went home.

She wondered why the librarian was so quiet, maybe she needed cheering up with something. She decided to make the librarian a cake and take it with her the next day. She covered the top with icing sugar and a candle.

Laughing Lily arrived at the library and took the cake up to the counter, she lit the candle. By chance it was actually the librarian’s birthday. No one had made her a cake before. Her birthday was usually silent. She was so pleased, she couldn't believe it. With one big puff she blew out her candle. The icing sugar blew everywhere. The librarian stood in a cloud of icing sugar. She felt her nose twitch, suddenly out of nowhere came the biggest sneeze.

AIIITTTCCHHHOOOO!!!!!

The sneeze was so loud it made all the library books fall off all the shelves. Everyone who was in the library started laughing. The children started laughing, the mums started laughing and the dads started laughing, and the grannies and grandpas started laughing too. One of the grandpa's laughed so much his false teeth fell out! The librarian was furious. She went bright red.

The librarian didn't know what to do. All the books were on the floor and all the people were laughing. Without meaning to she started to giggle. She giggled and giggled and giggled and giggled. It felt so good. She decided making noises wasn't so bad after all. Later on, she put up a new sign on the library door. It said 'Please be quiet but not silent. It turns out giggling is good for you!'. And forever more people would come to the library to have a good read and a good giggle.

The End.

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