"What people need is a third space," suggested Melanie.

"What do you mean?" her best friend, Annette, asked.

"Working, responsible adults like us need to get out. We're stuck between two spaces. We go to work, and we come home. We go to work, and we come home. It's an endless, boring cycle, especially for those of us who are introverted, quiet, and reluctant to get off the couch and leave the house. We need a third space, somewhere other than work and home."

"I see what you mean," agreed Annette. "And for some of us, like me, who work from home, it's even more depressing."

"Exactly! People need to get out of their rut. And now that the pandemic is a thing of the past, it's time to rip off the mask and get out."

"So what do you propose to do?" asked Annette.

"Well, I like to read. You love to read. And I have a couple of friends who also enjoy a good book now and then. I think we should start a book club. Maybe we could use one of the rooms in the public library. I'll give them a call in the morning."

And so was the birth of the Quiet Book Club, where people got together to read books. After an hour of silent reading, there might be a brief but quiet discussion for no longer than a half hour before everyone went their separate ways.

After the first meeting or two, more people began to show up. The original group of six people invited their friends and relatives. A small social crowd soon developed. People became chatty. A few still tried to read their books, but all the others talking around them became a distraction. It was too annoying. When the library director told the group to keep the noise down, Melanie knew she had to find another space to accommodate the crowd.

And what a crowd it was! After a local newspaper published an article about the club, about fifty people, mostly newcomers, attended the next meeting.

"Wow!" exclaimed Melanie to Annette. "It's a good thing we arranged to have our meetings here at the brewery."

"What a great idea! The place has plenty of room, draft beer, drinks, and even pizza! It's good business for the brewery and great for the club!"

"Yes, but..."

"No, no buts. There's no buts. Please, no buts... But what?"

"Well, I hope we didn't go off on a tangent here. I mean, we started out as a quiet little group who liked to sit and read. And now people don't even bother to bring a book to the gathering."

"Yeah, I think you may have a point. The only thing I see people reading is the drinks menu," said Annette as she discreetly tilted her head in the direction of the table next to them.

Just then, a handsome gentleman approached the two women. "Have either of you young ladies read any good books lately?"

Story and Cover Illustration Copyright © 2024 by Michael DeFrancesco