Mallory read the letter twice before crumpling it up in disgust.
“Everything okay?” Dan asked. “You seem upset.”
She motioned for him to enter and have a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“It’s a letter from the president of Moms for a Wholesome America. Lacey Pritchard is demanding that we remove this list of books from our shelves. Apparently, the school board has agreed to remove them from classrooms and school libraries. It says the local library has moved them to a special shelf underneath the circulation desk.”
She uncrumpled the paper and slid it across the desk.
Dan scanned the list and laughed. “Whoever wrote this is insane. This is your bookstore. You have the right to display and sell any book you want.”
“The school board meeting isn’t until Thursday night. They must be pretty confident they have the votes to send this out.”
“Or pretty desperate to threaten a boycott and a demonstration outside the store. I hope I’m working if they show up. It’ll be my day to hose down the sidewalk out front. Let’s see how these ‘moms’ enjoy soggy shoes.”
Mallory smiled at the image of women in fancy shoes scrambling to keep them from getting wet. “I wish it were that easy. I can’t afford some protracted legal battle where they play the victim and defend their rights to tell me what I can and can’t do in my own store. The organization has deep pockets. I called around, and we’re not the only bookstore they’ve targeted.”
“We’re not doing this, are we?”
“No, we’re not, but two bookstores in the county have decided to comply. It’s ten books today, and it will be fifteen the month after that. It won’t stop. Clancy, Pennsylvania isn’t the hot spot of independence it once was.”
Dan looked around the office. “Maybe it needs a gentle reminder. Didn’t one of your ancestors sign the Declaration of Independence or something?”
“Two hundred and fifty years ago.” She said. “I think my family exhausted that claim to fame.”
“I have to get back out front, so Linda can have her break. The school board meeting hasn’t happened yet. Call those other bookstore owners and the local librarian. Miracles can happen in two days.” Dan patted her on the shoulder.
Mallory watched him go back out front. She read the letter and the list again.
The Diary of a Young Girl
Two Boys Kissing
Nineteen Eighty-Four
The Handmaid’s Tale
Captain Underpants
Juno
Harry Potter
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Bluest Eye
The Color Purple.
“Nope,” she said aloud. “Not on my watch.” Mallory picked up the phone and began making calls.