Come to the library and listen to home-brewers from the Greater Topeka Hall of Foamers, a local brewing club, as they discuss different aspects of home-brewing. In April we listened as they presented a basic session on how to get started. Plan attending every third Thursday through July to hear about other advanced brewing topics 7-8:30PM in Marvin Auditorium. Come to the presentations even if you are a beginner because as one of the experts said last night you will learn more by connecting with others and learning from each other’s experiences.

Let’s Make Beer: All Grain Brewing
June 20, 2013 7-8:30PM Marvin Auditorium 101B
Combine cooking and crafting by learning how to make your own beer at home as home-brewers discuss the advanced all-grain brewing technique.

Let’s Make Beer: Mead and Beyond
July 18, 2013 7-8:30PM Marvin Auditorium 101C
Combine cooking and crafting to express your individuality and create your own special beers at home. A home-brewer discusses how to create advanced creations, such as meads.

What is your favorite style of beer? Let me know below! In the meantime, find these books at the library to enjoy and expand your experience in the Cooking Neighborhood.

image source

Thad Hartman and Lissa Staley host a roundtable discussion with our guests around an engaging and interesting topic — Great Summer Reads!

Listen now, download the mp3, or subscribe to “Hush: a podcast from your library” through iTunes.

Great Summer Reads

Our guests this episode include Kathy Jennings, Stephanie Hall, Kelli Smith, Brian Adams and Cadie Maas to share their recommendations for great summer reads.

Books mentioned

Check out these great books and more from http://catalog.tscpl.org

• Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
• Paris by Edward Rutherford
• Mary Coin by Marisa Silver
• Bright Forever by Lee Martin
• Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore
• Pulp Detective Fiction like the Hard Case Crime series
• Downloading audiobooks from the library’s Overdrive service http://ebooks.tscpl.org
• Corralled by Lorelei James # 1 in the Blacktop Cowboys series
• Saddled and Spurred by Lorelei James #2 in the Blacktop Cowboys series
• Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy # 1 in the Fast Track Series
• Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy # 2 in the Fast Track Series
• Audiobooks by Rachel Gibson
• The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

 Your turn to talk

If you have questions, comments or suggestions for future topics please comment on our blog post or send us an email at podcast@tscpl.org.

• a commitment to excellent customer service and experience working with a diverse community
• the ability to effectively communicate with others
• a sincere interest in current information and communication technologies like social networking websites and making connections with our customers online
• the desire to promote the services and collections of our library to the community.

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is a library committed to doing what matters most to our community, connecting our citizens with the information they want and need to live more enriched and informed lives.

SCHEDULE: Half time position. Evening & weekend hours are required.

PAY AND BENEFITS:   $15.35 per hour.  Excellent benefits available, including BCBS health/dental, retirement plan (KPERS), sick and vacation leave, group life insurance and long-term disability coverage. Other optional benefits available at employee’s expense include life and cancer insurance and a deferred compensation plan.

DUTIES:  Provide information and materials to the public including assistance in locating library materials, information, and use of equipment throughout the Public Service areas and at outreach locations throughout the community. Exhibit knowledge of the reference collections, including print and electronic resources, and keep up on the scope and trends of all library collections in order to meet the needs of customers.  Demonstrate proficiency using latest information and communication technologies. Remain aware of the needs of the public in terms of recommendations to the maintenance and development of the collections including shelf-reading and straightening collections routinely.

REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; good organizational and problem-solving skills; ability to perform detailed work with accuracy. Prefer previous Library experience, experience with team building; knowledge of collection development principles and practices; excellent reference skills and a strong public service orientation. Excellent computer skills with software applications in use on staff and public computers, computer/printer troubleshooting, and Internet searching techniques; ability to maintain positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so one gets along with and work cooperatively with patrons, volunteers, community partners, colleagues and supervisors.  This medium work position requires bending, lifting/carrying at least 20 pounds, ability to exert 20-50 pounds of force when pushing/pulling materials, reaching, and the ability to climb stairs, talking on the telephone, basic computer knowledge and stationary work at a computer terminal.  A pre-and/or post-employment drug screen, a criminal history record check, and physical capacity testing are required as a condition of employment.

CLOSING DATE: Applications accepted through Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

To apply:  Follow the instructions in the column to the right.

Read SpeakEasy Chapter 6 by A. M. Coffee and BlackRose or learn more about the Community Novel Project

An Interview with A. M. Coffee

A. M. Coffee

Why did you want to participate in the Community Novel Project?

I so enjoyed the opportunity to participate in such a project with my fellow NaNoWriMoers for the first time in 2012. After working with them for so many years on our own individual novels every November, I felt it would be a great experience to put our heads together once again and create a new world of imaginative writing in unity. It was great to see how one author could elaborate on the previous chapters of other authors and write from their mind-field of imagination to bring about a completed novel.

 What do you like about the premise and characters of this year’s Community Novel Project Speak Easy? What challenges you about them?

Actually when I first received the premise I snarled because of the unknown about Speakeasies and the Prohibition era but after researching (abundantly) I found it to be more interesting to attempt although it became my downfall because I became so interested in the research/resources that I struggled with time for writing my chapter. Every character sparked appeal with me whether they were positive or negative; they were well-written.

 What was your first reaction when you saw the chapter before yours?

My first reaction to the chapter(s) before me was exhilarating. I found myself wanting to continue on—curious as to what would happen next after reading each. I thought, “This one is going to be awesome!!!”

What is your favorite and least favorite addition that you contributed to this novel in your chapter?

My favorite addition was having the opportunity to begin telling Julia’s story (begin her secrets) yet at the same time it was a challenge to search, divide, and conquer the many directions being explored that tangled in my head. My least favorite but achieved addition was writing in particular “Point of View” – since the novel is being written this year in the third person limited to Ronni’s perspective

What do you hope happens or doesn’t happen in the chapters that come after yours?

My hope is that Pete & Ronni fall in love in the most romantic way. Charles is literally, “kicked to the curb” and discovered to be the villain. Most of all I hope that the relationship between Julia & Ronni creates growth & increase in wisdom for Julia along with restoration from guilt on Julia’s part somehow.

How did you write your chapter – in a burst of inspiration or carefully outlined?

Bursting all over the place is how I wrote this chapter. Outlines are challenges for me. Besides I enjoy letting my mind-field pop-up with variance which I’m allowed to do so without outlines.

Any memorable stories to share about your writing experience?

What will be memorable to me is the opportunity to co-write this chapter with my sister, Talisha Harden-Mallory who is a self-published author. I truly loved how we worked together to bring about this chapter. Because of my research, I had to incorporate her assistance. I read aloud the chapters prior in about 2 ½ – 3 hours while my sister and I wrote out our thoughts, which were many.

What have you learned about writing fiction from participating in this project?

Fiction is not always less challenging because it is creative writing. Although the writing is made up from your own imaginations you can come to some temporary critical stopping points to figure out your next step. I do love the battles in the mind of each character that steps forward and yells as if they want to be the center of attention…LOL!

What is your writing background? What do you usually write? How was this project different?

I started writing poetry at the age of 13. At age 15, my poem “Heartbroken” was published in a book after winning a contest. I then only wrote in my dairy and later journals about my life. They would be so detailed yet healing. It has been my dream to write and become a best-selling author since taking a creative writing class in early years of 2000 where I was informed by my instructor of my talent. I have made attempts at writing inspirational, spiritual/humorous, adventure, autobiographical/biographical, and dabbled in realistic fiction novel. In 2004 I then joined and attempted NaNoWriMo.org (50,000 words in 30 days) in 2005 where I have become a winner in 2011 & 2012.

Antonette Coffee has resided in Topeka for 23 years; married for 18 year to Don. Together they have six children and four grandchildren. Beginning her writing at the age of 14, inspired by her life experiences and faith, she won a poetry contest for “Heartbroken” at the age of 15 which gave her more inspiration. She has led teenage book reads at her local library; takes the opportunity to mentor to young people by volunteering at local community centers coaching volleyball; and teaches Youth Adult Sunday School at the church she attends. Antonette has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) since 2005–winning in 2011 & 2012. Antonette also coauthored & participated in the 2012 Community Novel Project.

An Interview with BlackRose

BlackRose

Why did you want to participate in the Community Novel Project?

That answer is simple–I joined this year’s Community Novel Project because my sister A.M. Coffee participated last year. It was fun working together, our first sister girl project.

 What is your writing background? What do you usually write? How was this project different?

So, what is my writing background?So far I have published seven books under the BlackRose Presents: label. God is awesome if you ask me.

What do I usually write?  That is a doozy because I started off writing poetry, of course, and then I slowly but surely moved on to short stories. Before you knew it, my friends and family were pushing me to complete a book. I had started years ago when I entered NaNoWriMo, I just never completed the book in those thirty days, so I sat on it. Some years later I pulled it out of the notebook and completed it. That was the first book I published.  My genre is normaly urban fiction but I also write erotica. One thing I learned how to do while writing that I found to be awesome and that was writing emotion.

How was this project different?  This project for me was different in a way because I’ve never written anything as far back as the 1920’s. With doing research and learning new things it was fun, plus I got to do it with my sister. 

Writing I look at as a gift and like I tell everyone I run across “GOD Gave Us Gifts & How We Use Them Is Entirely Up 2 Us” –something I live by…

 BlackRose Have you ever felt like you were born to accomplish at least one goal in your life…? Have you ever felt like life was taking you nowhere fast…? Well, I’ve felt that way time and time again but God blessed me with a gift and that gift was to create images with a pen. Some people do it on canvases, some do it with scrap metal but I have been blessed to do it by pen. I thank God for my gift daily. With my gift I have created masterpieces…*Deception*, *Deception: The Other Side*, *Lesbian: Come Walk With Me* and *Sextasies*. Now I bring to you a different side to things with *Thug’s Intuition*. I enjoy writing because this is what I do best. I’ve even showcased some of my poetry in *The Poetic Lounge Volume 3* and just recently me and a friend attacked a huge project together *Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places* this one is brilliant I must say. Last but not least I just got a ban of friends together for my last release *Friends Of A Feather* which was released Dec. 25th of 2012. I spend all my leisure time either with my children and or spilling ink and when I’m not spilling ink I enjoy helping out family and friends. This is just a little something about me and if you wanna know more please visit my website at www.tmallory.webs.com.

Each Memorial Day weekend since 1911, hundreds of thousands of race fans gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The Indy500 is a 200-lap race on a 2.5 mile course. 33 drivers compete for the Borg-Warner Trophy, introduced in 1936, which proclaims the event as the “Indianapolis 500-Mile Race”. Traditionally, the winner celebrates with a bottle of milk in Victory Lane (find out why)

The Borg-Warner Trophy, presented to the winner of the Indy500.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is located within the speedway’s 2.5 mile track.

On a personal note, IndyCar racing is not a sport I closely follow, and I was skeptical when I stopped at the speedway and museum going through Indiana on vacation many years ago. But I was amazed. The exhibits, the history and the facility itself all made it one of the most memorable tourist stops in my life. I highly recommend spending several hours there if you have time in Indianapolis. Just standing in the middle of a 253 acre oval is a unique wonder.

Link to the Official Indy Sites: Race website, Facility and Track Map, Hall of Fame Museum

You can experience racing locally. Northeast Kansas has many destinations. Travel no farther than our own Heartland Park, which hosts a number of NHRA and other racing events.Take a look at the “Racing Stars of Tomorrow” participating in the Topeka Quarter Midget Association. The Kansas Speedway hosts notable NASCAR races, among others.

The library has a number of books and videos available to ramp up to the race.

An excellent start is Indianapolis 500: The Legacy Series: “A five-disc DVD set that starts with the dawn of modern Indy racing featuring legendary drivers. See how the cars are able to race at higher speeds due to new technology. Relive the glory of Team Penske’s dominance, Sullivan’s ‘Spin and Win’ and Big Al’s miraculous fourth win. See how the 90′s marked the changing of the guard. Legends hung up their helmets and opened the door for the current generation of racing heroes.”

Continue with a few books:

Tales From the Indianapolis 500: A Collection of the Greatest Indy 500 Stories Ever Told by Jack Arute, with Jenna Fryer, foreword by A.J. Foyt.

Jackie Stewart’s Principles of Performance Driving, edited by Alan Henry.

The library also has several books for the younger racing fan:

Indy Cars by Sean McCollum
Indy Race Cars by Janet Piehl
Indy Cars by Carrie A. Braulick
The World’s Fastest Indy Cars by Glen Bledsoe

Inspector Walter Day and Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith arrived to a chilly reception. The villagers of Blackhampton have their ways, superstitions, and secrets, and they don’t want the outsider detectives to be upsetting their lives. Despite the lack of help from the village, Day and Hammersmith forge ahead in their investigation but the apathy from the village develops into hostile undertones.

Day and Hammersmith have only two days to find the family before all hope fades, yet the danger grows for both men with the threat of dying in this isolated village. The Black Country is a historical mystery set in 1890 at the beginning of modern investigation and continues the story from the bestseller, The Yard, by Alex Grecian.

http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2013/03/see-iceland-in-completely-different.html

Michael Clinton began his journey to globetrotter status in his teens and has been to 122 different countries, some of them multiple times. Currently he is the president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, so he has lots of opportunities to further his travel experiences. This is his sixth book and it has garnered many great reviews from the travel community. A self-described “history buff and outdoorsy-type,” he brings a buoyant, enthusiastic quality to his writing that is interesting and uplifting.

The book is divided into lots of essays about places, experiences and topics like whether to travel alone or in a group and what to do if you leave something on a plane. One of my favorites is “Excuse Me, Have You Seen Indiana Jones?” where he reveals his hero worship of the adventurous archeological professor and the inspiration for a trip to Peru. Another is “Long Iceland Days” where he describes a beautiful country as well as a trip to the volcano and the puffin islands. Besides the super travel tips he sprinkles throughout his stories, there are tips from other World-Class Globetrotters after each essay.

www.icelandnaturally.com www.icelandreview.com

Michael Clinton photo credit:http://gotham-magazine.com/channels/personalities/insights/q-and-a-michael-clinton-talks-travel-savvy

Check out all these great travelogues:

About SpeakEasy

• SpeakEasy is the 2013 Community Novel Project of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Read more about the project including the premise, behind the scenes, and the book launch party.
• Read online, download to your ereader or listen to the audiobook version.
• A new chapter by a new Topeka author each week at tscpl.org/community-novel.

Downloading SpeakEasy Chapter 6 by A. M. Coffee and BlackRose

Download the ebook to read in the format of your choice:

• PDF (best for iPad and for printing)
• ePub (best for Nook and other ereaders)
• Mobi (best for Kindle)

Instructions for downloading and transferring these files to your Kindle, nook, iPad or other ereader.

Listen now, download the mp3, or subscribe to “SpeakEasy: 2013 Community Novel Project” through iTunes.

Read Online: SpeakEasy Chapter 6 by A. M. Coffee and BlackRose

Ronni arrived in Topeka within the hour and rushed across the manor parking lot, through the door, and finally stood in front of the nurse’s station, breathing heavily. “Where can I find Nurse Lydia?” she wheezed.

The nurse looked up, eyes widening as she took in Ronni’s disheveled appearance. “I’ll page her for you.”

Before the nurse could lift the receiver, Lydia came around the corner, took one look at Ronni, and began to rant. “You know before you came around here Julia was just fine …”

Ronni looked up, shocked, and opened her mouth to speak.

Nurse Lydia folded her arms across her chest. “No. Just leave. I don’t want to hear it.”

“Just give me something to go on. Anything would help,” Ronni pleaded.

Lydia made a harrumph noise deep in her throat. “When the police brought her here to the Manor about fifteen years ago, they say they found her sitting on a bench in Holliday Park.”

Ronni turned abruptly, leaving Lydia’s rising voice behind her, and ran back to her car.

Inside the car, Ronni fished for her cell phone and called Pete’s number, but the standard, “Please leave a message … ” made her roll her eyes. She left him a simple voicemail: “I think I know where she is.”

Ronni slid her phone closed and headed for the highway. She didn’t want to top the speed limit, but even so Charles’ car leaned a bit as she swerved onto westbound Huntoon. Finally, she spotted Café Holliday and slowed down to scan the park across the street. Sure enough, she spotted Julia sitting on a park bench all alone.

She turned left onto Taylor, parked her car, and proceeded towards Julia with caution.

“Julia …?”

Julia looked up and smiled. “Hi Sweetie!”

Ronni swiped at a wet spot on the bench, sat down beside Julia, and smiled back.

“Julia, why did you leave the Manor?”

Julia looked down into her lap and shook her head slowly. “When I was younger I would have given anything for a sister, as my mother was working and my father was never around. I used to watch my mother leave every morning, and my dad used to spend all his time under the floor boards. I never knew what he was doing until I was much older.”

“Julia, are you ready to go home?” Ronni asked, but silently thumbed her recorder on just in case. She watched Julia’s face.

Julia leaned back and closed her eyes and hummed a few bars of “Get Happy”. She rocked back and forth and slapped at her knee as she smiled and hummed.

“Do you know right there?” She pointed across the street at Café Holliday “That used to be the one and only Mike’s Mirage.” Julia smiled as if she were recalling something beautiful. “I remember when I first left home. My father was mad at me. My mother was distraught over something that my father did – what exactly, I didn’t know at the time. My father simply told me that if I was going to work for Mike, I wasn’t welcome back home. I was disappointed, but I was old enough to make up my own mind. I think I was in my twenties when I first started workin’ for Mike. It was an easy job, if I must say so. I went from cleaning the saloon to actually getting up there with the party-goers and performing. I remember the first time I met Billy the Bootlegger. See – I used to go down to this old freight depot by the railroad, and there he was, loading those kegs onto the back of an old beat-up Model A pickup …” Julia threw back her head and laughed and then wiped her tears. “Girl, that pickup was a mess, let me tell you.” And she continued to laugh.

“I never really paid much attention to him until the night he showed up at the saloon. That’s when we first really laid eyes on one another. He was a strong, young-looking man with arms so large all of us women could hardly wait until he arrived. Between them arms and shoulders of his was the most wonderful chest to lay your head on. We could just imagine him keeping us warm at night. It would sho’ be much better than that ol’ furnace in that old storage room …”

A car drove south on Taylor, and Julia watched it until it disappeared. Finally, she smiled and said, “I’m ready to go home now.”

Ronni flicked off the recorder and helped Julia stand. As Julia straightened slowly, Ronni thought Julia must have been fairly tall in her day. Julia hummed her tune all the way to the car. Ronni secured her in the seat, closed the door carefully, and circled the car to the driver’s side door, glancing north towards Topeka High in the distance to make sure no traffic was coming her way.

* * *

Ronni pulled up in front of the manor and helped Julia stand. They walked in, Julia still smiling and humming the same tune. Nurse Lydia intercepted them and grasped Julia’s elbow firmly.

“Thanks for bringing her back, but you must leave.”

Ronni shook her head, but this time Julia spoke up. “Lydia, hush your mouth – this young lady was kind enough to bring me home. Now move outta the way.”

Leaving Lydia with her mouth open wide behind them, Ronnie escorted Julia to her room. “Let me take your coat. You can sit right there. Are you warm enough? Do you want that throw over your legs?”

Julia nodded and pulled the crocheted blanket up to her waist.

“Okay,” Ronni said, “I’ll be right back after I move my car. I can’t leave it in front of the main door to the Manor.”

Luckily, a parking spot close to the Manor was open, and she pulled into it and grabbed her recorder. Once back inside, Ronni walked down the hall to Julia’s apartment, but she suddenly stopped because she heard Lydia talking on her cell phone around the corner ahead of her.

“Look, I told you Ronni just came through the door with Julia. What do you mean?”

Someone was giving Lydia a good chewing, as Ronni could hear an agitated voice from the phone, but the sound decreased, and she could hear quick footsteps down the hallway away from her. She thought she could hear Lydia mention Charles’ name. Ronni frowned but continued to Julia’s apartment.

Ronni knocked on Julia’s door and pushed it open. “Julia, it’s me, Ronni …”

Julia wasn’t in the living room, so she walked to the bedroom and pushed the door open.

“Julia?” The woman stood bent over a bedside stand with the drawer open part-way.

“What’s wrong?” Ronni asked.

“I can’t find my key!”

“What key, Julia?”

Julia blew out a frustrated breath. “I wanted to show you the engagement ring I received the night Billy the Bootlegger proposed to me. Oh, did I mention that my Billy was a colored man?”

Ronni turned on her recorder at the words engagement ring. “Where did you have your key last?”

Julia pushed the drawer shut and turned towards the door. Ronni followed her back into the living room.

Julia walked to a writing desk, and Ronni suddenly noticed that it was a golden-toned antique 1940′s burled walnut lady’s desk. A matching leather-padded chair was turned away from the desk, and an unusual padded leather footrest that covered the center of the desk’s stretcher was underneath.

Julia pulled out the chair, sat slowly in it, and pulled open the desk drawer and stared inside. Ronni drew near to the desk. She reached out to finger the top of the desk, which also had three sections of black leather covering its top.

“How beautiful it is.”

Julia looked up from the desk. “What is, honey?”

Amazed at its beauty, Ronni rubbed her hand across a well-crafted piece of the desk. “I love this piece. I have always had a fascination for antiques and collectibles.”

“Oh, this old thing?” Julia returned to rummaging around in the desk drawer. “I cannot find that key. I know I put it in here.” Ronni could see that she was growing frantic. “I never take it out of this drawer. Even when I open the box I always place it back in here. Right here in this drawer on the right side. I always do.”

Ronni patted her shoulder to try to calm her down. “I’ll help you look for it, Julia. Why don’t I make you some tea first?”

Julia nodded. “All right. That would be nice. I need to warm up after my little trip outside.”

She stood, and Ronni led her to the nearest chair and helped her sit.

“Here’s your throw.” Julia nodded at Ronni, leaned back in the chair, and closed her eyes.

Ronni glanced at her and then stepped into the kitchen area. She rummaged in the cabinets until she found the carton of tea bags and then she ran some water into the cast-iron tea pot, turned on a burner on the electric range, and sat the pot on it. She walked back into the living room. Julia still had her eyes closed.

“Julia, would you mind telling me more about Billy?”

Julia stretched a little and sighed. Her face took on a faraway look. “Billy was a sweetheart, and it was forbidden for us to be together because he was a man of color. We used to sneak off and go places and sit under the stars and laugh. I use to love to hear that man laugh. On most nights he would come down to the Saloon just to enjoy some good ol’ moonshine. On some nights I use to sing and play my clarinet to my heart’s content, and he would be right there, keeping time by patting his knee with that big ol’ hand of his. Then one day my world came crashing down around me.” She leaned back and closed her eyes again.

The teapot whistled, and Ronni jumped up to tend to it. She found two teacups in the center cabinet. She added sugar to hers and a splash of cream to Julia’s, remembering how Julia took hers from the first visit. She headed back into the living room, placing Julia’s cup on the table in front of her.

“Oh, thank you.” She took a sip, smiled, and continued. “One night while I was up on the stage performing, a young lady walked in. She was beautiful. She had her hair pulled up into a bun. She walked in like she owned the place. Once my session was over, I walked over to the bar, and the bartender pushed a jar of moonshine in my direction. I took a sip and then approached this stranger. She had an air about her that was rather off. I smiled at her and introduced myself. She told me her name was Rosie. She went on to explain that she had just ridden the train in from Chicago, and she needed a place to stay. I told her I would talk to Mike and see what I could do. Rosie hung around all night and flirted with all the available men. I think she had a thing for Mike, but she never made it obvious.” She took a sip of her tea and continued.

“I’ll say, give or take a week, maybe even more, Rosie began to open up to me, saying she never really knew who her father was, but her mother was a well-known scarlet woman in Chicago. She said she left Chicago because she was tired of her mother’s reputation reflecting on her, and so she packed up and left. What made her come to Kansas is something you would have to ask her yourself, but she’s dead now. She died at the tender young age of 78. Later, I found out some years later, after Rosie’s disappearance that she was my sister, and how I found out was through my mother who told me before she passed over. My mother told me that my father would spend his time in Chicago every other weekend, holed up in some speakeasy with some whore named Adeline. Adeline had a daughter named Rosie. The reason my mother had never told me this story was because I never returned home. I didn’t even make it back home for my father’s funeral, but something pulled me to my mother’s bedside instead.” Julia took a last sip of tea, stood up and stretched. “Come on, baby, and help me find this key so I can open this here box.”

Ronni drained her cup and stood. “Where should I start looking?”

Julia waved her hand at Ronni. “Maybe I left it in the bedroom. Why not try there?”

Ronni walked into the bedroom and opened a jewelry chest, not touching any of the items inside but peering carefully at the contents.

She could see nothing but a variety of costume jewelry, mostly necklaces and bracelets that she might have expected to have seen around the neck of a ’20′s flapper, and as she closed the lid, she heard Julia say, “I know I ain’t got the Alzheimer’s. Oh, Ronni, I knew that my sister Rosie was in that room when she woke up so startled. It kind of makes me wonder now, were the men that killed my Billy there to kill me also? Was it my sister who stopped me from being killed that night? I always wondered where she had run off to. I have no idea. Maybe whoever it was ran off with my sister to get at me. Just maybe they were looking for the jewels Billy had given me just a few short weeks before.”

Ronni shook her head and pulled open the top drawer of the chest, lifted an embroidered hanky from the top of a pile of hankies, and there it was underneath – a key! She let out a little squeal and clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Julia! I think I found it!” She raced into the living room and dropped it into Julia’s lap. “Is this the key?”

Julia squinted her eyes and said, “Thank you, God.” She picked up the key and held it to her bosom. “Ronni, you’re a lifesaver. Now help an old lady to her bedroom so I can show you what lies in the box.”

Ronni helped Julia to the bedroom and into a chair. “Now look over there in the closet on the top shelf, and get that hat box.” Ronni went to the closet as she was instructed. “Now be careful, because it is heavy.”

Ronni slid open the closet door and looked at the many hat boxes inside. “Which one?” Ronni asked.

Julia laughed. “Sorry. The third one from the left.”

Ronni counted and then carefully removed the large hat box, placing it on the bed where Julia could reach it. It tilted slightly, and Ronni steadied it. Julia removed the lid and pulled out a black flapper hat. Julia smiled and said, “I remember when we used to bob our hair and wear cloché caps …” Julia laughed and dug deeper into the hat box. She next pulled out a green crocodile-skin traveling jewelry case. She smiled in the direction of Ronni and then she inserted the key. Julia opened the jewelry box, and she picked up something small, handling it with delicacy. After looking up, she beckoned Ronni over. “The day before my Billy was killed he proposed to me. He told me he had the ring especially made just for me because I was his special girl.”

Julia handed the ring to Ronni, who gasped and held it gingerly in her outstretched palm. Embedded in the center was a deep-green emerald stone, flanked by two other triangular emerald stones surrounded by tiny diamonds.

“Is this real?” Ronni finally pulled her eyes away from the ring and looked at Julia, who smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“Baby, I really don’t know. All I know is the man I loved and was looking to being my life-long husband presented it to me.” Ronni handed the ring back to Julia, and then she noticed the other jewelry in the box.

Ronni noticed a separate closed compartment at the bottom of the jewelry case, but before she could question Julia about it, she heard her cell phone chime. She did not want to answer. Hesitantly she turned, saying, “Please excuse me, Julia.”

Julia dismissed Ronni with a wave of her hand and closed and locked her jewelry box, and Ronni set it carefully on the bed before she walked into the living room.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?”

Ronni cleared her throat. “Charles?”

She could hear him suck his teeth. “Who else do you think it would be? Do you know how late it is?”

Ronni looked at the time on her phone. Well after six. “I’m so sorry. I got carried away talking to Mrs. Stanford.”

Charles’ voice interrupted her. “I need my car now. I had to catch a cab home.”

“I’m so sorry. I’ll be home in an hour.” The line went dead.

Ronni walked back into Julia’s bedroom, staring at the phone for a moment. Julia sat quietly, with her head bowed slightly forward, so Ronni spoke softly. “Julia, I’m sorry, but I have to leave now. There’s an emergency I must attend to.”

Julia slowly raised her head and peered at Ronni. “Well, before you leave can you place this-here box back on the shelf?”

“Of course. Thank you for showing me that beautiful, beautiful ring.” She placed the box on the shelf and turned to Julia. “You still have your key, right?”

Julia unfurled a wrinkled hand and smiled. The key was nestled safely in her palm.

* * *

Once at the car she glanced at her phone again and saw that she had a voicemail. She started the car and gave it time to warm up while she listened to the message. It was Pete wondering if she was still coming to the gig. He was also curious to know if she was bringing Julia along with her. Ronni did not make any attempt to return Pete’s call. She did not want to turn down his invitation, although she had to. Nor did she want to hear the disappointment in his voice over the phone.

Back at her apartment she found Charles sitting on the front stoop, his face a study in fury. Ronni adjusted her purse on her shoulder, sighed, and leaned in to kiss Charles on his lips. Charles pulled away and stood. “I absolutely requested that you return my car to me as soon as you were done.”

She stepped back and raised a finger in protest. “No, you did not request that I return your car as soon as I was done with it, but instead, and I quote, Charles, what you was said was when you are done, I would appreciate that you bring my car back in one piece, no dings, or scratches added.”  Ronni tossed the keys into his lap. She pushed her way up the stairs and opened the door to her apartment as Charles followed. “Now who’s being too smart for their own good?”

Charles placed his keys on the counter top, stepped into the kitchen, and pulled a small glass from the kitchen cabinet and a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator.

“I need to change. Be right back.” She headed for the bedroom.

“Would you care to join me in a drink of juice?” she heard him call through a partially-closed door.

Ronni returned from her bedroom where she had quickly changed into her pajamas. “If it’s not too much to ask, I would appreciate a glass of orange juice, Charles,” she replied.

“Okay, Veronica, I apologize. I was a little hard on you, and I usually am when it comes down to my vehicle.” Charles carried both glasses into the living room where Ronni sat and placed them on the coffee table in front of them.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure how to take that, Charles. You’re being a tad bit unpredictable right now.” She flicked on the television to MTV, knowing that Charles felt any program on television that would not educate the mind was useless.

“So how was your visit with Mrs. Stanford?” Ronni prompted him. He grimaced at the screen.

Charles snapped his fingers. “Okay, how was your visit with Mrs. Stanford?”

“Do you really want to know, Charles, or are you playing around with me?”

“Yes, I want to know.”

“Great. First of all, I should let you know where she was when I found her.”

Charles’ eyebrows rose with curiosity. “Yes, where did you find her?”

“She was sitting on a bench in Holliday Park across from Café Holliday, which used to be the location of the speakeasy where she worked. Later she asked me to take her home.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes, and do you know what was most amazing? I was at her home the first time I interviewed her, and I hadn’t noticed the amazing antiques and collectibles she had acquired over the years. She also had this beautiful jewelry box in which she had stored the ring she had received from Billy the night before he died.”

Ronni could see that Charles had become more fidgety. “Billy gave Mrs. Stanford a ring? What type of ring was it?”

Ronni drew back from Charles. “What does it matter what type of ring it was? The fact is I found out who Billy was to Julia. He was her lover, the man she loved, and not only was he the man she loved, he was a black man, an African-American man.”

“I understand all of that, but what about the ring? What type of ring was it?”

“Oh, Charles it was lovely.” For a moment Ronni contemplated how Pete O’Neil had described both her and Julia as lovely, bringing a smile to her face.

Charles interrupted her thoughts. “And … ?”

“Oh, and the ring has three emerald stones surrounded by a host of diamonds. It was so beautiful.” Ronni hesitated. “You know I never asked where Billy got the ring from or, for that matter, how he would get such an expensive ring on the profits of a bootlegger, especially being of African American descent and during that time period. I wonder if the stones are real?”

Just then Charles sprang from the sofa, kissed Ronni quickly on the top of her head, and made a beeline for the front door. As he exited, he yelled back, “Sorry, Veronica, I forgot I have a late night study group I must attend right away. See you tomorrow.”

Ronni stared at the closed door. “Yeah, I’m sure you got study group, all right.”

Chapter 7 will be published next week at http://www.tscpl.org/community-novel

Kay Coward and her husband, Terry, were motivated to start attending our computer training classes so that “he won’t mess up my machine,” Kay said.

With the library’s help, he’s now computer literate, he got his own email address (he was just using his wife’s) and now he even has his own laptop. He wanted something that “would work a little faster,” she said.

Kay has signed up for some of the more advanced classes, including Word: Graphics (so she can “make documents look more professional”) and Word: Mail Merge & Mailing Labels, along with Editing Digital Photos (see list of all computer classes). Register for a class today. Call 785-580-4606.

“I went to a class today, and I learned three things that made me say ‘yes! This is great,’” she said. “The fact that these classes are free is extremely valuable for the quality of teachers. The instructors are clear and go at a nice pace. They don’t make you feel stupid.”

Instructors Kate Hughes and Becky Hinton say people shouldn’t assume anything about who takes computer classes at the library. From people trying to bridge the digital divide to students right out of college, all kinds of people sharpen their tech skills, upgrade their job skills or simply connect with their family and friends in our classes. The trainers say they even see working professionals come in, some encouraged by the bosses to figure out something new for the company.

“It’s becoming more and more important on all jobs to be computer literate. And it’s important in day-to-day life,” Kate said.

From doing your taxes to filling out a job application, being able to operate a computer is now the rule instead of the exception.

“It’s frustrating for some who are looking for a stocking-type job, and they’ve never used a computer,” Kate said.

She and Becky teach the majority of the library’s computer classes and say there are many rewards that come with the territory. “We love it when they call us and cancel a class they signed up for because they got a job,” Becky said.

If it’s not a job, then it’s the getting a grandma using Facebook so she can see pictures of her grandchildren or even teaching her how to Skype video chat.

“It’s rewarding to watch someone download a free eBook onto their new Kindle for the first time,” Kate said.

The offerings range and sometimes change with the community’s needs, but it’s all free and people can take the same class as many times as they like. “Knowing that helps the customer relax. A large part of what we do is help them relax,” Kate said.

They also offer Computer & Gadget Help sessions. People come and go as they please during these drop-in sessions offered once or twice a week. The trainers see any number of computer issues, from how to list something on Craigslist or to how to convert a Word document into a pdf. People bring in cell phones, tablets, ereaders, and laptops for some assistance with basic functions or preferences.

“We consider what we do another form of literacy.”

Sign yourself, or someone you know, up for Computer Training Classes and get a leg up on technology. Call 580-4606 or sign up here. Follow that link and you can also see handouts from the classes.

About the Trainers:

Becky Hinton

Becky used the very first computer the library ever purchased. It was a 1981 IBM PC. Shortly thereafter she started training the staff on computers. In 1999, the library started offering public computer training and she’s been doing it ever since.

Kate Hughes

Kate is a computer native and she’s been training the public on using computers for five years. Her specialty is literacy, learning styles and staying up on current trends and the latest versions of software or browsers.