by Lewis Buzbee
The entire Save Our Library committee watched the election returns on TVs at the library. It wasn’t until almost midnight that victory was assured, and when the announcement was made, a great whooping broke out. Travis looked around for Miss Babb, but she was nowhere to be seen. He found her a while later in the kids’ section, curled up fast asleep in one of the old corduroy beanbag chairs.
The victory wasn’Thatotal one, of course. The library would stay open, but with a greatly reduced staff and with minimal hours. But it would stay open, and they— the city, the librarians, the citizens—would continue to work on behalf of the library and its books.
“what ever it takes, Travis,” Miss Babb said. “We’ll keep working. The fight’s. not over yet.”
Travis and Oster, and Hil, too, when he didn’t have soccer, continued to work on the committee. Travis and Oster both worked afternoons at the library as volunteer shelvers. Travis had never figured that putting books back in their proper places could be so much fun. He kept discovering books he never knew existed. He seemed to bring home as many as he shelved.
One afternoon, when they were both working in the kids’ section, Travis picked up the library’s only copy of Corral de Tierra.
“Look,” he said. “You’re popular again.”
Oster laughed, looked away. He seemed embarrassed, which Travis thought was weird.
Travis needed to say something; he did.
“Remember,” he said, “when we were up in the Corral, that day after. And we all promised to write down what we saw, everything.”
“Yes.” Oster kept shelving.
“So, have you been doing that?”
“Yes. Yes, I have.” Oster stopped shelving and pointed a book at him. “And you, have you been writing it all down?”
“I have. Tons. But I’m not quite finished yet.”
“Good. It’s supposed to take time. I’m glad you’re doing it, though.”
Travis still wasn’t finished with his version of what happened last fall, but he was close. He was dying to share it with Oster. Hil, Travis knew, was almost done, too.
“Remember,” Travis said, “when you were talking about Steinbeck’s Ghost, the book, your book, your second book, you said you’d got it wrong somehow. And Hil said you should finish that book, that he knew it’d be a better book this time.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“So? Are you working on that book, too? Are you gonna put the cave in that book? What happened to us?”
Oster grunted.
“So?” Travis asked.
Oster looked at him.
“Well,” he said. “I have been. Writing, that is, Steinbeck’s Ghost. I think I figured it out. What was wrong. I’ve been working on it a little bit. And yes, the cave’s gonna be in there. After I check it out with you and Hil, of course.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t want to jinx it.”
“So how far—”
Oster put a finger to his lips.
“Don’t want to jinx it.”
That afternoon Travis and Oster said good- bye in the alley, and Oster drove off to Spreckels. Travis stood a long time in the alley, waiting for something. For what? It was too quiet out.
It was a sunny day, almost warm. The rains had been thick and constant all winter, and the world was lush, exploding. The plum and apple and cherry trees had blossomed all at once, and the rain knocked those petals from the trees. The flowers were as thick as snow on the ground. The mountains—the Gabilans and the Santa Lucias—were so green the world seemed like a whole other planet.
Travis got on his bike and pedaled hard out to Spreckels, the afternoon wind pushing him all the way there. He knew he’d be late for dinner, but his parents would come pick him up.
Oster came to the door.
“So. You’ve been writing,” Travis said. “I’d really like to hear some. Would you read me some? Some of Steinbeck’s Ghost?”
“I don’t know, Travis,” Oster said. “It’s kind of a private thing.”
“A private thing?” he said. “Are you kidding me? Private? No, it’s not. That’s crazy.”
There was a last silence.
“You’re right,” the writer said. “Come on in. I’ll read you what I’ve got so far.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
If you’re interested in reading Steinbeck, for the first time or the next, here are some of my favorites. Start at the top and work your way down. —L.B.
The Red Pony (New York: Penguin, 1993).
A short novel about Jody’s pony, Gabilan, and Gitano, the old paisano. It’s also included in The Long Valley.
The Long Valley (New York: Penguin, 2000).
All of Steinbeck’s best short stories, and all set in the Salinas Valley, including “Johnny Bear” and “The Red Pony.”
The Pastures of Heaven (New York: Penguin, 1995).
A novel told in stories set in the Corral de Tierra. In here, you’ll find the tale of the talented outcast Tularecito.
Cup of Gold (New York: Penguin, 1995).
Steinbeck’s first novel is a rousing pirate tale of adventure and treasure based on the myth of the Holy Grail.
The Pearl (New York: Penguin, 2000).
In this short novel, the discovery of a giant pearl in a small Mexican town brings out the worst in everyone who sees it.
Of Mice and Men (New York: Penguin, 2002).
Two itinerant ranch hands roam from job to job while working toward their dream of owning a farm someday. A heartbreaking tale of friendship and loyalty.
Tortilla Flat (New York: Penguin, 1977).
The Knights of the Round Table come to life as cannery workers in Monterey. Heroism was never so funny.
Cannery Row (New York: Penguin, 2002).
The “denizens” of Monterey’s Cannery Row don’t work too hard at much but having a good deal of fun. Includes Steinbeck’s famous “Frog Hunt” sequence, where a pond of crazy frogs proves too much for Mack and the boys, a slapstick favorite.
Sweet Thursday (New York: Penguin, 1996).
This sequel to Cannery Row features an affectionate portrait of Steinbeck’s closest friend, Edward “Doc” Ricketts, and the further misadventures of the Row’s “denizens.”
The Log from the Sea of Cortez (New York: Penguin, 1995).
A nonfiction account of Steinbeck’s research voyage to Baja California with Ed “Doc” Ricketts. Steinbeck’s love of nature, and his deep knowledge of it, glow from every page.
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (New York: Viking, 2007).
In the 1950s, Steinbeck spent a year in En gland researching the myth of King Arthur and searching for the real Camelot. These stunning versions of the tales that inspired Steinbeck to become a writer are filled with magic and action.
The Grapes of Wrath, a Novel (New York: Penguin, 2006).
Steinbeck’s most famous book is the courageous journey of the Joads from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the fruit orchards of California. A great American novel.
East of Eden, a Novel (New York: Penguin, 2003).
A sweeping epic of early California, this novel is one part stories from the Old Testament retold and a history of Steinbeck’s own ancestors.
About Steinbeck:
Catherine Reef, John Steinbeck (New York: Clarion, 2004).
A wonderful biography of the writer with lots of illustrations.
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Table of Contents
COVER
TITLE
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
Contents
PART I: THE LIBRARY
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
PART II: THE WRITER
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
PART III: THE WORLD
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BIBLIOGRAPHY