A Place to Hang the Moon

by Kate Albus

It is often the case that, at times of great anxiety, when the diversion of a good story should seem most welcome, one is least equipped to focus one’s mind on reading.

Their pages spoke of the past, a reminder that the battered old world had whirred for a very long time indeed, and that even this latest buffeting would likely be withstood.

Inside, the children were greeted by the sort of cool and reverent silence known only to places that house books—well, and perhaps artwork and religious artifacts.

Mrs. Müller’s eyes sparkled. “I believe it was the poet, Mr. Yeats, who said that the world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper?”

Anna might not have known what to say, but she knew what to do. Which is often the more important thing, as it turns out.

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows.