"Gentlemen!" I announce, walking into the library, "I've decided on my Summer Reading 2026 theme!"
My personal librarians turn around a little too quickly. Ahmed drops the stack of botany books he's holding and a choking sound escapes Kilbronson's lips. "You have?"
I'm as pleased as a prized heifer. "Yes! This year, in honor of America's 250th, we're doing to do Road Trip Americana!"
"And that means...?"
"That we're going on a road trip!"
"Wait...didn't we do Americana a few years ago?"
"Yeees...." I concede. But, this time, we're going to do it bigger and we're going to do it again! Besides, 2024 was more of a focus on tall tales and such. This time, we're going to take a road trip of America, and we're going to pick up books and read folktales and learn about all the important sites and people and historical information and--"
Kilbronson holds up his hand. "And last time, I went off to collect books for you all over the country and it didn't go as planned. So, perhaps we should just stay put?"
I sigh. "We'll workshop it. But, for now, your assignment is to find me a list of some great books in various locations that we can go and visit. I want to learn about everything. Whaling in New England, cowboys out West, all the presidents, cryptids, everything." I turn on my heel and walk out into the hallway. "Gentlemen," I call back over my shoulder, "we start in May. You have a few weeks to get me prepped. I can't wait to see what you come up with!"
And I can hear them sigh as the door closes behind me.
