Thank you, Mrs Cooper (Mark Debrest)

Some days ago, whilst out strolling with my partner, I headed for a bookshop in the old quarter of the city for two reasons; the first, because I knew that they were going to tear it down, to my great sadness, and the second, because it was one of the best in the city, or so I had been told. Upon entering that extravagant, beautiful hall of high ceilings and antique woods, I immnediately recalled, as if it were a flashback, an old bookshop and stationers which could be found in the coastal town where I would spend my summer holidays some forty years ago (San Martin Desvalles). Above all, it was that pleasant smell of wood which pleased and moved me. I immediately thought of the distinguished figure of Mrs Cooper, the owner of the establishment and former teacher at the village school, a slender woman of medium stature, whose voice and demeanour were unhurried and who almost always wore white, grey, and blue. She was some sixty years old.

     When I used to go in with my parents, for some bizarre unknown reason, just after time, I would always head to the area where the adventure stories were. At the age of eight I liked reading them, though I was not a compulsive reader, and deep down I always yearned for some pictures in them. I remember that around that time, a great collection of stories and novels with bothhad just come out and I shot over there like an arrow to examine the collection with great interest. After a while, I would tell my mum which adventure story I wanted and on the occasions that I spent too long browsing or re-reading the titles because I couldn't decide which one to buy, my patient parents would speak to Mrs Cooper's husband and then she would corre over to me with a cheeky smile.

"Any book that takes your fancy, Thomas?" She would almost always ask me the same question in the same words.

"Not yet, Mrs Cooper, although this time I think that the book "Journey to the Centre oh the Eart will be to my liking."

"I didn't know you were so adventurous."

"I'm not. I like to go for a wander to distract myself and observe things, but not foradventures. Maybe that's the reason why I have chosen this book." he answered, pleased.

"Most probably", she agreed whilst heading towards the right side of the shop. "Remernber that in this section we have other books about different things, especially biographies."

"Yes. I've already seen a few. I like biographies about important figures, especially great inventors and discoverers."

"Well, look," she said, content, "the latest one we've just received is a biography about the inventor of the lightning rod, Benjamin Franklyn. What a strange coincidence, now that they have just finished fixing the lightning rod on the church".

"Mrs Cooper" my mum said, "has Thomas found his book yet? It's just that we're in a bit of a hurry."

"l think so" she said, seeing that I was pointing to a.Julio Verne book.

"Is vour grandson Johnathan here?" I then asked her hopefully, lowering my voice.

"He'll colne next week. He also asked after you."

"He's my best friend in the village".

'He's very fond of you also. And you have similar tastes".

"Yes" I answered, "with him I never get bored in the afternoons.,,

"But your brothers and cousins are here" she said with an affectionate smile.

"It's not the same. They're older than me."

"Your neighbours are also here, the Necker brothers".

"The Necher brothers are unbearable" I said seriously. "bad mannered and very inconsiderate,
although their mother is very nice."

"That's true" said my mum, who knew her quite well".

"The other day they told me they knew a shameful secret about the village."

"Shameful?" My parents exclaimed".

"Yes" but I don't want to know it, although l know they'll end up telling me sooner or later. That's how considerate they are."

"And what could it be?" said Mr Cooper.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Thomas? Now you have a month of holidays. Maybe it's important" said Mrs Cooper.

"Maybe" I answered shortly.

"Every village has secrets and mysteries. . . " said Mr Cooper.

"...which are easier'to find out as there are less people than in cities" added Mrs Cooper.

"It would be fun to discover a huge secret" I said to all of them with a somewhat triumphant air. "But I don't see myself as Sherlock Holmes", and then I added. "who would be my
faithful sidekick, Watson?"

Everyone laughed at that. I did too. Then I looked over at the intelligent, observant and seusitive Mrs Cooper. She understood me well. I wasn't like other children, I felt different. She got it straight away and helped me during my childhood and teenage years in San Martin. She tried to make me happier in the little village. And she managed it.


Thank you, Mrs Cooper.

                                                                    THE END