The Library Book Returned After Forty Years

On a Tuesday morning, a small package arrived at the Millfield Public Library. Inside was an old book: A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the North. Margaret, the librarian, opened it. The library stamp said: DUE DATE: MARCH 14, 1984. She looked at the borrower’s card. The name was Daniel Howarth. Margaret stopped smiling. Daniel was a kind old man who visited the library every week, but he died in January.

At lunchtime, a young woman named Clara came to the desk. 'I sent the package,' she said. 'Daniel was my grandfather. I found this book in his apartment. I felt bad because it was forty years late.' Margaret looked at the book. 'Your grandfather borrowed this in 1984,' Margaret said. 'Do you know why?' Clara whispered, 'My grandmother loved wildflowers. She died in 1983. He probably wanted to remember her.'

Margaret looked at the clean, soft pages. She knew Daniel had read this book many times over forty years. 'The late fine is very large,' Margaret said with a small smile. 'But I will forget the fine. I think this book belongs to your family now.' Clara was happy. She held the book to her chest and said thank you. Margaret watched her leave. She decided that some things are more important than due dates.