Madam, just a few concerns before tonight's greeting.

Why is there a child loose in the library?

When is she leaving and why is she an obnoxious monster?

Well, thank you very much.

A, there's a child here because she was accidentally released from a painting this morning when a youth spell went awry.

And B, she's leaving as soon as I can find the right spell to safely put her back.

And C, she's an obnoxious monster because she's five-year-old me.

Hmm, I'll get the net.

You will watch her and keep her entertained whilst I host the reading.

Are you sure you'd like a giant sheep's-yep-shiping wolf and charge the child version of yourself?

Well, we already know that I survived long enough to run this library and to give you a home.

Now, she's very fast.

She likes to hide, and I have given her a bag of your favorite treats, the bloody ones.

Ew, I got little tan at the bottom!

Welcome, welcome to the Reading Room, my dear guests.

How good of you to come to hear a story on this beautiful gloomy night.

Please make yourself comfortable in any seat you like.

We've put some extra pillows in the window seats and some large pillows on the floor in front of the fireplaces.

What, what's that?

What are they stuffed with?

Oh, I couldn't tell you what Aunt Hildes pillow-stuffing recipe was.

I swore that I wouldn't.

...