Американские боги

           MainStreet,whichtheywereon,wasaprettystreet,evenatnight,anditlookedold-fashionedinthebestsenseoftheword—asif,forahundredyears,peoplehadbeencaringforthatstreetandtheyhadnotbeeninahurrytoloseanythingtheyliked.

           Hinzelmannpointedoutthetown’stworestaurantsastheypassedthem(aGermanrestaurantandwhathedescribedas"Greek,Norwegian,bitofeverything,andapopoverateveryplate");hepointedoutthebakeryandthebookstore("WhatIsayis,atownisn’tatownwithoutabookstore.Itmaycallitselfatown,butunlessit’sgotabookstore,itknowsit’snotfoolin’asoul").HeslowedTessieastheypassedthelibrarysoShadowcouldgetagoodlookatit.Antiquegaslightsflickeredoverthedoorway—HinzelmannproudlycalledShadow’sattentiontothem."Builtinthe1870sbyJohnHenning,locallumberbaron.HewanteditcalledtheHenningMemorialLibrary,butwhenhediedtheystartedcallingittheLakesideLibrary,andIguessit’llbetheLakesideLibrarynowuntiltheendoftime.Isn’titadream?"Hecouldn’thavebeenprouderofitifhehadbuiltithimself.ThebuildingremindedShadowofacastle,andhesaidso."That’sright,"agreedHinzelmann."Turretsandall.Henningwantedittolooklikethatontheoutside.Insidetheystillhavealltheoriginalpineshelving.MiriamShultzwantstoteartheinsidesoutandmodernize,butit’sontheregisterofhistoricplaces,andthere’snotadamnthingshecando.