9

Natasha

Kristina and I sit in the middle of her living room with papers sprawled out around us. We have used our time wisely, choosing fall reading books that will hopefully challenge and inspire our young readers. We have a few hours left of planning and then we should be all ready. We are just starting to go over the flyers, trying out some themes that might entice some participants this year.

“How about ‘fall into reading’ ‘fall into the books’ ‘don't leaf a book unread’?” Kristina asks.

“Those are terrible!” I giggle as I pass her the second bottle of wine that’s already halfway gone and say, “We really should have stayed sober if we wanted to come up with a clever slogan tonight.”

“Yeah, I better quit drinking or our slogan’s gonna be ‘fall over drunk’.”

“Fall on my drunk ass,” I come back with.

Kristina snorts, which makes us both laugh even louder and now I'm holding my stomach as my body rolls back and I roll from side to side, holding my belly. “Stop, stop, I'm gonna