|
KENOSHA, WI – Billy Jenkins would be just like any
11-year-old Harry Potter fan, eagerly anticipating the June
21 release of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,"
the fifth book in the megapopular series, except that this
Wisconsin native won't be lined up outside Barnes and Noble
with his parents like most of his friends and schoolmates.
Billy Jenkins will be at the library, still attempting to
borrow the last Harry Potter book.
“I’ve been waiting for this book for a very, very
long time.” Billy said, trying to hold back tears. "I
just wish I could buy a copy like every other kid. Also, I
wish my father would stop drinking."
In fact, Billy put his mark down on the KPL waiting list
on February 3, 2003, a mere three days after the library acquired
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Scholastic,
2000). He and his siblings (Brandy – 13, Joey –
10, John Jr. – 8, Claudine – 7, Darth – 5,
and Britney – 4) have been waiting ever since.
“I tried to save the money to buy it, but then someone
told me that there’s a place that gives stuff out for
free. You don’t have to steal it or nothing. I ran right
on down.”
Despite his initial excitement, Jenkins admitted to some
frustration with the library system, which requires a parent's
signature and local address on a library card. “I guess
they only gonna let me 'borrow' it. I told the lady that my
Pa borrows food and shoes and stuff all the time, and he don’t
have to give it back, but she just yelled at me because you're
not supposed to talk loud in the library.”
Library officials have described the condition of their four
loaner copies as “somewhat disgusting and reeking of
peanut butter, but readable.” That’s more than good
enough for the Jenkins clan, and the family has big plans
for the book when it arrives.
“Oh, we gonna start it as soon as we get it back here,”
Billy says. “Both Ma and Brandy know how to read, so
we’ll just sit around the light bulb until it’s
done.”
Past Harry Potter books have found their way into the Jenkins
household through distant friends , garage sales, and petty
theft. While all the children profess to love them, each has
a different favorite part. While Claudine likes how the kids
“get stuff at Christmas,” Darth likes how the students
at Hogwarts “have food to eat at eating times.”
Billy has a favorite too. “You know how, in the beginning
of the first one, the big fat people keep Harry in that room
under the stairs? It must be so cool to have your own room.”
When asked what magic power they’d have if they went
to Hogwarts, answers ranged from “flying on a broomstick”
and “turning into a cat” to “killing the kids
who make fun of me” and “curing Britney’s whooping
cough.”
“The new book is going to be big, no question about
it.” Said KPL Children’s Wing Head Ellen Bradsky.
“We've taken precautions by hiring our own security firm
to help with the new waiting list. If we do our jobs right,
there’s a great chance that our patrons will behave like
the well-mannered lower-class people they are.”
|
