“When I was six and had recently come from Hungary, my seven year old friend told me that there was a place where you could go and get books for free. So I went to the Jewish Public Library on the corner of Mount Royal and Esplanade. I walked in and no one seemed to stop me. I picked up some books, and when the lady at the counter asked me if I was a member, I said ‘no’. The membership cost 5-cents which was great, but you also needed your parent’s signature. I was absolutely devastated because it was 10 in the morning and my parents were not available. So I went to the corner and asked every adult I saw to forge my mother’s signature until finally one lady did. I remain eternally grateful to that larcenous lady!”
Category: People