The Brother Pavlovich
February 14th, 2021
Starring: Irina (female, 12), Mrs. Plumlee (female, 55-70)
The middle school library, mid-afternoon. In a dark corner, Irina musters all her strength to wrestle a thick hardcover book off the shelf. Despite the cloud of dust, she manages to dislodge it. From there, she carries it with her all the way to the distribution desk, where Mrs. Plumlee stands.
IRINA
Checking out.
Irina heaves the book up onto the counter. Mrs. Plumlee’s eyes widen as she sees the title, then looks at Irina. Irina speaks with a light Russian accent:
MRS. PLUMLEE
The Brothers Karamazov…?
Are they teaching this in English?
IRINA
No. I want to read it.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Oh.
It’s quite an advanced book for your age.
IRINA
Yes. But every Russian-born should read it before they turn thirteen.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Is that right?
IRINA
My brother, he read it in sixth grade. I’m in seventh.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Your brother...did he go here?
IRINA
Yes. Dimitri Pavlovich?
MRS. PLUMLEE
Ah yes. Dimitri. He spent a lot of time here.
IRINA
He’s very smart. He studies literature at Northwestern now.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Good school.
IRINA
Yes. My parents are very proud of him.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Do they tell you they’re proud of you?
IRINA
My parents love me. But I’m not the oldest boy.
MRS. PLUMLEE
So you want to read Dostoevsky.
IRINA
And Anna Karenina. Then The Cherry Orchard, Crime and Punishment, Lolita, War and Peace. I can do it.
MRS. PLUMLEE
Of course you could. But let me show you something.
Mrs. Plumlee opens the front cover of the book, turning it around to show Irina.
MRS. PLUMLEE
This is the checkout ledger. Even with all the computers, I still make the stamps.
See the date?
IRINA
3/18/14. Seven years ago.
My brother?
MRS. PLUMLEE
Yes. He was the last to check it out.
But look—see the date he returned it?
IRINA
3/19/14
MRS. PLUMLEE
Pretty quick for an 850 page masterwork.
IRINA
Dimitri’s a fast reader.
MRS. PLUMLEE
A little too fast.
IRINA
What do you mean?
MRS. PLUMLEE
I used to watch him. He would check out a big classic like this one, sit down over there, and flip through it like a picture book. Too fast to even speed read. He’d skim and return it the very next day.
I’m sure your brother is very smart. But reading something doesn’t mean you’ve read it.
…
IRINA
What a dumb liar.
MRS. PLUMLEE
No, no. He was only trying to prove himself.
She points down to the book:
MRS. PLUMLEE
Just like you.
…
IRINA
I still want to read it.
MRS. PLUMLEE
I won’t stop you.
But if you want an old reader’s advice, wait.
IRINA
For what?
MRS. PLUMLEE
When you’re really ready.
...
Dostoevsky won’t get worse. You’ll only get better.
The school bell rings. The sound of bags zipping and kids in movement. Irina stands amidst the commotion, staring at the book. Finally, she takes it and lifts it back into her arms. She carries it to a “book return” cart, hoists it on, and busts out the door into the hallway, off to class.
Mrs. Plumlee watches her go. She’s shaken back into reality by another 7th grader checking out, who slides a well-worn Junie B Jones book onto the counter. Mrs. Plumlee sees the title and deflates. She scans the barcode, opens the inside cover, and gives it a stamp. Status quo.