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To Kill A Mockingbird

Years ago when I was about 14 a glamourous American woman called Michelle came into our bar in Co. Cavan, Ireland.

I fell immediately in love with her...whilst I drooled we started chatting about books. I said that one of my favourite books was "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

"Really!" Michelle said. ""I'm from Monroeville, Alabama...that's where Ms. Lee lives". This surprised me for two reasons:

1: I thought Harper Lee was a man.

2: I thought Harper Lee was dead.

 

I ran inside and got my old battered copy of the book, with all my childish scribblings all over it, brought it back to the bar and gave it to Michelle.

I said to her if there was any chance she could get this thing signed, I'd be eternally grateful...or at least I'd be grateful for as long as I lived.

I thought no more about it, until some months later a parcel arrived for me from America. This surprised me for two reasons:

1: I knew no-one in America

2: I never got parcels.

 

I opened the aforementioned parcel and out this book came, signed by Harper Lee herself. My first thought was where had my own beloved copy gone...this thought quickly receeded when I realised that I had been sent a first edition by Ms. Lee. It's my prize possession. What I love is that maybe there's the chance that my copy is sitting on her shelf somewhere gathering dust. Someday I'll have to visit to ask for it back!

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Uploaded on April 4, 2007
Taken on February 3, 2007