At the desk, part 298

 

I'm back at the front desk of the library for the millionth time in my life. But don't worry, there's plenty to talk about. For instance, an elderly couple came down the stairs and the man was wearing a t-shirt that said "I'm retired. This is as dressed up as I'm going to get". And the woman behind him had a shirt that simply read "meh". 

I was strangely impressed by them. They seemed to have it all together.

A long-retired, and famously terrible co-worker was in as well. I haven't seen her in ages. I asked her how she was.

"Mom died." She said sadly. But she has always said everything sadly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I said.

"My aunt died too." She added.

At that, I guess we were all caught up. She didn't ask anything about me. 

Probably because of the grief and everything.

A woman lost her sunglasses and wondered if we had them in our lost and found. We did have a pair, but they weren't hers. She decided that someone must have stolen her sunglasses upstairs. She was pretty mad. Then she asked if she could have the sunglasses that weren't hers in the lost and found.

I said no.

This just made her madder about the thieves upstairs.

A man borrowed our stapler. It is very decorated with stripes and has "Library" written all over it so people won't wander off with it. "You all must have a lot of free time." The man said, referring to the elaborate decoration that I had once patterned onto it.

"No, thank god." I thought. "All my time here is compensated."

I checked a book out to a singing woman. She's a regular. I gave her the book and she started singing. She's still in the lobby now, singing. This is usually a sign that we are about to close. So I'll leave you here.

It's been a pleasure.