I had forgotten about that library smell, of book glue and dust. It's disgusting and sicky sweet, but I like it. I hadn't been there in so long and I was positive that
anyone watching me would know that immediately. I was afraid that they would think that I'm illiterate. "I read! It's just usually something from my extensive home library," I thought defiantly as my eyes darted about the aisles of books at the other library-goers, "It's just usually Harry Potter..." Eventually, after pretending I knew exactly what I was doing, I located the fiction section and proceeded to browse for any of the long list of books I had been wanting to read. Finally, I found a solitary copy of "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath and snatched it greedily from the shelf. Success! I then wandered back toward the front to check it out, and on the way I spied something that intrigued me along the south wall: a used book sale! All good sense told me that I probably wouldn't find anything, and as i began to casually peruse the shelves, I seemed to be right. Stacks of tacky romance novels and Mary Higgins Clark mysteries that I only read at the airport sat before me, yet I had this inexplicable desire to find something interesting. I was drawn to these tomes against my nagging hunger (I was on my lunch break) and I searched a little more diligently. Finally, I was rewarded when I stumbled across this little treasure, for only one dollar: "Throw Like a Girl- stories" by Jean Thompson.
I knew I was going to like it right away so now I headed to the checkout (for reals) and opted for the electronic checkout so that I wouldn't have to answer any awkward questions about where I had been all these years. I procured my library card, that I had found while cleaning my room, yellowed and cracked with my eleven-year-old face staring vacantly out of its frame, and scanned the bar code. "NOPE!" beeped the checkout machine, "Invalid entry. Please see front desk for assistance." Dang! I was going to have to face the humans after all. I was cut off at the pass by a large group of girls who looked to be about 9. I stepped back and tried to remain composed and calm, like I did this everyday. I didn't want the little girls in on my secret. Once it was my turn I approached the desk and handed my card to the lady. I waited with bated breath as she scanned it and I was rewarded, once again, with the beep that blared "NOPE!" "It seems you are no longer in our system," smiled the sympathetic librarian. She directed me to the other side where I filled out an application, had my picture taken, and was presented with a brand new library card. =] How embarrassing though; the school librarian's daughter doesn't have a current library card because she doesn't read. So awkward.
Welp, now I am officially literate and I look forward to my next library adventure with a little more confidence.
♥
