This Bookworm's Name Is...

Thomas pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the library, pausing briefly to take in the

overwhelming bookish smell of the place, before shutting out the sunshine behind him with

an echoey thud.

As usual, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, or more likely, the rustling of book pages,

or the pen drop of a stressed student studying for their next exam or essay. There were a lot

of students today, it being the last Sunday of the half term. There were the regulars, the

elderly, and the students all milling about. Thomas found they all seemed to blur into similar

shades of beige, blue and white. With one exception, it would seem. As he made his way to

familiar shelves, he spied a blur comprised of black, purple, and pink. He observed behind

the safe cover of An Encyclopeadia of Birds by Harris Finch. She stood near the help desk,

leaning on a shelf, kicking what Thomas guessed to be a doorstop across the floor, the one

gothic anomaly in this quiet, neutral toned world.

Making a note of that description for a future novel of his own, Thomas resumed his search.

Much to his dismay, Everyday Modicums of the Supernatural by Gloria H. Oulish was absent

from its place. It seems the internet forum had been mistaken about the book’s popularity, he

remarked, rather smugly, in his head. He made his way to the help desk, lightly placing his

hands onto it, drumming his fingers absently, as he waited. 3 o’clock, and he had made

almost no progress on his research, and now the writing shed would be losing light, and he

hated typing by that little desk lamp; it made him feel as though he were being interrogated.

5 past the hour, and Thomas was beginning to think no help was coming.

Seeing himself to have no other options, he steeled himself for possible backlash, but turned

to the goth-like young woman with a smile on his face. “Excuse me,” he began, “would you

happen to know where I can find Everyday Modicums of the Supernatural by…uh… Gloria

H. Oulish?”

The young woman eyed him for a minute, then swivelled to the ‘returns’ bin, scooping out

exactly the book Thomas had requested.

He thanked her, impressed that she could put her hands on it so quickly; maybe she was a

student here… maybe she’d read it before, it did seem like her type of book. He once again

looked around the vicinity of the desk, before asking again; “Sorry, so sorry, but would you

happen to know when any of the staff would be back? I really need this book checked out so

I can go home and-”

“I’ll do it.”

This answer cut him off and took him by surprise. That had to be against the library rules,

didn’t it? She couldn’t just go round the counter and sort it herself. that would be improper!

Though seemingly much more convenient than waiting here for a member of staff…

He starts to thank her for her kindness, but assures her he’d rather wait for a member of

staff, when he was stopped again, this time by her long sigh. When he looked confused, she

tapped a little name badge pinned to her lace-adorned black jacket - ‘This Bookworm’s

Name Is…. Katy'' it read.

Thomas was sure he looked flabbergasted, and worked hard to pick up his jaw and maintain

his composure. He had had a hard time rationalising someone like this young woman being

in this building at all, nevermind working here of her own free will.

Unable to help himself. his mind wandered, as he watched her walk around the desk to

check out his book. Maybe it wasn’t under her own steam at all...? Maybe she was part of a

shoddy witness protection program, where they needed to hide her from a murdering mob of

the mafia, and had decided to put her in the most unlikely place, but had forgotten to change

her attire, so she’s ended up sticking out like a sore thumb.. or maybe she refused to change

out of what made her comfortable? Refused… gotten violent? He shouldn’t think like that but

he couldn’t help it. Perhaps community service had led to her donning the badge? Maybe it

was either this or picking up rubbish on the side of the road…

He was abruptly snapped out of his study by the thud-clack of the library stamp, echoing

through the silence of the building.

She was looking at him, having already gauged his expression, and when he met her gaze,

she rolled her eyes like she’d heard it all before. As she slid his book round to him, folding

the overleaf back in, she seemed to answer his unspoken musings with a simple “I like

books.”

Thomas nodded, slightly flustered that he had been caught out in such a judgemental way of

thinking. Of course she just liked books, that was all the reason she needed. He picked up

his book, and headed towards the heavy doors again, feeling ashamed as he made his exit.

- - - - - -

Julia watched the heavy doors open and close again. That was the third customer of the day

to leave with their book checked out by a seemingly empty desk. She knew already that if

she went to the check out book, the book would be logged correctly, in a neat handwriting,

and if she ran after the customer, asking them if she could quickly check their bookstamp,

she would find the correct date and stamp used.

She knew, because she’d done it twice already.

She glanced up at the framed photo on the wall, the brass glint catching in the brief sunlight

let in by customers coming and going. It was a photo of a goth-looking young girl. She was

smiling wide, barely managing under a hefty stack of books, but looking thrilled to be there

nonetheless.

‘In Memoriam - Katy Strachen, booklover and dear, dear friend,’ read the accompanying

plaque.

Julia smiled sadly.

She had liked books, their Katy.