The end of an era and the start of the beginning of it all

Thelma typed away at her computer, feeling just as bored as the email she was sending with her reasons. Opening the top drawer of the desk for a sticky note her eyes fell upon a date stamp, a barcode scanner and an ink pad, according to the return date they hadn’t been used for at least ten years. The policy used to be that people could borrow books for up to three weeks and renew them up to five times if they weren’t on the waiting list. 

Thelma took a sip of her fruit tea and set the mug down, it was true, nobody was really supposed to be drinking near computers but as long as the boss didn’t see. The library had closed half an hour ago, the two people that had been quietly reading had already left. She sat pondering how best to phrase her email… did it all make sense? Libraries used to be such lively places, yet always quiet, conversations were held in whispers and people always Brough their books back in time. Nowadays you had screaming babies in pushchairs, children perusing the aisles whilst tapping their computer gadgets no longer interested in reading. More often than not she would hear things like “I have to read this book for class, do you have it? Oh please tell me you don’t.”

She left her desk to tidy away stray books and noticed an elderly man sitting at one of the tables head deep within the paper, she frowned at him for still being here but thought it was rather sweet that he had found something so interesting to read not to notice the world around him. Approaching cautiously she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and spoke softly “Hey… it’s time to go, I need to lock up.” The paper slipped through the man’s fingers onto the table as he gave a snore.

Great, so this was the homeless man that had chosen to fall asleep, he had already been told twice that afternoon already. She collected his paper and returned it to the stand with the other papers and returned to her desk to contact security. 

“Hey, buddy, you can’t sleep in the library, if you’d like to read something all these books will be here tomorrow, you need to leave now.”

The man stirred and looked around wearily, he seemed to have forgotten he’d been holding a paper. He mumbled the words “Where’s she gone?” “Was right here.”

His hands were crawling across the table like spiders and he felt the edges then picked up his cane, shopping bag and walking stick which fumbled with at first. “My dear, you here?”

The security guards relaxed, he was trying to make a move, and he was blind. “It’s okay sir, take your time but you do need to make your way to the exit. Do you need guiding?”

“I was waiting for my friend, she was right here.” He said softly.

“If you like one of us can wait with you outside, I’m sure they will spot you at the entrance.”

“Cliff” The security guard looked back at the speaker, it was quite dark out and it wasn’t the most pleasant of evenings. “Are you sure you want to send him out in the wet weather? We can take him to one of the reading rooms while we ensure he gets home safely.”

“Sounds great Scott, if you’d like to do that I’ll check in with Thelma, lock the empty rooms.”

“No problem.” he turned his attention to the man now balancing on his walking stick his cane tapped the edge of his seat and the wall. 

He began walking between the two obstacles sweeping his cane from side to side. 

“Hey, sir, you forgot your bag.” Scott collected the man’s bag from the table. He had a cane in one hand and a walking stick in the other, he did not seem to own a backpack to put his shopping. 

“Oh, that’s my wife’s carrier bag, she went shopping and asked me to look after it until she got back.”

“I think you should follow me into one of the reading rooms, we can contact your wife, the weather looks a bit miserable for you to go home alone, how did you get here today?”

“My wife drove, we’re in the car park underground, level Two, row B. I’d still feel comfortable if someone guide me back to the car. I have no idea how long she said she’d be, I think she wanted to do some secret shopping for my birthday you see, so I can’t be with her or it’d ruin the surprise.” 

Scott was guiding the man into one of the reading rooms “Careful here, it’s quite narrow” he Brought his arm behind his back to allow the man to walk directly behind.

“This is us.” The man had no idea which way they were going but Scott’s voice appeared t have trailed off to the right so he brought his long cane to the right and fed it between each side of the door frame. He found his way into the back of the nearest chair, pulled it towards him, then, after checking it definitely had a seat he took it. Folding up his cane he turned to face the direction of the speaker.

“My name is Scott as you can probably tell from when I was talking to my colleague, we work security here at the library.”

“Maurice” said the man, he put his cane on the table “Do you have the carrier bag?” 

“Right here.” Said Scott placing it carefully on the table beside his right hand so that the material touched his hand gently. Maurice grabbed the bag wit both hands and pulled it towards him as if checking everything that was supposed t one inside was still there. 

“Maurice, you said that your wife was coming t pick you up, I think that you should call her, what’s her name?”

“Angela, I’m sure she’ll pick up.” He began listening to his phone read out every name and confirmed to call Angela… but there was no answer, neither did the phone go to voicemail. 

“I’ll give her five minutes then try again, she could be in a noisy shop.”

“Not many shops will be open this late at night.” Said Scott solemnly “She might be on her way back here.”

Angela’s daughter Pepper picked up the phone the second time and Maurice spoke in his cheerful self “Oh Pepper, is your mother there, it’s Maurice.”

“You’ve heard?” Pepper’s voice seemed close to tears

“No, dear, I’ve not heard anything, I’m still at the library with some shopping waiting for her to collect me.” There was an awkward silence.

“Oh, no, I can’t believe… it’s okay dad, I will come and get you instead.”

“Is Angela okay?”

Pepper did not answer his question “I will be with you in about ten minutes, the situation is quite serious and difficult to explain, I will do my best as we make our way there.”

“What do you mean ‘Difficult to explain?’ Is she still alive?” He chuckled at his own joke but nobody laughed.

Pepper’s voice was filled with anguish as she spoke “I don’t know; I hope so.”

Maurice ended the call there without saying goodbye; fearing the worst he accepted the mug of water offered to him doing his best to remain calm and positive, making small talk with Scott and although some topics were recycled. 

Pepper knocked on the door her face expressionless…