Steven has the last laugh

The sun had set, flood light of green and red lit up the three story brick building. The central stairway led to tow large Victorian wooden doors with roman arches. Windows on all three floors had a traditional look, with modern assembly, never to open , but pleasing to the eye.

The two women were chatting as the head librarian locked the deceptively ancient doors.

‘’l don’t care what Steven said, there is no way that, that table moved during the night, he’s trying to upset everyone with his stories. Look, he thinks hes a joker, don’t pay any attention to his foolishness. No, that’s it, tomorrow l will talk to him. Now goodnight, Ada, l will see you Tuesday.’’

She walked away briskly , the other stood on the steps feeling defeated, she knew something was going on the library.

She went down the stairs and walked to the side walk, she looked up at the old building, she thought of its history, build in 1854, for young women as a finishing school. Lasting till early 1900 hundreds, when the city bought and converted it to be city hall, as years went by up keep became to much , the town build a modern residence for the mayor and councilpersons, leaving the building to continue to deteriorate and become an eye for in the downtown area. Eventually the preservation society, got involved and decided it was time to restore the historic venue.

  The town was proud of its project, at the opening , the current mayor made a noble speech about the history of the building, it contribution to the town and , how now it would serve all inhabitants.

That was several tears ago, now it was still the town library.

Its history of pride for the town made it a place to stop for tourists.

Its dark history of murder and being the city morgue during the epidemic were glossed over and ignored.

As the head librarian was turning the key in the lock, a faint mist was forming in the fiction section, seeping from the books, slowly forming into figures that only the imagination viewed. 

From the children's section laughter and squealing , with tiny feet echoed in the still dark building.

A robed formed into an almost solid figure, its arms folded into the sleeves of its brown, rough garment, the hood covering the face giving chills to the children who ran by it.

  Three ancient magicians in fancy Arabic dress searched for their camels by the reception desk. A young boy about fourteen in coveralls and barefoot smiled as he slide down the stairwell hand rail. In a moments the library was swarmed with creatures and people, all living in their own universe, talking, yelling , crying or just staring into the books or walls. It was a capsule of chaos that would have made any one not initiated, go insane with confusion and fear.

Heard above the incoherent a voice boomed causing all to stop what they doing and turn towards the voice.

‘’ we have to take care of this now, we can’t delay anymore. Everyone please come into the main lobby and lets get this settled.

 They all moved a one crowding in to lobby, at first it seemed that they wouldn’t all fit , then each form adjusted and all fit, closed in, but not crushed together.

The one who got their attention, drifted up to the check desk, he had on a black robe and a white curly wig. He looked over the assembly, looking at each one them, Robin Hood, Snow White, Tarzan,Gatsby, 

Bambi. Each had a vote and worse an opinion.

The black robed speaker began.’’to night we will vote and finally make a decision. We have heard all of the evidence, many times, everyone has had a chance to give their reasons for or against, they haven’t been new additions for a month, there is NO, l repeat NO… reason not to vote and make this verdict, now l propose….’’

‘’Wait, there’s something l want to say…’’

‘’Mary shut that lamb up or were having chops tonight.’’

Mary looked embarrassed and muzzled her sheep.

A tall lean figure in green with a green pointy had spoke up,’’this is not right, my merry men aren’t all here.’’

‘’ Robin, l have told you, unless a character has a definite being , they can’t vote, your merry-men are a phrase, let it go.’’ he continued waking across the counter.’’ listen to , we have been at this for centuries, the transfer from three other libraries have said they decide, we look like a bunch of horses asses.’’ there was a neigh , from the back.’’ Sorry Pegasus, it’s just a saying, don’t take personally,.’’ under his breath he muttered,’’Bloody Greek Gods, so sensitive.’’

‘’ Alright, lets do this, l suggest that…’’

‘’what about historical fiction, what did we decide about that?’’

‘’Damn it, Sherlock, can’t you keep anything straight in your in that deer stalker head of yours? The robed leader expelled in frustration.

“I say, that’s no way to talk to this poor man, just because he over did with the opium, and cocaine, and reefers.. is no reason to ..’

‘’ Shut up Watson, everyone knows he not real, just your stick man to cover up your mistakes.’’

‘’ Now, no more interruptions, l am tired of being thought of as discovered country of indecision. Tonight we are going to vote and settle this.’’

‘’I want to be transfer-ed to less hostile environment.’’

‘’ Lector, l will muzzle you, we all want you transferred, believe me.’’ 

All vanished at once, the light scanned the lobby, stopping at the security desk, it paused for moment at the boards of up coming events then darkness sweeten the lobby.

All appeared, looking at the main counter. The robed speaker looked towards the entrance door, he watched , waited, then began to speak

‘’as l was saying …. we have to vote tonight, there is no reason to delay, everyone knows what we have to decide and what it will mean, this will change everything for us, now those you who don’t like change, which is all of you imaginary literary characters, you have to deal with this, the movement is in all libraries, everywhere, most have voted and it has been difficult for them , but, it will , be better for all us.’’

‘’ How? How will this be better, you know what will happen, they are so indecisive, their not happen will the way things have been, sometimes for centuries, and with sequels, new versions, political correctness, it’s gonna change everything, the only place were safe and know whats the right way is here . Once were checked out,nothing is same out there. And what about late returns, or…… or those who not returned, what about their vote.’’ Humpty had finally put himself back together and made sense, many were afar id of his incoherent babbling and avoided him.

‘’ oh my God.’’ the robed one had his hands covering his face as if he praying to his palms.’’ Hump, we don’t know who has been returned, there’s seven branches, in circuit, they might have been put in the system, may put in to isolation to persevere their edition, who knows, we are all here and we have the right, and duty.’’ he emphasized’’ to make this vote.’’

‘’Oh, l dread this, but, dose anyone else have anything to ass..?’’

He looked over the lobby at all of the characters. Batman looked away, Sinbad, was about to raise his hand but stopped. The three little were talking among themselves. Hercule Poriot tweaked his moustache, smiling gleefully at it perfectness.

‘’ I can’t see him’’ the short bespectacled old man whispered.

‘’ How can we vote, if he’s not here?’’ the big eared odd looking little one inquired

‘’ All right dwarf's, what is it?’’ the robed one asked

‘’Grumpys not here, we can’t vote!’’ the sad one wailed.

They all heard a toilet flush. ‘’ Ok, we know where he is.’’

The robed one hung his and sighed, he stood on the counter for a few minutes, distant from rest.

 A masked cowboy in a light blue costume outfit, walked to the front of the crowd. ‘’ Ya ‘l need to ah, hear what l think.’’

‘’Shut up you in bred.’’ A tall well groomed buckskin, with aquiline features barked.’’ got feed Silver , dumb ass”

The lone ranger looked hurt and meekly replied.’’ Y es sir.’’

‘’ No, not yet, we have to vote.’’ the robed on the counter was near to tears or screaming insanely.’’ We are going to vote , now! No more delays, were like Republicans trying to cancel health care, we have to focus, understand the reason why we a doing this and what is best for all, not argue because we are to stupid to see what is really going on. Now , Grumpy is back.’’

The short fat dwarf looked around the lobby, all were staring at him.

‘’ I can’t help, when ever Snow makes chill, it goes right through me,

 gee z.’’ the little man looked embarrassed, he put his hands behind his back , dragged his left foot slowly and kept his down. Snow White had a peeved look on her face and starred and the now awkward nanus. 

There was silence, everyone felt nervous and none could look each other in the eye.

Suddenly and clay jar with honey burst into crowd, with an orange stuff body with bad stitching, stubby paws grasping at the jar. It banged into dragon with purple scales who screamed like a little girl, then flapping wings it flew up over everyone, yelping and crashing in to the ceiling , causing it to drop . landing on several of them. Curses and groans were erupting from the assemblage. Everyone started talking, some yelling, two of the pigs squealed and ran for the children s section. 

Two knights on horses, that were clothed in purple and gold, began sniping at each other raising their lances threateningly at each other.

The robed on the counter looked on bewildered, it was chaos, some began hitting each other with rolling pins, one goose, tore off its bonnet and began biting a hunchback who cried for mercy in french.

Pandemonium ruled, a grizzled, peg legged leg sea captain, tried to spear a raven, who kept repeating ‘’ Nevermore.’’ a north American Indian with a turtle tattoo on his chest had grabbed a teenage Italian boy in tights and was trying scaple him. The moon face made out of cheese was evading three mice wearing sun glasses. A tall well built man in an leather aviation jacket,was laughing so hard he brought his head down an got his finger stuck in his nose, he look up desperately, trying to someones attention to help him. Two ugly sisters started to fight each other of a wooden shoe. A dutch boy with one shoe looked at the tall man in the leather jack and asked him if his nose was a dyke.

 A clumsy, large eared elephant tried to stomp on the sun glass wearing mice. A swan was covering its head with its wings say’’ Please. Please, l just became beautiful.’’ 

A beam of light flashed in to the lobby, the ray graced over the floor to the counter. The darkness at the edge of the light fogged and dissipated. 

A voice echo in the empty lobby’’ All right, our time is up, we will settle this tomorrow night. Everyone be prepared to vote right away, l got a date with Bridgett Jones and I don’t want to wast any more time with this.’’

A choir of voices yelled‘’ Judge Turpin, shut up. The lobby was quite, so still that air from the vents slightly shifted the paper upon the counter.

A young man with short red hair crept in to service are behind the counter, he began moving items on the desks, he placed a hand shaped piece of card on the photo copier, he one hundred. He started to laugh then in a proud boastful he said’’ Ada, you are going to freak out Tuesday.’’ he continued laughing.