Fred waited in the queue at the Librarian’s desk. He took his phone out, checked the time. He shuffled forward to peer over the person in front of him. Why was the queue moving so slow?
Fred had not seen this Librarian on his many visits for study material. Her hand-painted ornate name tag announced “Julia”. No title for “Julia”, no other name.
For the second time since entering the library, Fred checked the time. He had thirty-four minutes remaining before he was due back in the classroom. At long last, it was his turn.
“Julia, the book ‘The Theory of Machine Design’ by Thomas Bevan is not on the Reference Section shelf. I have used it there before. I need to check the design in this book for my exam today. I have ten minutes left for notes,” complained Fred glancing once again at the time on his phone.
“Good morning, sir. Are you sure? Books in the Reference Section are not removed,” replied Julia.
“Yes, I am sure, and yes, I know readers must not remove them. That is why I’m at your desk, Julia. It is not there, and I need it for my open-book exam, now.”
“Even if it were there, you are not allowed to remove it. Give me a quick moment to check the records.”
“Please hurry, I’m almost out of time,” said Fred looking at his phone then looking around at the others waiting in the queue. Irritated, Fred turned and looked beyond Julia. A few trolleys, packed high with books, stood in a group at the sorting area behind a counter.
The book! There it was on the second trolley.
“Julia, look, there it is, that red one,” exclaimed Fred. “Please let me have it for a quick five minutes to take a few notes. I promise only five minutes.”
Julia looked up from the records ledger she was searching through. Seeing the excitement on his face, she turned to look in the direction he pointed. “No! We cannot touch those books. They need re-cataloguing. Sorry, sir.”
“I will buy you roses and chocolates. I will even take you to dinner for a five-minute look at that book,” pleaded Fred.
“This is most irregular,” said Julia, her cheeks turning red in her otherwise pale face. “No, I cannot allow it.”
Fred took the three paces, placed one hand on the counter, was over to the trolley and the book.
The loud shriek of an alarm brought Fred back to his senses. He froze.
Excellent story with build up and suspense. The action around the dialogue adds to the suspense.
Hi Marlene. Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
This was a fast paced story and I could feel the mounting tension for Fred as he tries to get through to Julia. The ending was great leaving the reader with a range of possibilities.
Hi Jude. Although these are homework exercises, I try to make them interesting for anyone who might read them. “Will the reader turn the page?” Thank you for your interest and comment.