Books

Itty Bitty (real name Bettie) Starmer asked for permission to run laps in the reading room to burn off some excitement that the library had opened again. Nolan, the word minder at the front desk that morning, was happy to give his consent and smiled when Bitty forgot herself instantly and let out a series of delighted squeals. They were careful, standing on floor markings and mostly masked although the Thou Shalt Not signage regarding facial coverings had been taken down; they were aware of and sensitive to the movements of each other. Charlie Heng was the first to check out with a hog pile of readers covering the gamut from poems about small animals to dinosaurs and go-cart racing. "I bet the books were lonely," he said, proudly shoving the stacks onto the counter. "I think they missed you," Nolan responded smiling, "but when books have no one to talk to, they read each other." "FOR REAL?!?" Charlie responded, spinning to look at the shelves with new amazement. "For real," Nolan confirmed, "and, sometimes, they forget to put themselves back in their own sections." Charlie's mom led him away and Nolan waved, welcoming the next person to step forward. Meanwhile, in the Toni Morrisons, Jane Austen cringed at overhearing him (wondering if she should just throw herself on the floor and let someone else re-shelve her this time).