Saturday Stories: The Library Part 2

I'm running out of stories.

That's a bit scary for me.

Maybe I'm not the dating aficionado that I make myself out to be. There was that five year dry spell... and then the two year after that...

But, none the less, I shall dig into my recesses and find more after this weekend...

Today's story, once again, occurred in the library. (After it happened, I seriously questioned my choice of degree).

I was straightening books, counting down the minutes until I could go home (sounds pretty much like my real job on some days). 

And then, someone said something. 

It's a downtown city library so there are plenty of crazies or homeless people who stay there in the middle of winter to keep warm and be off the street. It's free. There are places to sit. So I just assumed that he was crazy...

Nope.

He repeated himself. He was talking to me.

He asked if I worked at the library. He asked why I worked at the library. He asked if I had a boyfriend. Then he asked me for my number and if we could go out for coffee. 

I panicked. This was maybe the first time in my life a man had asked for my phone number. Sure, I'd lost a lot of weight (to be documented in a future blog post), but I couldn't be THAT attractive... Or could I?

So, I gave him my number.

And prayed that he wouldn't call.

Later that day, I missed a phone call. When I googled the number, it came from the homeless shelter. But the guy had a cell phone. 

I never got another phone call. 

And I've yet to find another man to pick me up. Apparently I need to start going back to the library.

Saturday Stories: The Library

Once upon a time...

I was a volunteer in the library. 

As I was trying to decide whether or not I should go into my masters program, I thought that a great way to get experience was to volunteer for four hours on Saturday.

Plus, my social life was pretty non-existent.

[source]

I would straighten the books on the shelves, and organize the books that needed to be re-shelved so that the library pages didn't have to do it. It was agonizing but I figured that everyone has to start somewhere.

One day, as I was straightening stacks, someone started to make a noise like "tsk, tsk". I ignored it as there were a lot of homeless people who seemed to wander around the library. But the voice was persistent and then I realized that it was a man, trying to get my attention. 

He asked what I was doing and if I worked there.

I told him that I was working toward my degree and I was just a volunteer.

He then told me I was pretty.

I focused on straightening the stacks. (Because I'm awkward like that and the only men who have ever told me I'm pretty are the ones who were drunk and trying to grope me on the subway). 

He asked for my number.

I hesitated. How do I give a man I've never even met my number? I mean... I know HOW... but WHY would I do that?

I gave it to him. And prayed that he'd never call. 

He never did.

Shortly after that incident, I had to stop working at the library. My schedule wouldn't allow for volunteering anymore. 

If I'm honest, I kind of miss getting picked up in the library.