Jenny
I love my job. I love the endless shelves of multi-coloured books, the range of subjects. I love the smell of the pages when I walk into the library each morning. And I especially love helping our customers. The thought that the Council could include us in the cuts horrifies me.
June, the librarian, now the only librarian, said we have to fight to keep the regulars. I’ve no idea how we are supposed to get the footfall up, though. As her junior, I have followed her advice. I give extra help and friendly support to everyone that enters.
Most days, it is only the old men sitting in the newspaper section. But even those I try to befriend, by encouraging them to scour the bookshelves. I’m giving my closest attention to everyone. There is no problem being attentive to the elderly, young girls and older women, but it’s not so easy with the younger men. Yet for my job’s sake, I have made a great effort to overcome my discomfort. I know I can be professional.
One young man visits almost daily. He must be a student. He seeks my help with a multitude of subjects. I’m helping with his historical research one day, and the next day some engineering related subject. He certainly has an impressive broad range of interests. This is what energizes me about my job, giving exceptional service. I just hope that I am making a difference and we can keep the library open. Otherwise I’ve got no job.
My boyfriend Graham thinks I should be wary of being too friendly and giving the wrong impression. I have tried to make him understand the situation we face, and how important my job is to me. Sometimes I think he sees me as a naive airhead.
Harry
I joined the library for another place to escape. There was an item in the local newspaper saying it faced closure. I’ve never been a great one for books, but I thought I’d go along, anyway. Mum keeps nagging me to get a job, so I keep out of the house. What I didn’t expect was to meet the girl of my dreams.
Her name badge reads Jenny, and I have begun to call her that. She is about five feet two, coal black hair that goes great with her large cherry-red framed glasses. She has such a friendly welcoming smile and goes to great lengths to help with whatever I ask.
Most days, I find an excuse to go into the library. If I pretend I am interested in a subject, Jenny insists on leaving her desk and walking me to the appropriate aisle. She takes the time to discover something about my interests and shows appreciation for my reading matter. When I’m standing next to her and she opens a book to point out something, I put my face by hers and to follow what she is showing me. I’m so close I can smell her warm hair.
I am returning to the library every day now. Even though I am basically a shy person, I cannot ignore the signals Jenny is giving out. With every visit, I feel more excited in her company. As soon as I realise the library is open, I am thinking of Jenny. Yesterday, she waved at me through the window as I left on my cycle. Tomorrow, I am going to pluck up the courage to ask Jenny out. I feel so confident that she will say yes.
Dan Keeble hails from the furthest point East in the UK, and has enjoyed many successes with online and print publications of poetry, short stories, humour, and more serious articles. He has appeared in Fiction on the Web, Everyday Fiction, Turnpike Magazine, Scribble, Flash Fiction Magazine, Agape Review, and many others on a long journey to a stubby pencil.