Day One
As I adjusted my name badge, I took a seat at the checkout desk and logged onto the computer. This would be my second week volunteering here and I've loved it. I knew this library inside and out so naturally when the sign up board for the summer holiday came about, my name was the first on the list. I would have been here all summer either way.
Clicking away at the keys the bell jingles at the front door letting the fist browser in.
"Good morning," I said gently, looking up.
No response. He was tall, thin, and rather mysterious boy with thick black curls that covered his head. I wouldn't have ever known he had walked in truthfully, despite his rushed long strides, he was utterly silent. My eyes followed him to the non-fiction section, standing in front of 100-199.
The mystery man turned and I instantly recognized him. Sherlock Holmes. I shared some honors classes in school with him, he's truly brilliant. Knew the answers before the teacher would even say it. He is a rather silent fellow but studious, never the less. I suppose you could say that I've had a bit of a small crush on him but nothing that I've made too noticeable.
It is a shame though. Other students enjoy taunting him, mercilessly. (Jealousy I assume.) But he never showed signs of pain, emotionally that is. The Football team never hesitates to take him out once in a while…
But why would he be in the psychology section at 9:00 on a Friday morning? I shrugged it off and went back to work, slowly making it through the day. Not too many people came through, just a few university students, a couple of small children, and a browser or two. But Sherlock remained flipping through countless books, sitting at a table close to the shelves, furiously reading. And he stayed there, occasionally getting up to retrieve another stack of reading material.
4:00 came around and I left another volunteer in charge so I could get some dinner. I meet with two of my friends at a local restaurant not too far from the library and talked about our day while we waited for our food to come out.
They talked about going to the mall, lip gloss, and other things that I really didn't care for, until it was my turn to talk of the day's activities. I sort of blushed before answering,
"I was at the library today-"
"Ooh! Clearly someone special walked in! I know all about the signs of romance. Read it in-"
"Kate! Let Nessa speak! Continue." Kirstin said, turning to me.
"Well…Sherlock Holmes walked in." I said softly.
Kate rolled her eyes, Kirstin smiled.
"Ugh…What do you see in that freak?" Kate asked, annoyed.
"He's not a freak! He's just smart, that's all…and quiet, and-"
"Just like you? Yeah we get it-"
"Will you shut up?!" she said glaring at Kate. "What about him Ness?"
"Well…that's just it. He's been there all day reading books about psychology and the human mind. Didn't even leave for lunch, heck, he hasn't gotten up for anything except to get more books!"
They both looked at each other confused. "That is strange…I mean why would he-"
"Believe me, I haven't the slightest," I told Kate.
The conversation ended there and our food came out. I finished a bit quickly to go back to the library, picking up a cookie as a snack for later. (I'd be there until closing at 10:00) Walking back, I still couldn't figure out why he was there all today. What could he possibly be looking for?
I opened the double doors and return to the desk, setting down my things. Trying to focus, I looked at the computer screen but my eyes still wondered to the nonfiction section. Behind stacks of thick books, he still sat there. He looked almost frantic, searching through each and every page. Pain set on his face and for the first time in my life, I saw him break. A tear or two ran down his face and his hands began to shake. It physically pained me to see him so lonely, almost as if I too could feel the hurt in his eyes. Something made me grab for my lunch bag and take a napkin out along with a book on human emotion and the cookie on the desk.
Slowly and carefully, I walked towards him. He looked up, startled for just a moment, then back to his normal expressionless stare. I set the book next to him, "I-I thought it might help a bit…you have after all ransacked this section..." I trailed off staring at him. A stream of a tear that had been wiped away ran down his cheek. "Anyways," I said snapping out of my daze. "I just thought…well I know you haven't eaten…" I set the cookie on the napkin and then quickly made it back to the checkout desk, embarrassed. I could feel him watching me carefully until I sat down, only making my cheeks grow warmer.
Closing time came and I had just finished putting away the last couple of books. Turning to the non-fiction section, I found all the books put away and Sherlock staring into space. Occasionally moving his hands, shaking his head, and by his facial expression, deeply in thought. He let out a deep, disappointing sigh putting his head on the table. Feeling me watching him, he looked up at me. Embarrassed I looked away once again and heard the jingling of the bells at the front of the library. Like that he was gone.
Cautiously, I walked over to where he had been the whole day. A few crumbs were all that was left on the napkin and every book was properly in its place on the shelf behind the wooden table. And with that, I left, still completely lost on what he had been doing in the non-fiction section.
