Foundations Chapter 4
Early the next morning, Dave walked across campus. He couldn't sleep...the anxiousness was keeping him on edge. Today was the day. All of the planning, all of our hopes start now. He hoped that some reading would calm him down a bit. Let's see if those books have come in yet. After walking through the main library's front door and descending the stairs, a quick right turn brought him to the new bookshelf. As per his weekly ritual, he ran his finger along the spines of the tomes, making sure that the previous month's orders were there. Occasionally, he would pull one off the shelf, crack it open, and inspect a few pages to make sure the quality met his standards.
Within fifteen minutes, he had six books stacked beside him, ready for checkout. Anticipating some challenging reading, he smiled to himself. After all, one needed to keep one's edge if he or she were to keep students interested.
"They meet your standards, I trust?" Caitlin asked, allowing a bit of humor to seep into her voice. The library dean approached him quickly and continued, "Why don't we put those in my office for now? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet. I was going to grab something out of the machine in the department," he told her as they got into the elevator.
"I thought so," she noted as they stepped off into her suite. Unlocking the door, she allowed him to place the stack on her desk before she secured it once again. "Breakfast is on me, David. You look as though you need to talk."
He sighed deeply and gave her the familiar glance.
"I thought so," she surmised as they walked out of the building, heading down the mall area and across the construction area to the rapidly changing Student Union. The old structure, long a fixture on campus, had been gutted and now, a new version was rising in its place. "You like the changes?"
"I guess. Personally, I wish they had kept it the way it was," he muttered. Aside from the money involved in the building project, he had a lot of memories wrapped up in the old Union. I know we have to move on at some point, but why does it have to be so hard?
"Things change, David. Life goes on," she reminded him. "You're not a student anymore. I'm not the same librarian that I was on the day I arrived. The campus has different needs now as well. The world has different needs."
"Don't I know it," he agreed although not as enthusiastically as she might.
She stared at him in surprise and shock. What's eating at him? This is the day of his big triumph. The day he sticks it to those bigots and begins his equality project. "Okay, what is it?"
"What's what?" he asked.
"C'mon, David. What's bothering you? I've never seen you back down from anything or anyone before. I also know when something's on your mind."
He nodded. "There is, actually. I don't know how good of a mentor I can be for these kids."
"What? You were one of the best peer advisors this university has ever had! Besides, who other than...someone like you with talents and experience living here can guide them? You're perfect for the job." Holding the door of the food court open, she allowed him to walk through before following him.
"There are other issues too, Caitlin. You know what...or rather whom I'm talking about," he argued.
She shrugged, sipping on a cup of flavored coffee. "If I get your meaning, I think he'll work with us. This is in both of your interests, David. You forget, I've talked to the Child and lived to tell of it."
"You shouldn't take it so lightly," he stated, taking a gulp of his juice and nervously tapping on the table with his pen.
"I don't," she told him. "But he's not really that bad, as long as neither of you are threatened. You can't remember this, but I've seen your moods at their worst. I saw what happened when you lost control. And I think this is going to be a good experience for you both. You're ready to take this role. The university administration supports you, as do the deans and the rest of the faculty. It's time to deal with the situation just as you said at the rally."
"And what happens if some super powered twit attacks campus?" he wondered.
"Been there. Watched you deal with that. You'll handle it or call for backup. From what I can tell, you have some pretty powerful friends of your own. Have confidence and try to remain positive, okay?" she assured him even as their waffles arrived.
He took a bite of the chewy item, savoring the taste in his mouth even while considering her words. Everyone really thinks I can do this. Maybe I should finally take their word for it.
"Seeing my reasoning, aren't you?" she jabbed playfully. "It took long enough."
"Yeah, I can see it," he agreed. "Thanks."
"My pleasure," she said. "Now, you know that I expect you to give these folks a tour of the library this afternoon. I want to welcome them myself. What time are you meeting with them?"
"About noon. Angie, Eve, Francesca, and Steve will be there as well. I figure we'll need a few minutes to talk with them. How about 12:30?" he detailed.
"Very good," she agreed. "I'll have Sue-Anne hold that time, and I'll ask that everyone keeps this low key. Sounds all right?"
"Great," he expressed. "Thanks for doing this, Caitlin. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. It's the least I can do. Now eat up. That's an order," she replied.
"Yes, Ma'am," he complied almost flippantly as he carved another piece. After all, the meeting was still four hours away and at least, he could keep his stomach full.
Early the next morning, Dave walked across campus. He couldn't sleep...the anxiousness was keeping him on edge. Today was the day. All of the planning, all of our hopes start now. He hoped that some reading would calm him down a bit. Let's see if those books have come in yet. After walking through the main library's front door and descending the stairs, a quick right turn brought him to the new bookshelf. As per his weekly ritual, he ran his finger along the spines of the tomes, making sure that the previous month's orders were there. Occasionally, he would pull one off the shelf, crack it open, and inspect a few pages to make sure the quality met his standards.
Within fifteen minutes, he had six books stacked beside him, ready for checkout. Anticipating some challenging reading, he smiled to himself. After all, one needed to keep one's edge if he or she were to keep students interested.
"They meet your standards, I trust?" Caitlin asked, allowing a bit of humor to seep into her voice. The library dean approached him quickly and continued, "Why don't we put those in my office for now? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet. I was going to grab something out of the machine in the department," he told her as they got into the elevator.
"I thought so," she noted as they stepped off into her suite. Unlocking the door, she allowed him to place the stack on her desk before she secured it once again. "Breakfast is on me, David. You look as though you need to talk."
He sighed deeply and gave her the familiar glance.
"I thought so," she surmised as they walked out of the building, heading down the mall area and across the construction area to the rapidly changing Student Union. The old structure, long a fixture on campus, had been gutted and now, a new version was rising in its place. "You like the changes?"
"I guess. Personally, I wish they had kept it the way it was," he muttered. Aside from the money involved in the building project, he had a lot of memories wrapped up in the old Union. I know we have to move on at some point, but why does it have to be so hard?
"Things change, David. Life goes on," she reminded him. "You're not a student anymore. I'm not the same librarian that I was on the day I arrived. The campus has different needs now as well. The world has different needs."
"Don't I know it," he agreed although not as enthusiastically as she might.
She stared at him in surprise and shock. What's eating at him? This is the day of his big triumph. The day he sticks it to those bigots and begins his equality project. "Okay, what is it?"
"What's what?" he asked.
"C'mon, David. What's bothering you? I've never seen you back down from anything or anyone before. I also know when something's on your mind."
He nodded. "There is, actually. I don't know how good of a mentor I can be for these kids."
"What? You were one of the best peer advisors this university has ever had! Besides, who other than...someone like you with talents and experience living here can guide them? You're perfect for the job." Holding the door of the food court open, she allowed him to walk through before following him.
"There are other issues too, Caitlin. You know what...or rather whom I'm talking about," he argued.
She shrugged, sipping on a cup of flavored coffee. "If I get your meaning, I think he'll work with us. This is in both of your interests, David. You forget, I've talked to the Child and lived to tell of it."
"You shouldn't take it so lightly," he stated, taking a gulp of his juice and nervously tapping on the table with his pen.
"I don't," she told him. "But he's not really that bad, as long as neither of you are threatened. You can't remember this, but I've seen your moods at their worst. I saw what happened when you lost control. And I think this is going to be a good experience for you both. You're ready to take this role. The university administration supports you, as do the deans and the rest of the faculty. It's time to deal with the situation just as you said at the rally."
"And what happens if some super powered twit attacks campus?" he wondered.
"Been there. Watched you deal with that. You'll handle it or call for backup. From what I can tell, you have some pretty powerful friends of your own. Have confidence and try to remain positive, okay?" she assured him even as their waffles arrived.
He took a bite of the chewy item, savoring the taste in his mouth even while considering her words. Everyone really thinks I can do this. Maybe I should finally take their word for it.
"Seeing my reasoning, aren't you?" she jabbed playfully. "It took long enough."
"Yeah, I can see it," he agreed. "Thanks."
"My pleasure," she said. "Now, you know that I expect you to give these folks a tour of the library this afternoon. I want to welcome them myself. What time are you meeting with them?"
"About noon. Angie, Eve, Francesca, and Steve will be there as well. I figure we'll need a few minutes to talk with them. How about 12:30?" he detailed.
"Very good," she agreed. "I'll have Sue-Anne hold that time, and I'll ask that everyone keeps this low key. Sounds all right?"
"Great," he expressed. "Thanks for doing this, Caitlin. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. It's the least I can do. Now eat up. That's an order," she replied.
"Yes, Ma'am," he complied almost flippantly as he carved another piece. After all, the meeting was still four hours away and at least, he could keep his stomach full.