#11

A library implies an act of faith.

~Victor Hugo

Reid sighed peacefully as he pulled into the Emmerson library. He considered it his home library as he could walk there. But tonight he was driving because he needed the peace and the normalcy after a difficult case. He got out of the car and walked into the library. The smells soothed his senses.

The evening librarian Emma, greeted him warmly.

"It's been a while Spencer," she said. "Two weeks to be exact."

"I didn't know you were counting," Reid said teasingly.

"You're one of my regulars and seeing you brings me peace especially during chaotic times," she said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked.

She raised her hand. "In three, two, one," she said and the unmistakable sound of Legos crashing in bins could be heard. It filled the entire library as kids started to laugh and squeal.

Emma sighed. "Our new children's librarian didn't waste any time changing things. People are trying to concentrate in here!" she shouted in hushed tone.

Reid looked annoyed. "There are tutors trying to help students in here," he said.

She shook her head. "It is all about getting people in the door. It doesn't matter if it is just to play with toys."

He nodded. "Library patronage is decreasing across the board to due to other sources for information and electronic books."

Emma smiled. "Google can give you a million answers."

"But a librarian can get you the right one," Reid said.

Her smile broadened and then she suddenly turned around. She came back with a list of titles.

"Our newest acquisitions I thought you might like."

He took the sheet of paper and smiled. "Thanks Emma."

"Any time for you Spencer."

Reid went to the new book section and started browsing titles. The sounds of crashing and clanking was relentless. He pretended he was in a noisy police precinct and tried to block the sound out.

An hour later kids between the ages of six and twelve came marching in. Reid looked to see them placing their creations on top of the short book cases in the kid's area. Some of them were mildly impressive. That still wasn't an excuse for the noise though.

"Thank you Miss. J," one kid said to a woman with twin braids who helped him lift his creation up.

"Any time kiddo," she said cheerfully. "You'll be taller than me in no time."

Reid went back to reading his books. Later he heard "Miss J." say good-bye to Emma, and Emma gave a very brief response. Tension at the workplace was never a good thing.

It was ten minutes to closing when Reid checked out his materials. He thanked Emma for the recommendation and she smiled and blushed in return. Reid had known Emma for four years. He knew she had a boyfriend for a while but in the past few times he had visited she had seemed very interested him. He didn't know what to think. It might be worth considering.

…

Three weeks later Reid was bored one Saturday and decided to visit the library. He entered it to find all the chairs in the quiet reading area removed and the tables pushed to the walls. In the center children were sitting eagerly. Reid went in the opposite the direction to find a nook to read.

"So who would like to see some monkeys?" Miss Jay shouted into a microphone.

There were cheers. Reid groaned and curled up as best he could. Throughout the library he could hear the different monkeys being described and how they interacted with the children. He couldn't help but find it somewhat interesting even though he already knew most of the facts. An hour later the program ended but the noisiness of the children lingered for at least another half hour.

When the library quieted down he lost track of time. It felt good to get lost in some books after being so distracted. It wasn't until a page quietly told him the library was closing soon that he realized how late it was.

Reid noticed a motorcycle in the space reserved for librarians. He wondered if it belonged to Miss. J. He decided to linger a while longer in the lot. Sure enough Miss. J appeared in jeans holding a helmet.

"Hi," she said cheerfully. "May I help you?"

"I just wanted to introduce myself," he said clumsily. "I'm Dr. Spencer Reid."

"I'm Joan Monahan," she said offering a hand.

Reid waved. "I heard kids call you 'Miss. J'"

"Miss. J sounds cooler don't you think? And Monahan is such a long name for kids to say."

"Right," he said.

"Something on your mind Dr. Reid?" she said.

"You've made my library louder," he said suddenly.

"Is that a problem?" she asked mildly.

"Yes," he said firmly. "I think your programing is making it difficult for people to concentrate, like the monkey exhibit."

"I couldn't put it in the meeting room because it would have been a fire code violation."

"And this Lego club, the noise spreads everywhere."

"Noise is a sign of energy in a library," she said defensively. "The kids were having fun and I'm glad I got so many kids especially on a school night."

"Where there were also tutors," he said with annoyance.

She looked offended. "Dr. Reid if you or anyone else you know have complaints about my programming implementations, by all means contact the director. But you should also know that I was hired to bring up attendance numbers by any means I can get funding for."

"So what next, you're going to bring a clown in the library?"

"No," she said. "Some clowns scare kids. I'm bringing in a juggler."

Reid shook his head. "Unbelievable."

Monahan put her helmet on. "It's the future Dr. Reid."

…

On a plane ride home people were describing their plans for the weekend.

"James Bond marathon," Luke Alvez said.

"Cigar rolling event," Rossi said.

"Jack and I are going to a family picnic."

"A girlfriend's bachelorette party," Lewis said.

"I'm taking Max and Henry to this juggling event at a local library," J.J. said.

Reid looked up from his book. "Emerson library?"

"Yes, that's your neighborhood library isn't it?" she said and smiled. "Why don't you come and we can go out for something later?"

"Sure," he mumbled.

"You don't like a juggler in the library?" she said teasingly.

"It ruins the experience for other patrons," he said huffily.

"But it is fun, come and see," she said.

"Fine," he said.

…

Next Saturday he found himself on the ground holding Max as Henry stood on the little stage looking like he was having the time of his life. He was throwing things back and the juggler kept throwing them higher. J.J. and Will were beaming with approval. At one point he notice Monahan watching him briefly.

When the even was over Henry asked:

"Can you juggle?"

"A little bit, but magic is what I am best at."

"Maybe you could show off your magic skills at the library then," Henry said.

"I'm not sure the librarian would want that," he said.

J.J. laughed. "A juggler isn't that different from a magician."

"Magic involves more skill," he said.

Monahan appeared. "Did I hear something about you knowing magic?"

"My godfather is the best!" Henry said.

She looked at him. "I've been looking for a magician. Would you be interested?"

"I'm an FBI agent," he said. "You wouldn't want me."

Monahan clapped her hands together. "I love it! You can be an educational magician. Combine fun with what you think kids need to know about safety."

J.J. nudged him. "It does sound like fun."

Feeling cornered, he nodded. "Okay but J.J. you have to be my assistant."

"It would be my pleasure," she said with a slight bow.

"Great," Monahan said happily. "Come into my office and we'll work out the logistics."

…

"Do I look okay?" Reid said nervously as they drove to the library a few weeks later.

"Do I?" J.J. said. "I never washed my hair on the plane before.

"You look great."

"Come on let's get in there."

Monahan looked like she about to cry out of relief when she saw them. They were running fifteen minutes late.

"I know about the case in Indianapolis," she said. "It's okay that you're late. You save lives and this is just fun. Thank you for managing to come."

"I wouldn't want to disappoint your audience," he said.

"Thank you," she said

The show was a rousing success. Kids kept asking about how he did certain tricks. He directed them to the books in the library and kids were actually checking out reading materials. Monahan looked extremely pleased.

Once the rest of the audience dispersed she approached them.

"Can I buy you two dinner, off the books?"

J.J. shook her head. "I just want to go home and put my feet up."

"How about you Dr. Reid?" she asked.

"I think I'd like that," he said.

"You like Indian?"

"I love it."

…

Four weeks later Reid visited the library and found Emma giving him the cold shoulder. She didn't have any new book recommendations for him even though he knew this was when the most new books came in.

"Can you recommend any books?" he asked.

"Why don't you ask Joan?" she said.

"You have better sense of my tastes," he said nervously.

"But she will eventually."

Reid sighed. So this was how it was going to be. He and Emma never managed to connect. With Joan there was more debate and conflict in a good way.

"So now you're for noisy libraries?" she said.

"I see more of the merits to interactive library activities," he said diplomatically.

She turned her head to the computer. A minute later she produced a list of books for him to look at.

"Thank you," he said politely.

"You're welcome," she said tightly.

End Note:

I know what I'm talking about with this one. Llamas have come inside my library. The librarian isn't me. I'm afraid of motorcycles.