This comes from a Reedsy Writing Prompt: Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.
Speaking in a whisper I ask, “Can you direct me to the librarian?”
The person looks annoyed that I’m interrupting their reading. She looks around and points to a small lady wearing a blue dress with a grey sweater. She has streaks of grey in her black hair. We only see her for a moment as she walks between the stacks of books.
I whisper, “Thank you.”
The librarian seems to be a ninja or a ghost. I looked in the row she entered, and she wasn’t there. I started searching the stacks and found her offering a book to a young lady. The young woman looked to be a teenager and was excited to receive the book from the librarian. She was smiling and was holding the book firmly like it was going to jump out of her hands. I walked up and waited as they finished.
The librarian finished and turned to me, “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for something, I can’t describe what I would like in detail. I want to find a book that is not a mass market-generated story. So many newly published books are the same thing, trying to get a reader interested. I came here thinking you could point me to something different.”
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Can you give me a theme, a genre, something?”
“Sorry. I don’t think about reading a book based on a theme. I can’t search for that online, so I don’t try. I am most interested in mysteries. I have read dozens of crime mysteries and it is hard to find new and interesting stories. They all follow a similar pattern. Also, saying that my search does not need to be a crime mystery. Do you have anything that is thought-provoking? So thought-provoking that I put the book down to think about what is happening in the story?”
She looks at me and her forehead crinkles, her eyes narrow and she says, “Does it have to be new or from a known author?”
“No ma’am. Those are not my criteria. I want to find an interesting story.”
“Okay, young man. I don’t have anything I can grab for you right now. Can you return on Saturday? I do readings for the young ones, but I should have a possibility for you then. We can discuss and I will know if there are others to consider.”
“I will see you on Saturday morning.”
###
I entered the library and glanced around. The open space has groups of kids milling around and talking. They looked like three age groups, the little ones, the kinder or first-grade group, the second and third grade, and the final group looked like fourth grade plus a couple of older kids. As I was looking around the librarian walked up and said, “Good morning. I have something to show you, but first I need to do the reading for the kids. You should watch their reactions.”
That comment seemed odd to me at that moment, but I nodded and looked for a spot to sit. With no kids and only a niece that is six months old, I don’t have much experience with little kids. I found a chair where I could see and listen and on the table was a new travel magazine. I picked it up and started flipping through the pages, not paying any attention to the reading.
I looked up when the little kids gasped. As I looked over the parents were not talking, simply holding the children. The librarian was telling a story and emphasizing words. It included people getting sick, parents going away to work, older siblings going to school, leaving the small children with a nanny, or dropping them off somewhere. None of this was shocking things for an adult. It then occurred to me she was saying things that could terrify small children. The resolution to the story made all the little kids smile and hug their parents.
The magazine is now on the table, and I’m focused on the librarian. The next group of kids sit down and quickly are silent. They knew the process and that nothing would happen while they keep talking.
For the next twenty minutes, she made these kids laugh, gasp, and nod their heads. At one point several kids said loudly ‘no’. A few minutes later more kids said ‘yes’.
When she was done the kids were all talking to their parents, and then their friends. They were all excited and wanted more.
The third group received a different experience. The librarian started by talking, not just reading the story. The message she talked about was books taking everyone on an adventure they would never find any other way.
The story she tells includes a protagonist with a major inciting incident. The protagonist had to overcome his fear, and his built-in bias to look at the situation, the people, and the possibilities correctly. As the librarian is talking the kids are watching and listening. It is at this point, I don’t know why, I look at the adults with the children. They are all intent, listening to the librarian like they are kids.
I hear a book bang on a table in the background and it is enough for me to break from my trance. I did not grasp what was happening until that point. The librarian is not simply reading a story. She was weaving a universe, making everyone think. It was not just the words. It was the tone, the pauses, the inflection. The librarian is a master storyteller, pulling everyone into the story, an alternate universe.
After the readings, the parents and kids all wanted to talk and talk to the librarian. It was almost an hour of patient waiting before she walked up to me and said, “Are you ready? Follow me.”
I followed her through stacks of books. Multiple turns and walking. The amount of walking seemed like we traveled much farther than the size of this library building. She did not slow down, she didn’t look winded, however, my fat ass was breathing like a furnace bellows. I was almost to the point of saying stop when she stops, turns around, and says, “This is your last opportunity to stay normal.”
I immediately had an adrenaline spike, “What does that mean?” I asked, “After all this now you want me to decide. I need more information.”
“You are right. You asked for something thought-provoking, not the mainstream cookie-cutter books and stories. I found what you are looking for. Or I thought, until just now. You are hesitant now, you are concerned. Don’t you want me to find your next adventure?”
“Ma’am, are we safe here? I am not even sure where we are now.”
“We are deep in the library with the rare and unusual books, as you asked. This section has books that have inspired people for decades. They are not best sellers; some are written by authors where English was not their first language. That means they can be hard to read. Some require reading sections multiple times. The ideas these books hold change the reader. You will not be normal or average anymore.”
I am looking at her intently. Nothing sounded bad or dangerous. The thought of getting a rare, hard-to-read, or hard-to-follow story sounds intriguing. The statement I will not be normal anymore is a little frighting. I’m not the sexy-looking guy pretty girls flirt with. Most of my female friends I met at weekly ballroom dance class. Working in accounting I made friends, and they got me to join the bowling team. We play D and D every weekend. Am I ready to give up that normal? Will I lose my friends?
She says, “You’re not the type of person who will remain stuck in the normal. You have potential if you are ready to step out of your self-confining box.”
Taking a deep breath I reply, “Okay, what do you have for me?”
She reaches up to the shelf above her head and pulls a hardcover book off. The cover is grey with white lettering. The spine is not in English. It has hieroglyphics of some kind. She looks at the cover and wipes her hand across it removing any dust. She then turns it front side down and turns to me. “Don’t read the title until you get home. I don’t want you to get distracted. Get home and wait until you are ready to start. I will talk to you next Saturday.”
###
I walk into the library a few minutes after the librarian starts reading to the little kids. I can’t focus on what she is saying. The book caused so many questions and it is unnerving because none of the questions were said or explicit. The story caused me to think, reading more made the question more specific and then it led to another question, and another. Now I’m not sure that my life isn’t being typed by someone in another dimension right now. Sorry, author, please don’t delete me.
I need to talk to the librarian and maybe get some answers. When the librarian started with the oldest group of kids the words, I heard last week are repeated, but they have a new meaning, and they give a new perspective. When she finished, I couldn’t just sit there. I stood and walked toward the exit.
To exit the library, you need to go past the desk where people check out the books. The library has a small gate to remind people to stop and check out the books. I walked to the gate and pushed. It wouldn’t move. I pushed harder and it refused to move. Realization struck me at that moment. I can’t leave until I talk to the librarian.
After an eternity the librarian walks up and says, “Hello, you look different. Do you have the book with you?”
“No. I can’t risk taking that book out of my apartment. If someone grabs it what could happen?”
“They could read it. Most people will read the first two pages and then stop. Those pages of the book were written to stop readers that were not committed. They turn off everyone to discourage all but the committed readers from getting to the true story. It is safe to carry and bring back. You checked out the book now you need to return the book.”
“I will return the book. What does it mean? Is anything real?”
“This is your story you will have to decide if it is real. Our universes are touching for a small time where we get to share, and I can help you get ready for your next adventure.”
“What is my next adventure? I don’t know what to say, what to ask, what to do.”
“I can’t tell you the exact answer. All I can do is help you get comfortable with your decision.”
“Now what?”
“I will talk about what will help you understand and make your decision. I don’t want you to make a snap decision. Listen to my information. Take the next week and look at the universe around you. Look at people, at work, at what people are talking about in the media. If you are like everyone else, you will decide in the coming week. Bring the book back next Saturday and you can tell me your decision.
I walked into the library with a bounce in my step and the book in my backpack. I know what I will do. I decided on Friday and spent the weekend reading information and writing my plan. I printed out a summary to share with the librarian. The decision is not what I expected. After the librarian did all her reading I waited for the kids and parents to finish asking questions and getting book recommendations.
I’m smiling as she walks up to me. I have the book in my hand with my printed plan covering the front of the book so no one can see the title. After turning it around, I hand her the book and the plan so she can read the page.
After reading the plan she smiles saying, “Good choice. I think you will be great.”
I reply, “Thank you. Can I come back and tell you about my progress?”
“Of course. Any Saturday you like.”
Two weeks later I finished a major part of my plan preparation. I can’t wait. Even though it is Thursday I head to the library. When I arrive at the library I look around and can’t find her anywhere. Going to the front desk I ask the lady sitting there if she can direct me to the librarian.
The woman at the desk is mid to late forties with strawberry blond hair in a bun. She is wearing thin-rimmed glasses that are partway down her nose. Getting close I realize her blouse has quotes from famous books. “Excuse me. I’m looking for the librarian.”
“Hello. I’m the librarian.”
Confused I ask, “The short petite lady with gray streaks in her black hair isn’t the librarian? She was pointed out to me when I asked.”
“When did you meet her?”
“About a month ago on a Friday, I think. I have talked with her on several Saturdays after the reading time for the kids.”
“Young man, are you okay? The children’s reading time is Sunday midday, after church. We don’t have anyone working here that is petite with grey streaks in her black hair. I don’t think I can help you.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I’m very confused and wander through the stacks for an hour. I realize I’m looking for the librarian I talked to before.
Two days later is Saturday. I walk in to see the kids gathering for the reading. After a few minutes, I spotted my librarian. It immediately occurs to me that I said, my librarian. I’m not sure if she is connected to this library, but she is the person I consider the librarian.
After the reading, she doesn’t come over to me. Instead, she turns and walks into the stacks. I stand and start to follow. It seemed like I walked for a few hours and then spotted a shelf of books that looked familiar. I stop and wait, listening. After ten minutes I heard footsteps.
She rounds the corner and says, “You can be persistent.”
“I came Thursday to talk to you, and they said you aren’t the librarian. I’m confused, but I wanted to talk to you.”
“It is all okay. This will be the last time we can meet.”
“Why?”
“I’ve done everything I can to help you. I need to find and help the next person.”
A comment she said after I read the book suddenly jumped into my head. She said, ‘Our universes are touching for a small time.’
“This is a library in another universe?”
“Technically this is a library touching multiple universes. That is why we have so much space for books. You are very unusual and perceptive. Does knowing this mean you won’t continue your new adventure?”
“I have doubts. Will I be able to help others find their next adventure? Will the resources and information I need be here in my universe?” Putting my arms out I continue, “If this isn’t available how do I find the right way to get people to think about the options.”
“The plan you showed me didn’t say you were dependent on this special library. What changed?”
“My perception of everything. How many other universes do you touch and interact with?”
“This library touches thousands of other libraries. We have other languages, ideas stories and some have been translated, like the one you read.”
“But why only on Saturday?”
“I have a very busy schedule. I don’t just sit in your universe all week. I have to leave in two minutes for the next group reading. You will need to follow the gray dots on the bottom shelf of the stacks to get back to the front.”
I was almost to the desk and the exit when a young woman waved to me saying, “Excuse me.”
“High.”
“You followed the librarian. Do you know where she went? I wanted to ask her to help me with a new book.”
“She is in another area to read to kids. Maybe I can help?”
“I want something new. My kids are now eight and six. I have time to start reading again, I would like some advice on where to start.”
“If I can’t help, we can look for the librarian. She helped me. What are you interested in reading…….”
