It seems like there are lots of stories out there about librarians who close the book or finish the chapter or hit their due date or have their privileges expire or delete that account or just plain die.
The story tells inevitably of a person who loved to read and share the joy of reading with others, especially sick children and wounded animals and the homeless.
Since I'm not a reader, I guess my story would be pretty short. But I have an excuse. I don't read because it makes me tired. I don't know if it's processing words or black text on white paper, but reading wears me out. It could also be that I can't read more than a few words without having some idea about something that has me off thinking about something else.
Here is me reading:
"Call me Ishmael."
Call me Ishmael. That is so simple. And it's so informal, like he's my friend. I need to think about an opening line like that. Keep it simple. Keep is simple. But is simple still popular? I need to find a new book. What's on the bestseller list? How do those books start? No, wait. I need to stick to the basics. Keep it simple. Yeah. Simple. Man, I need a nap. But first, a sandwich.
And that is why I never finished Moby Dick.
So what could someone say about me after a career as a librarian? I'm not getting any younger. I could go any day now. Especially since I haven't been able to stop drinking. Or quit smoking. Or kick the toad licking.
So if you haven't thought about what your story might be, maybe you should. Because otherwise it will be left to your boss and co-workers to write something. And if you die before me, you know I'm writing that you loved the Longarm novels, especially the sex scenes which you underlined with a red felt-tip pen, adding "Yes!" in the margins.
So about me, so far I have this:
He tried never to kill anyone. Except that one guy. You know the guy. The one who stopped coming a few years ago. I'm not saying anything, but don't dig up behind the dumpster. Let someone else find it; you don't want to know about it.
