together. On the upper level, study carrels lined the walls, and on the first floor, several round tables occupied the open area in front of the checkout desk.
Ed stood in front of the closed double doors. So why exactly had he decided to work here as a TA? Ms. Tremayne was right. He didnt need a seventh period. And he could have signed up for photography, which actually wouldnt have been half-bad.
He stared up at the darkly tinted windows of the library and realized that he didnt know why he was here. That worried him. Something about the office seemed to have affected his decision making, influenced him, and while he hadnt felt it at the time and still couldnt recall it, the results spoke for themselves. He would never have signed up to work at the library if hed been thinking clearly.
You have any problems, you come to me. Thats what Im here for.
He could go back to the counselor again, transfer to yet another class. But after a moments thought, he decided against that. He wasnt a brave guy, but he was a curious guy, and he wanted to see how this would pan out. Besides, his thoughts were starting to go off in wacky directions here. Sure, the office had seemed a little strange, but to think he was being affected or influenced, as though he were in some horror movie, was just crazy.
And if being a TA sucked, he could always transfer.
He pushed open the library door. Despite the dimness, the air felt warm instead of cool. Uncomfortably so. Hed forgotten about that, but it was yet another reason that he didnt like coming in here.
The study tables were empty, and there was a girl he didnt knowanother TAinstalled behind the checkout desk and staring at him. He didnt see the librarian or anyone else around, so he walked up to the girl and held out his transfer form. Is Mrs. Fratelli here? he asked.
An uninflected emotionless voice came from somewhere in the murky area behind the counter. Is that Mr. Haynes?
The girl looked at him. Are you Mr. Haynes?
His counselor must have called to announce that he was coming. Yeah. Ed Haynes. Im going to be a TA.
The girl showed not a flicker of interest.
Send him back to my office, the voice called.
Eds eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he saw now that behind the counter was what looked like a large alcove containing three walls of metal shelves on which were piled various books. Two empty pushcarts stood next to the shelves on the right. In the wall without shelves was a door, and although the door was closed, it was clear that this was where the voice was coming from.
Mrs. Fratelli is expecting you in her office, the girl said, gesturing toward the door. She pulled up a section of the counter that revealed itself to be a gate.
Ed walked past her. I know, he said. I heard her.
The girl frowned at him, but it was a reaction he was used to, and he didnt really care. Something about the bland officiousness of the TA annoyed him, and he could tell right now that the two of them were not going to be friends. He just hoped that there was another student working here this period, someone he could get along with who might make the hour more fun.
He knocked on the closed door.
Come in, Mrs. Fratelli said.
The librarians office was small and cramped and cluttered, but what his gaze focused on was a framed soft-focus photo on top of the paper-strewn desk. It was of Mrs. Fratelli. Her hair was teased out, she had on way too much makeup . . . and she was wearing nothing but a lacy red bra and thong.
May I have your transfer form?
He looked up from the photo into the hard, severe face of the librarian and he saw that she saw where hed been looking. He was embarrassed but pretended not to be, handing her the form and waiting for her
Ed stood in front of the closed double doors. So why exactly had he decided to work here as a TA? Ms. Tremayne was right. He didnt need a seventh period. And he could have signed up for photography, which actually wouldnt have been half-bad.
He stared up at the darkly tinted windows of the library and realized that he didnt know why he was here. That worried him. Something about the office seemed to have affected his decision making, influenced him, and while he hadnt felt it at the time and still couldnt recall it, the results spoke for themselves. He would never have signed up to work at the library if hed been thinking clearly.
You have any problems, you come to me. Thats what Im here for.
He could go back to the counselor again, transfer to yet another class. But after a moments thought, he decided against that. He wasnt a brave guy, but he was a curious guy, and he wanted to see how this would pan out. Besides, his thoughts were starting to go off in wacky directions here. Sure, the office had seemed a little strange, but to think he was being affected or influenced, as though he were in some horror movie, was just crazy.
And if being a TA sucked, he could always transfer.
He pushed open the library door. Despite the dimness, the air felt warm instead of cool. Uncomfortably so. Hed forgotten about that, but it was yet another reason that he didnt like coming in here.
The study tables were empty, and there was a girl he didnt knowanother TAinstalled behind the checkout desk and staring at him. He didnt see the librarian or anyone else around, so he walked up to the girl and held out his transfer form. Is Mrs. Fratelli here? he asked.
An uninflected emotionless voice came from somewhere in the murky area behind the counter. Is that Mr. Haynes?
The girl looked at him. Are you Mr. Haynes?
His counselor must have called to announce that he was coming. Yeah. Ed Haynes. Im going to be a TA.
The girl showed not a flicker of interest.
Send him back to my office, the voice called.
Eds eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he saw now that behind the counter was what looked like a large alcove containing three walls of metal shelves on which were piled various books. Two empty pushcarts stood next to the shelves on the right. In the wall without shelves was a door, and although the door was closed, it was clear that this was where the voice was coming from.
Mrs. Fratelli is expecting you in her office, the girl said, gesturing toward the door. She pulled up a section of the counter that revealed itself to be a gate.
Ed walked past her. I know, he said. I heard her.
The girl frowned at him, but it was a reaction he was used to, and he didnt really care. Something about the bland officiousness of the TA annoyed him, and he could tell right now that the two of them were not going to be friends. He just hoped that there was another student working here this period, someone he could get along with who might make the hour more fun.
He knocked on the closed door.
Come in, Mrs. Fratelli said.
The librarians office was small and cramped and cluttered, but what his gaze focused on was a framed soft-focus photo on top of the paper-strewn desk. It was of Mrs. Fratelli. Her hair was teased out, she had on way too much makeup . . . and she was wearing nothing but a lacy red bra and thong.
May I have your transfer form?
He looked up from the photo into the hard, severe face of the librarian and he saw that she saw where hed been looking. He was embarrassed but pretended not to be, handing her the form and waiting for her
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