#4 Meeting

Dear diary,

I had a formal induction at the library today, because I didn't get one on Saturday, seeing as it was a weekend and all. When I got to work (I'm still adjusting to calling the library that now!) I met Boudecia at the front desk. Before I could even say 'hello' she started firing questions at me rapidly, to test how much I'd learnt from training.

Her: How many community languages are in our community language section?
Me: Um, 5? (Phew!)
Her: Correct. Where would I find books on Carpentry?
Me: Uh... um... 6... 694? (Help!)
Her: Good. Why are the 020's considered sacred?
Me: Eh... oh wait, that's... because the books are about libraries? (Please don't kill me!)
Her: Affirmative. How many books in the Stephanie Plum series do we have on the catalogue?Me: 16! (I swear I guessed that one.)
Her: Intriguing... That's... correct.

Next she handed me a red blindfold and told me to put it on. I gingerly accepted it, worried that this initiation was going to be worse than Scouts. As I wrapped it over my eyes and tied it fast I wondered if they'd ask me to swear by the book. Boudecia told me to take her hand, and on the second grab I found it. She walked and I obediently followed. She led me around the library, dodging obstacles the same way she had when I first met her. At one corner she swung too close and I nicked a shelf. I held my tongue and bore the pain for the remainder of the darkened journey.

All of a sudden the blindfold was removed. I blinked at the lights and waited a few moments to get my eyes to readjust to colour vision. When they did I found myself in the staffroom surrounded by librarians, library techs and officers, and fellow shelvers. One by one they approached me, some shaking my hand, others simply nodding understandingly at my recent plight.

There are nine of us working in the library. Talia and I are the only shelvers, so the pledge I made when I joined the Shelvation Army seems a bit lame now. Boudecia (or as she prefers to be called, Mrs. Jones) is in charge of pretty much everything to do with the library. There are six other staff members: Bron, the community languages librarian who looks like she's a mix of everything; Sylvia, the AV services technician who claims she's never read a book in her life; Goldie, the acquisitions librarian who wears so much bling she radiates light like the sun; and Ernesto, the mysterious reference librarian; TJ the DJ (in charge of teenage services); and Pepper, who's in charge of children's services and smiles a lot.

After being introduced to everyone Pepper presented me a gift-wrapped box of chocolates, which I thought was really nice. When I thanked her she blushed deep crimson and giggled. A little weird but hey, I got chocolates so I'm happy.

Surprisingly, the shift I had after that was uneventful. I felt happy to sit back and enjoy the ride, to just go wherever the trolley took me. The libray and I got off to a bad start, but I think we'll be able to reconcile our differences and both have a pleasurable time together. Bye for now.