#11 Ignored

Dear diary,

It's been on my mind for so long that I couldn't hold it in any more. As I was shelving with Talia yesterday I suddenly lurted out that I'd been visited by a poltergeist in the library, had she? She paused immediately, her foot in mid-step, and slowly turned to face me. She nodded slowly in agreement, a bewildered look in her eyes.

Before I could say any more Talia grabbed my arm and dragged me to the Local History room. SHe started shelf-reading and told me to do the same so it would look like we were working. I did. For the next ten minutes we talked about the poltergeist. It tuns out she's met it too, once last fortnight and again three days ago. It didn't do anything serious, just making books float and telling her it'd be back. I told her I'd tried to talk to ther other staff about it but they either ignored me or thought I was crazy. When I'd told Ernesto he gave me a weird look and suggested I have some water, while Pepper just patted my head and smiled like I was an idiot.

It was good to have someone who understod and believed me for a change. I get the feeling many of the other staff tolerate me being there and that's it. It really showed when former shelver Shannon came into the library later that day. I was at the front desk re-ordering the non-fiction trolley (somebody had ordered it backwards from right to left) when the front doors opened and she came in in her wheelchair. I didn't know who she was, but everyone else at the desk did and went straight over to her.

Pepper rushed forward to give her a hug, almost knocking me over in the process. Ernesto came over and the three of them started talking like old friends, ignoring the amassing queue at the front counter. One man came up and asked where he could find books on gardening. Without turning his head, Ernesto pointed directly towards 635 in Non-Fiction and said, "Jay". I led the man over, moving aside to let Talia through as she ran to say hi to Shannon.

When I returned the staff were standing around talking at the front desk while Shannon signed autographs for patrons. I joined the quickly growing line. When it was my turn I introduced myself as the new shelver, and jokingly said I was her replacement. he looks of contempt I received from the staff and patrons was enough to tell me I'd made a mistake. Shannon rolled her eyes and signed a bookmark for me. For the rest of the shift Ernesto bossed me about while Talia refused to talk to me. I only made a little joke, didn't I?