#32 Convivial

Dear diary,

I worked the graveyard shift last night. It's called that because once someone died whilst reading in the carrels, or so I heard. Apparently the deceased, an elderly man with a weak heart, was found slumped in his chair up in the far corner of the library, which secluded him from view by the staff working that night. He was found slumped over a pile of Mills and Boon novellas. The poor man had had a stroke and when he was found in the morning he was completely stiff.

So anyway, I was working with TJ, Pepper and Sylvia that night, and we'd just finished closing up the library when Talia appeared from the staffroom. She and Shannon were going out for drinks and did we want to come? None of us had any plans that night so we all agreed.

We drove down to a small local bar, practically filling the carpark with our combined total of five cars. We met Shannon inside, who waved and said hi to everyone but me. We all grabbed drinks and sat down. I hadn't spent time with any of them outside of work hours or functions, so I felt awkward at first. As the night went on, though, I found myself getting to know these co-workers of mine as they were outside of work hours.

Pepper was talking about going on long service leave as she was getting married soon, and Shannon announced that that was the reason she and Talia had organised tonight. It was clear that I was out of the loop, as I didn't even know she was engaged. I felt quite embarrassed, and so to hide it I stood up and called for a toast. Talia looked at me and gave a quick smile, which distracted me from hearing Pepper and Sylvia say good night to everyone as they were on the morning shift the next day (i.e. today). By the time I snapped out of my happy daydream they'd already left.

Some of Sylvia's friends came in and she excused herself to greet them. TJ and Talia went up to the bar to collect the next rounds, leaving just Shannon and I at our booth. It was an awkward minute with neither of us wanting to initiate a conversation. Eventually TJ and Talia returned, and inevitably we ended up talking about people from work. Apparently a man from BiblioTech Corp. is coming to the library someday soon to update our technological resources, which sounds good.

TJ started complaining about this one guy who had fines on his card and refused to pay them. TJ refused to let him borrow, and the next day he managed to rack up three parking fines. The guy was a parking inspector, and TJ had to apply to the council to get the fines revoked. Unfortunately it also meant that guy's fines were cleared, and ever since he and TJ have avoided each other.

Talia laughed and launched into her attack on why bureaucratic processes are designed to keep the little man (or woman) down. It was a long spiel which I barely understood, but I listened intently to the harmonious sound of her voice. We all had more drinks and talked and joked around until the late hours. I don't know what time we left, but I remember repeatedly telling Talia I wanted her to stay over and that I didn't mind sleeping on my couch, in fact I loved it. I think she was going to say yes but then Shannon forced her into another taxi and glared at me. I ended up walking home and passing out on my couch anyway.

I woke up with the biggest headache this morning. When I got to work this afternoon I looked a mess, but luckily Pepper was in charge and she let me go at a slower pace. I still managed to fall asleep on the cushions in Teenage for half an hour. They're really comfy, almost as nice as my couch.

-Jay