October and the Library forgets me

     One of my other joys at the time was watching Burns and Allen from 5 A.M. until 6.  I would make sure everything was accomplished by 5.  I was still leaving around 6:30, they hadn't taken away the gym yet.  It was fun.  They were playing the show in order.  I loved it.  I remembered there was a book written by George called Gracie: A Love Story.  I wanted it.  I had a gift card from Barnes and Noble.  So on a night when I had time to myself I went to it.

     Long story short it was out of print and they couldn't get it for me.  I was bummed.  Was the 1 thing I really wanted.

     The next night I saw my sister.  She was in her usual bleh mood.  Made damned sure we got to her smoking time.  I got her ice and left.  The library was on my way home.  They'd refurbished it a while back.  I decided to go in.

     We'd had a disagreement.  
"Wait you had a disagreement with a library.  How does that happen?"

"Shush up and I'll tell you.

     Long ago when I had another job I ate up books on tape.  I lost one.  I offered to replace it they told me to wait.  Time passed I went back and said I'd just pay the fine.  It was at the time $60, not unusual.  I said fine.  The next day when I went to pay the fine it had jumped to $300 some odd dollars.  No way in Hell I said and didn't go back for over a decade.

     So I went in.  I approached the counter warily.  As one does a wild animal.  I explained I needed a card.  That I had a disagreement and wanted to see if it cleared up.  Well.....

     I was no longer in the system at all!  I got a brand new spanking card.  I could now read books for  F-R-E-E!!!!

     They didn't have the book.  But offered to get one from another branch.  I asked how much that would cost.  F-R-E-E!

     On the way out I snagged a book entitled "Tanks and Trenches" A very good book, with pictures, about world war 1.  I recommend it.