A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan

Author:Amy Rebecca Tan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

Sonia

After a rush of patrons right at opening the next morning, the library emptied out and I had time to browse the Art section. It was Wednesday, July 26, which also happened to be National Aunt and Uncle Day. I wanted to make a special drawing for my aunt Julie, so was searching for some inspiration. I couldn’t believe I had lived in Foxfield all these years and never knew about the gorgeous art books sitting on these shelves, waiting for me the whole time. I had a lot of catching up to do. Before I picked one to take home, though, Sonia called me over to the circ desk.

“We’re slow right now. You want to do this pile of returns yourself?” she asked me, sipping coffee in a mug that read I’d rather be in the library.

“Really?” I asked, excited to learn something new.

“I’ll watch you. It’ll be fine.” Sonia half glared at me, and then ordered, “Have some confidence.”

“Okay.”

“Trade spots.” Sonia switched places with me so I was behind the monitor. “Hit F2 to get to the check-in screen, then click here to set it up for this pile.”

I followed her directions.

“Now it’s just the same as you did last time. Scan each one, make sure you get a beep, and read the title on the screen.”

“Okay, I can do that.” I picked up the first book.

“Of course you can.” Sonia pulled up a chair and sat beside me, ready to watch over my shoulder as I worked. “Then when you finish this pile, we’ll scan them again under inventory check, to make sure they’re all in. Always double-check.”

“Always double-check,” I repeated. “That’s what your mug should say, by the way.”

“What?”

“Your mug. What it says doesn’t make any sense, that you’d ‘rather be in the library,’ because you are in the library. It’s confusing. You should have one that says ‘Always double-check.’ That would be better.”

“I think you’re taking my mug situation too seriously,” Sonia replied.

I smiled to myself, then got to work.

I scanned and it beeped and I read the screen, and then I placed the book in a pile to my right. I got a rhythm down—scan, beep, read, place, scan, beep, read, place—and it was downright fun. I stood taller and pushed my shoulders back.

Scan, beep, read, place.

I looked up from the screen when a mom came in with a young boy, grubby with kid sweat and dirt on his little knees. I greeted them and they said hello back and then walked over to the children’s room. An older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jansen, came in right after them. They chose some back issues of Reader’s Digest from the periodical wall and settled into seats side by side to read them.

I kept going with my pile, slowing down a bit on purpose to make it last. These patrons who walked in and saw me behind the desk thought I was a regular library employee. Why wouldn’t they? I was doing the work and I

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