Mr. Librarian

Tik tok

tik tok

tik tok

In the heat of the afternoon sun outside the room is the contrast temperature of the breeze cool air coming from air condition on this library chilling the core through my bone since my thin body is doesn’t have many muscles

I look around as many books are neatly arranged.

Silence got the most out of the time as fewer people are going into the library at this point.

But not for so long.

I groaned as I heard a familiar voice break the silence in that peaceful time of day.

“You have a nice sweet thoughtful friend who brings you cookies…” I quickly walked where the noise came from since it’s my job to keep the library at peace, organized and clean it.

“and let you borrow her book..” After a few walk, I saw a young girl whose head is stuck on the table snoring as if there’s no tomorrow, in her hand is an open book which I assumed she was reading.

“But when your out in public, all you want to do is gag her..” But the voice keeps whispering in my ears. That’s when I decided to walk toward the sleeping lady.

My feet stop as I saw a young boy who grabbed the open book that was held by the young lady and said.

“Shut up..” The young boy tightens his hand and shout.

“I said shut up!” The young boy held the book high in an attempt to throw the book and that’s when my hand unconsciously grab the arms of the boy.

“Don’t even think about it, little man,” I said while holding his arms firmly.

The boy was startled that cause the book to fell on the floor then I saw the face of the boy. He has round big eyes with black shades under his eyes. His body is tensed and shock is visible on his face.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Then promise me not to be violent.” I looked at him telling him to respect me and obey the rules and it really pisses me off because the little man is just doing the same. Then in such an awkward time I heard the familiar voice again and looked at the book on the floor widely open. Then I looked at the boy again in front of me as he was looking at the book too.

“Because she won’t stop talking (loudly) about these anime she’s super obsessed with…” and oddly the little man awkwardly looked at me as I smiled.

“Do you hear that?” The little man shakes his head furiously his eyes looked away from me.

“No.” When I heard the voice again. I just smiled because I guess I have an idea as to why this little man acting this way.

“She sings at the top of her lungs in class…” I picked up the open book and close it. Then I turned my head where the little man is.

“Do you want to eat something?”

“My mom said not to talk to a stranger and not to eat what was given to me by a stranger.”

“Smart Mom..” so I just thought.

“Then care to hear a story and a tour in this library?” He was silent.

“I am a librarian in this library,” I said.

“Okay.”

“Then we can go to the table right there first.” Their feet move to the table where I lead him and bump our butt to the chair sitting opposite to each other.

“What's the story all about.” I smiled as the little man looked away facing his ears in front of me as if saying he is ready to hear it.

“The story is all about Liam, a boy who has a special friend called Leet.” When silence stood still I continued.

“Liam is a lonely boy without a friend to trust because he knows that he is different from other kid. He is afraid that if other people know that he is different he can never have a friend anymore.”

“Different?” The little man said almost like a whisper, his eyes roamed around the wall and looked anywhere except me.

“Yeah..” I said.

“How different?”

“Uhmmm, there’s no such thing as fast forward to this story so please hear me patiently,” I said the continue my story.

“After eating breakfast and doing his task for the day Liam never forget to meet Leet his special friend.”

“I thought he doesn’t have a friend?” I laugh as the kid innocently asked.

“Yeah but people always have companions. Shall I continue?”

“Yes.” He said meekly.

“Leet makes Liam feel that he can be as ordinary as possible like other kids do. That he can be a person who can share something awesome.”

“From that day forward, Leet makes him understand how people live with their life. He told wonderful stories about men. How virtuous they are and how special each and every one. Then, when Leet knows that Liam is ready to meet his other friend. Leet arrange a meeting with his other friends too and oddly it may seem but Liam is comfortable with them. The friends of Leet thought him how to be a human little by little, from the way he acts to the way he should talk, what good and what is bad. They tell Liam the wonders of the world he never knew. Then one day Liam is running through his door and excitedly tell Leet that his neighbor became his friend. One friend became two then other neighbors want to be friends too. One night Leet wake Liam up and said his goodbye and Liam asked why. Leet told him that he is going on a long journey when he can help others too. Liam asked Leet if he can see him again and Leet said yes, you can always visit me.”

That time I stop talking as I have to stop my tears from falling. This story really makes me cry.

“Then what happened to them?” I smiled at the little kid.

“Leet is always and forever be his friend.”

“That’s all?” I nodded.

“Do you want to have a tour of the library?”

“Nah… it’s boring.”

“I wanted to show you something. Something wonderful.” That time he looked at me and think whether he is going with me or not.

“Ok, where is it?”

“Cool, come this way.” They walked toward the shelves with a lot of books.

“Do you know that every book is like humans too?”

“How?”

“Because they always have a story to tell. They are a friend who will tell you what you wanted to know and protect you from possible danger because they thought you how.”

“They are noisy.” I smiled at him.

“I agree on that because every book wanted to be heard and why not try to listen to them so you can understand them. So little by little, it might never be a noise anymore.” That time he looked deep into my eyes as if that is the only time he knew I exist.

“Come this way. This is the Literature section and there is…” They used their time to make a tour in that little library.

“So this is the end of the tour and for that, I will lend you my favorite book. I hope this book can help you. Surely you are borrowing it so you have to bring it back.” I just saw him seriously looking at the book and nod.

“Okay,” he said while unconsciously walking to a table in the corner of the room. While I decided to 

go back to the counter.

The Little kid’s P.O.V.

I looked at the reflection of the mirror in the window as my eyebags are visible under my eyes. I am currently in the library where my mother left me and tell me that she will be back after one hour. Then I looked at the book that the librarian lend to me. Somehow I can relate to the story that the librarian told me. I am different and those books make me feel like one. Of all the place why it has to be a library.

I looked around again. To other people, this place represents peace and serenity as silence overpower the room. But for me, once the book is open it will tell you a story as if you are hearing it yourself and I can’t understand it. The only thing I know is the book produces noise. Then my eyes search to the librarian and cannot help to think what the librarian said.

“Do you know that every book is like humans too?”

“How?”

“Because they always have a story to tell. They are a friend who will tell you what you wanted to know and protect you from possible danger because they thought you how.”

“They are noisy.” I smiled at him

“I agree on that because every book wanted to be heard and why not try to listen to them so you can understand them. So little by little, it might never be a noise anymore.” 

I can't help but sigh at the situation I am in. My hand move and open the book. It is not surprising at all to hear a voice but what surprised me is what I heard in the book.

"Hi, my name is Leet and welcome to my journey." My eyes flew to where the librarian. Unconsciously the librarian looked at me and smiled.