Summer reading: a one-sided friend
The library is the best place to observe the true nature of a human being. And where to make friends. At least if the other person is also open to it..
When I stay in a new city there are three things I do
First is to visit a church. When in a busy city a church is the place to find peace, rest and have a good conversation with God.
Second is to try out the local cake or ice cream. This one needs no explanation!
Thirdly is visiting the local library. When you step over the threshold of the building something magical happens. It must be the smell off books mixed with fresh coffee. Cause nowadays all libraries seem to serve good coffee. Language barriers may prevent me to read any of the books and daily newspapers. Nor understand the language that is spoken around me. Still, by just being in a library you get a sense of the people of that city, their history and the lives they live. This next story, or call it an observation, may have happened right in front of you while spending some time in a local library..
I made a new friend! At least I thought I did..
She sat left from me at the reading table on the ground floor of the city library. It was hard to say how old she was as she wore a black woolen hat. Tufts of grey hair were visible under her hat. The wrinkles on her face, her heavy breathing, and her reading glasses, made me assume she was over the age of 60. The old lady wore a dark blue sweater, black trousers, black coat and a black rucksack. As I sat down at the other end of the table, she looked up to greet me with a nod and a vague smile. After reading a few articles she put her left hand in the plastic bag that was resting on her lap. Cautiously she looked left and right and then out came a sandwich, a quick bit and the sandwich disappeared again. As if nothing happened she continued reading.
As we sat there in silence a young guy, ears plugged in with AirPods, came to join. Without taking any notice he plunged into the chair opposite me. Plugged in his phone to charge and started reading what needed to be read on his smartphone. His fingers moved fast on the display. Important messages had to be sent. Seemingly the older lady did not pay attention to him. I was wrong. The lady watched curiously as the guy took out of his bag a big bowl, took of the lid, and started eating his granola yogurt. As if this was jointly agreed, the older lady took out her sandwich to eat as well! Now two people were eating together in silence. No desire to make a conversation. And I decided to do the same thing.
Two days later I was back in the library
After lingering around, I walked to the large reading table. The old lady with the black woolen hat was already settled in her corner with the daily newspaper and a small bag containing dried fruits. Holding on to a water bottle, she glanced at me from above her glasses. We made eye contact. I greeted her with a laud good morning. My greeting was responded with silence and a quick turning away from her eyes. While I was settling down at my corner of the table I heard a sniff and what appeared to be a groan. I watched how the lady took up the newspaper, packed up her other things and grabbed her coat and bag. Ready to leave. I held my breath and did not dare to move. My head was full of thoughts.
Should I say something? Should I apologize for entering her space again? Tell her it is ok that she sits here. I will go and look for some other place for myself.
The moment she passed me I wanted to say all these things aloud but my voice remained silent. Five meters from the table the old lady stopped for a moment looking agitated left and right. Who knows for how long she had been coming here every morning to read at ‘her’ table. This week I entered her space for the second time. Obviously today was too much. Now I had the large reading table all to myself.
“Ok” I said to myself.
“Don’t blow things up in your head. Maybe she was just ready to leave anyway!”
For a moment I did not know what to do anymore. Staring at the bookcase I realized again my purpose to come: to write. For writing inspiration I had a piece of paper with a word of the day. On reading it I smiled. It read: TOGETHER!
Later as I walked towards the exit a familiar person came out of the elevator. It was the old lady. She did not see me but from where I stood I saw a smile on her face. So I was right after all.. I guest she found herself a new corner to sit, read, be alone yet still be together in silence with others at the same time.
This summer I am posting some of my short stories. To find out why I started writing short stories read back my earlier post