the feminist librarian reads

Undercover, HTML | anonymous @ I Work at a Public Library

Each day a tall, gaunt fellow with startling blue eyes makes his way to the computer lab upstairs.
I nod in greeting, and he looks away as if in a panic. He is silent at all times, although his mouth seems fixed in a silent gape, not unlike a fish about to take the bait.
Each day he sits for hours, scribbling down notes with a golf pencil on small squares of scratch paper. His work ethic is admirable, his concentration intense. My curiosity grows daily.
One day I was assigned to fill in for our computer lab monitor. I finally had a chance to sneak a peek at what held the quiet man in such rapt attention. On his computer screen was the “View Source” of our own library’s website. He was furiously copying all the HTML by hand on all the little scraps of paper.
Later, I observed the gentleman surreptitiously placing the carefully folded notes into seemingly random books in the non-fiction section. Interestingly, he seemed to favor the philosophy and psychology sections.
He also placed intricately folded editions into the soil of houseplants in the periodicals section, perhaps anticipating new growth.
I smile, and nod. He approaches shyly, almost like a feral sphynx cat, pointing for more scratch paper. I cheerfully oblige.
He continues this faithful ritual seven days a week, always making furtive eye contact with me, never speaking a word. Our eyes signal from different universes, in a friendly code which, most likely, neither of us will ever crack.

(via iworkatapubliclibrary)