Hello I'm Ash (Geek_Aflame)

“I’ve discovered your secret.”
I looked up from the novel I was reading. The moment my brown eyes met Julie’s green, she placed her books on the counter. She blew a strand of frizzy blonde hair from her face and smiled.
“Do you want me to scan those?” I gave her my best customer service smile, on reflex. It was a smile, I’d give my own mother before I noticed, if she walked in. Julie gave me a sly smile and picked up one of the books.
Why are my friends so weird? I watched as she walked the short distance to the exit. She met my eyes again and used the action to focus my attention on the book. She waved it between the alarms, that guarded the doorway. They didn’t go off! My stomach dropped. Thankfully, none of the other patrons were paying attention to us. Julie walked back and slapped the novel on top of the pile.
“I just did you a service. Imagine how many books, would be stolen if someone, less reputable then me, discovered that trick.” She pulled her wallet from her back pocket.
I shook my head as she reached for her card. I already had her details on the computer screen.
I started scanning her books. “How’d you discover that, anyhow?”
“I was reading after work yesterday and accidentally walked out with one I hadn’t borrowed. It’s hard to keep track sometimes.”
“The Dunn Library is happy that you brought this issue to our attention and we’ll add it to our records.” I stamped, the due date on the tags at the back of the several novels.
“Why don’t you lot, print a receipt with the due date like the Eden Library System?”
I tapped the side of the computer monitor. “Isn’t it obvious? This passion project is actually a time pocket repeating the same day from nineteen eighty-three.”
She smiled. “It has a perception filter, right? That’s why I didn’t notice until you told me.”
“Why do you think there’s no cell reception?”

Both Julie and I, startled as the desk phone started to ring.
Julie left without another word as I turned around to answer, the call. “Dunn Public Library. Dexter, speaking.” I spoke carefully into the receiver tangling the cord around my fingers. The action was a nervous habit, I’d stopped trying to break.
“I’d like to see you in my office, after you close today.”
It was the mayor. My hand stilled, fingers tightening around the cord’s loops. Why had he called me directly? Why did he want to see me? Couldn’t he have given orders through, Mrs Gregory like normal? I used the bite of the aging pushing into my skin to silence the worried thoughts. I looked through the glass window, into the Head Librarian’s office, Mrs Gregory was focused on processing a new batch of books. I was getting fired and I knew why but how had she found out?
“Are you still there?”
“Yes, Sir.” I gripped the cord tighter. The words had sounded more like a wheezy squeak, then actual words.
I heard foil scrunching, then a crunch. I could practically smell the peanuts, Mayor Chesterfield was eating. “Arrive before five. I don’t want to stay late at the office on a Friday.”
“Yes, Sir.” I prayed, he heard me over his own chewing.
“Good.” Chesterfield, hung up.
I ripped my fingers from the cord and slammed the receiver into its cradle.

***

I waited quietly as, Chesterfield drank his cup of tea. After ten minutes, he put the empty cup down and looked me in the eyes. “Did you put the books, Mrs Gregory told you to throw away back on the shelf?”
“Honestly? Yes.” I took a sip of water from my drink bottle. I felt like a kid called into the headmaster’s office, rather than an adult talking to his boss. “The Old Bat, finally cracked. She printed out, banned book lists she found on the internet with the help of her grandson and attempted to throw out any books, that had themes she didn’t agree with.”
“She’s the Head Librarian, I trust her judgement. she’d been doing the job three times longer then you’ve been alive.”
“Most of those lists exist to create awareness about banned books, not act as how to manuals. I could site her on discrimination for throwing out, Martin Luther King’s autobiography.”
“Did she actually say anything racist when she did it?”
“No, but it was implied. I’ve heard her say racist things before.”
“Are you really going to play the race card? You’re what a quarter African American or whatever you want to call it and were raised in Australia. You’re practically white. If your skin was any lighter, you’d look like you went for a long stroll on the beach.”
I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths. If I said the wrong thing to this dick, I’d lose my job. He could also make my life in this town harder then it needed to be.
“With the decrease in population, I believe we no longer need an Assistant Librarian. If you want to work unpaid, then you are welcome to stay as a volunteer. Unfortunately, we no longer have the funds to pay you but it’s not like you actually need the money.”
“You’re firing me because I wouldn’t let her throw out three quarters of the library? The towns kids and elderly have nothing to do but read. What happens when you take most of the books away?”
“Everyone watches TV now days and it might help the kids get outside more.” Chesterfield said. “I’m not firing you. I’m making you redundant. I can understand if you’re to young to know the difference.”
“Look at the numbers other libraries are pulling in and tell me with certainty that people don’t read anymore. People who don’t read seem to think if they hate it everyone else must.”
“To appreciate the dedication, your great grandfather, grandfather and uncles showed this town as its previous mayors. I have a job offer for you. The ‘Old Bat’ as you put it, is too forgiving with people who don’t return books. She even has a habit of waving late fees. I want to set up a division with you at the head of it. With your degree in Library… Whatever. I think you’ll be a great fit. It pays less than your previous job but it’s important work.”
“My degree is in Librarianship and Corporate Information Management.” I took a second to take a deep breath and fight my urge to walk out. “What does this position entitle?”
“You visit homes to collect overdue books and the associated fees, do your previous behind the scene duties, take over Mrs Gregory’s duties if she is off sick and mange yourself based on the schedule I give you.”
It was the same job I was doing now, with more duties and none of the power the position of Assistant Librarian allotted. I wanted to walk out, leave them in the lurch to spite them but I need a job. If I didn’t work everyone who talked shit about my marriage would think they were right about me. “I’ll accept the position.”
“Good. You can have my niece, Julie as an underling. I promised my sister, I’d give her a job. Tammy doesn’t like the idea of her only daughter doing all that farm work. It’s very un-lady like. Julie’s about your age, you should get along.”
I bit my tongue; my mum had worked the family farm before she and dad retired, leaving the work to my eldest brother.
“Is that all, Sir?” I said.
“Yes. You may go.”
I picked up my bag and bottle.
“Wait.” He pulled a small white business card from his desk draw. “Call the number on this card if you encounter anything strange.”
“Strange? Like what? Possible asbestos?”
“Don’t call these people for asbestos removal. Look, you’ll know when you need the number. I’m not exactly allowed to tell you.”
“How do I keep myself safe, if I don’t know what you mean by strange?”
“Good luck.” Chesterfield said. “I’ll email you, both the contract, so you can have it signed by Monday.”

When I opened the door, I almost ran into, Mrs Chesterfield and her son, Adrian. Mrs Chesterfield, who had been reaching for the door handle lowered her hand.
“Chaz, Darling. I have a surprise for your birthday.” Mrs Chesterfield slipped past me and into the office. Without even a ‘oh hello my son’s childhood best friend’.
Adrian, stopped in front of me and met my eyes. “Dexter Arkwright?”
“It’s been what? Four years since we saw each other last and you follow your brother online. You know the answer to that question and it’s Dexter Lacy, now.”
“Christ, you hardly look like the same person. Who knew losing that baby fat and getting a better haircut, could do so much. Matt mentioned something about going to your wedding, but he didn’t say anything about it being to, Elijah Lacy. I always thought you were straight.”
“Bisexual but don’t tell, Eli. He’s still riding the ego boost he got thinking he turned a straight guy.” His smile still made my chest flutter. “I think you have somewhere to be.”
Mrs Chesterfield, was standing at the office threshold watching at us.
“Later.” Adrian gave me a smile and walked away.
I pocketed the card the mayor had given me as I reached the top of stairs.

Read the rest and stay up to date here:

https://tapas.io/series/The-Small-Town-Horror

just-shower-thoughts:

Black Friday just shows how cheap companies could sell things and still make a profit

pumpkan:

Me: waiting for any form of public transport

Rain: starts

Some deep dark part of my brain that never forgot the first night vale episode: 👀🕐🚌🌧🌧🕐🕐🚌🌧

just-shower-thoughts:

Can we all just appreciate that Salt, a mineral that had been forming inside earth for billions of years, is good enough to put on almost every meal and it doesn’t poison you