Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 11

It was the second day of classes, and much like the first, Ethan wasn't sure if he wanted to continue the semester. Although making potentially the best friends he could have asked for in college. The idea of doing an entire ten-page essay by the end of his Financial Management course drained him. Ethan quickly rounded out his day by first visiting the "caf" to pick up a sandwich before his shift as a page.

The idea of work didn't sound so bad, in comparison to working at a restaurant as a bus boy which he did for three years in high school. If the slop people left on the table wasn't considered foul enough, his manager made him hate the lame role he was put in. Not that Ethan couldn't be charming and work up the ranks of bus boy to host, oh no, that was not it. It was only he wasn't up to the level of extroversion of one of the "entertainers," correction, waiters that Ethan thought was smoking so much weed that he probably was the chillest guy in the restaurant. So, the guy who was about as burnt as the restaurant food got to serve it, while also managing him.

Ethan remembered faintly when Linda applied there. Like always, she got the job, but only ended up working over the summer before she found a better position as an assistant at a health and rehab center on the outskirts of San Jose. Ethan remembered waiting there in the parking lot to pick her up in his mom's car so they could go on dates. She was always so pleasant after work, it made Ethan wonder if he was in the wrong line of part-time jobs. Although when your only options were fast food, restaurant work, or retail you became the jack of all trades.

Stewart, who Ethan would come to know as his new boss, directed him to the shelves teaching him the ropes of the Dewey decimal system. Though straightforward in some ways, the system had its flaws and exceptions with missing information on book covers. 

Stewart gave Ethan a large book and told him it was best to memorize it while he worked. Stewart said that eventually toward mid-semester Ethan will have mastered the manual and could stop bringing it with him on the cart. For now, it would be a paperweight that he would lug from floor to floor.

"And next year, you'll come back, and you'll get a raise if you decide to work here again, okay?" Stewart said fastidiously. At this premature offer, Ethan wanted to scoff. With any luck he would still be enrolled in college.

Ethan nodded and took the book which contained the student worker conduct code, library hours, policies, indexes, and all staff contacts.

"Please, please, please, don't lose this manual. It's hard to replace it, and we don't want to destroy more trees, okay? I'm going back to my desk now. If you have questions come ask." He started to walk back, but then pointed up in revelation. Stewart turned to face Ethan once more, "I don't expect it to be too busy today, but community members are always revolving in and out of the door, so if someone asks you a question just direct them to the desk. I know you probably have only just gotten a quick look around here, so I don't expect you to figure out right away where things are."

Stewart finally left and Ethan picked up several books at once deciding to be strategic about the way he put books away. He started by alphabetizing them on the cart and then placing to their respective spots on the selves. Although a mental task entirely, eventually Ethan went on autopilot shelving as best he could.

He returned the empty cart to Stewart who accepted it, happily.

"Okay, so I know that didn't feel very long, but that was your official 'training.'" He used air quotes, and chuckled, "But now it's time for the real fun part of the day, the videos. I set them up in my office so come along, Ethan." Stewart led Ethan into a remote room on the second floor of the library. They hurried into the small room. It was cluttered with a paper cutter, a small wooden desk with a chair and a couch that leaned against it, there in front of the couch was a boxy television. There was barely enough room between the couch and the television for Ethan's legs as he sat. Stewart then picked up a remote just as boxy as the television set, it powered on slowly as Stewart just laughed.

"Ain't she a beaut'," Stewart said sarcastically, "not much goes into the library department, it's mostly just the liberal arts students that use it anyway, right? Or so that's what the dean thinks. So many other students use it too though, we need more funding. They gotta get a lab in here, or something," Stewart admitted.

The video played as they both watched, "Now it'll be about forty-five minutes, come get me when it's over," Stewart said leaving abruptly.

Ethan thought of the librarian's words, they must really undervalue the college of liberal arts. Every school seemed to be STEM centered so this made sense. Although libraries, as Stewart had mentioned, were for everyone. Ethan continued to question whether or not he was in the right college, but he knew how much it would mean to his parents if he graduated from the school of business, although it was starting to frustrate him how little choice he had in the matter. What if he could do better without college? Instead of paying attention to the video he mulled over his past, present, and future.

When the video ended, Ethan turned off the television and stretched cracking his back on the worn brown couch. He got up and looked back, a hole had formed where he sat. He then exited the room, then something caught his eye, or someone. There, almost in front of the office door, sat Stephanie. The coincidence of seeing her was scary. Her light hair covered her face. He noticed she wasn't wearing any makeup, a strange sight considering how she used to cake her face in high school. She was staring blandly at her laptop. She looked a lot younger without all of the effort.

Ethan felt the need to say something to her. Though he wasn't sure if that need came from a forgiving place or a vengeful one.

"Hey, Stephanie," Ethan greeted getting closer to her. She looked up and narrowed her eyes. Before turning back to her computer.

"Oh, silent, I see, things were different in high school, I guess." Ethan left her sitting there. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Uh, leave, this isn't happening," she said motioning back and forth between her and Ethan, "like, get lost."

"But I see you've still kept your shining whit," Ethan said walking on eggshells. He'd never been this bold with Stephanie.

"Huh, funny, at least people liked me in high school," Stephanie said, continuing to otherwise ignore Ethan's presence.

"Huh, I remember it differently."

Ethan quickly walked off before she could get another word in. The trap was set, or so he thought he was not sure what he wanted? Revenge was probably not enough. Stephanie could pretend all the high school shenanigans were over, but Ethan wasn't quite done. He had never had the option to really seek revenge. When the hierarchy ends on you, you end up in a short-sighted role in high school. It wasn't enough to watch her try to fight back, he needed to get her to feel the way he did.

Ethan ran down the library steps. He tried to make himself feel better by telling himself he would get her back one day, although the thoughts just reminded himself about what a loser he was. Picking on an old high school bully wasn't the answer. He had to let this go. Stewart clung onto the wooden desk and stared happily.

"Finished the video, great! So now, you, Mister, are free to go. Have a nice evening, Ethan," Stewart said. The dismissal was met with a smile as Ethan thanked Stewart for his help. Ethan scattered out of the library and off to dinner. It was nearing five-thirty, and dinner hour at the cafeteria was just starting, more pudding for him. 

The dinner was lonely, but perhaps Lincoln would join him for dinner one day. Although Lincoln probably had other friends he ate with.