The Spring Anthology ✔

A Tale of Three Libraries

Written by @Gadsdy.

"The Madison Library is the Velston Library compared to the Brickton Library." Laurel whispers to me as we sit at our study table. I'm not sure what she means by that statement. In terms of studying, I do it most often at the Madison Library. The Velston Library has only been graced by my presence once and in terms of the Brickton Library, well, I don't even know where it is. As I gaze around the glass study room I wonder what could be so different. They're all just libraries aren't they?

My eye catches on a wall full of books. If there were to be a difference between libraries it had to be in the books. At Madison the books were old and well worn. It seemed that opening one of them would release the thoughts of a century of readers, and perhaps a little dust. What if at Velston the books cover every surface that isn't a floor. Maybe those books are the newest of new and could only be touched by freshly sanitized hands that held the written consent of the librarian. On the other end of the spectrum, the Brickton Library must be bookless. The library cards there are like a certificate of completion from a science fair. You came, you saw, you won nothing. No, no, no; that doesn't make sense. I've been to the Velston Library. It may have only been once but the books were definitely not pristine.

There's no way a library could exist without books. That would make it the "Brickton Empty Building" instead of the "Brickton Library".Perhaps if the libraries were high school girls in the cafeteria; Velston would be the popular cheerleader, Madison the less popular sidekick, and Brickton the band nerd. Brickton could never sit at the same lunch table as Velston and Madison. Madison would have to cut Velston's food for her and Velston would forbid Madison from eating more that 500 calories. It makes me glad that I'm no longer in high school. Although, if libraries were teenage girls they'd probably all be very studious and none too popular. Not to mention the hunched backs they would have from carrying so many books. If the three libraries were the crew on a starship; Velston would be the captain, Madison the first officer, and Brickton would be the guy in the red shirt who's always the first to die.

Seriously! Why would they send poor Brickton out as the first to explore the alien inhabited planet. He never had a chance! Okay, I have to stop. Imagining the libraries as schoolgirls and space captains has gotten me no closer to deciphering Laurel's cryptic phrase.

"Effie, Effie are you paying attention to me?" Asks Laurel from across the table.

"Huh?" I say back, not really paying attention.

"What's the answer to number seven?" "Brickton has to have books."

"I think the answer is 12."

"What's so great about Velston anyway?"

"We have to show our work right?"

"What are you talking about?!" I scream. Her ramblings were distracting me from my inner monologue. My outburst draws some shushing from the other library patrons.

"I'm talking about the assignment! What are you talking about?" "The Madison Library is the Velston Library Compared to the Brickton Library? How are they different? What did you mean by that statement?" "Are you still on that?" "I NEED to know!" I choke out as I hold my neck and feign death.

"Ok, no need to die over it. Let's go." States Laurel as she packs up her book bag.

"Where to?"

"To the Library of course." I look back as I follow Laurel out of Madison. The dark brown bricks seem to sag a little. This building is bogged down by books that have collected pounds of dust after not being opened for ages. I can see the stress of a brunette best friend who is always second place and I can feel the nervous tension of the first in command, always ready to take over when his captain calls on him.

"You've worked hard Madison. Take a break." I think as I finally turn my head away.

In Laurel's car I'm not sure where we are going. To Velston or Brickton I'm not sure. We pull up to the sandy blond building and I almost salute. The visage of Velston has that kind of power. Its eight stories compared to Madison's three give off a much stronger vibe. I could see Velston being the prom queen, the captain.

"I've been inside Velston before, I know what it's like. Let's go to Brickton." I say to Laurel before we get too far away from the car. She gives me a sideways glance but doesn't state any objections. I can tell I'm headed toward a poorer area of town as we move from Velston to Brickton. The houses get smaller and the road is not as well kept. Upon reaching Brickton the bright red bricks almost blind me. She's a geek but she's not hiding it. It's the same red as the red shirt crew member who is always the first to die. Standing at one story, Brickton is a relatively new building in a relatively old part of town. I jump out of the car, eager the see what secrets Brickton has to offer on the inside.

Laurel looks at me with an all knowing smirk. There's no time for me to question her face because I'm halfway through the door of the library. Inside, the first thing I see is a group of preschoolers sitting in a circle. They giggle as their teacher reads from a storybook. Continuing past them I look into a computer lab and watch a group of elderly people type extremely slowly. The sign on the door says "Typing for Goldies". Laurel brushes past me and heads to a table. I follow her and sit across. As I sit and watch the scene around me, I realize what Laurel's statement means. It's not about the buildings themselves, it's about the people.

Velston is usually empty. It's a research library that's only filled with stuffy scientists who are starkly quiet when they read. Madison is a University library. Often filled with stressed out college students, Madison is not the place for checking out a random book to read. Here, in Brickton, there is a community. From the young to the old, everyone can find a place here. The Madison Library being like the Velston Library compared to the Brickton Library was not necessarily a compliment to Velston or Madison. Brickton is comfortable, lived in, and welcoming.

"Let's study here from now on!" I say to Laurel. No one shushes me.

"I thought you would say something like that." Answers Laurel with a bright smile.