One Shots: An ADNBookClub Writing Challenge

The Library Card

By @jenofgenovia

Dedicated to my ADN BookClub Family and to all of my wonderful readers! Thank you for voting for this prompt and placing it at the top spot 😘

To @misisbcancook thanks for the help, Mars! I couldn't have done it without your tips on how a Librarian works.

📚🔨

Part 1 - Cataloging

This is NOT her day! Due to water interruption, she has to report to work without taking a bath hence she tied her hair up in a high bun, wears her white sleeveless top, black skirt and brown cardigan. And since she forgot to get her glasses at the Shop, she has to wear her thick eye glasses with dark frame.

Maine or Maine Celestine Mendrez is a graduate of BS Library Science and an honor student. She took the Librarian Apprentice job at ADN University to give back from the scholarship that they gave her on her third and fourth year. Their family business suffered from bankruptcy and she has to make ends meet for her while her brother has to stop studying to help her parents.

Ms. Fleur Minchin, the Chief Librarian is one tough potato, she's been with ADN University for 24 years now. No one will dare to mess with her as she has that look - a stare that is equivalent to the stare of three horror teachers! But Maine knows that it's just a facade, deep inside that raised eyebrow, turtle neck dresses and throat clearing before she talks, lies a soft spoken and sweet lady. And Maine knows the way to her heart - a good cup of Hot Salabat!

Maine is running late but she made it just in time - 7:59:55 am. As she is helping Ms. Minchin in lining up the Card Catalogs, they suddenly hear a loud thud! Maine runs towards the window and...

MM: Maine Celestine! A lady doesn't run...

M: Sorry po Ms. Minchin, ay hala! Bakit po giniba ang North Wing?

MM: Aba'y hindi ko alam, Chief Librarian ako hindi Building Administrator!

And from the smoky side of the North Wing, a tall, fair complexioned bedimpled guy with those yellow vests comes out and...

Paumanhin po Miss Minchin, mag u umpisa na po kasi ang extension ng North Wing...

M: Anong paumanhin ka diyan! Iniistorbo mo ang Library! Ito ang lugar n pnpuntahan ng mga estudyante para makapag aral sila!

MM: Ehem...Maine...ehemmmmm

M: Nasaan ang Boss mo? Di ba dapat may mga permit din kayo??? Ay hala...

Maine's eye glasses fell on the floor and the handsome Construction Worker helps her pick it up.

M: Salamat! Asan na ang working permit at tawagin mo ang Boss mo!

MM: Ehem...Maine, siya ang BOSS...si Engr. Richard James Faulkerson, RJ! Ang inaanak ko, apo ni Mayor Reyes!

R: Miss Minchin, mag u umpisa na po kami, may dala po akong green tea salabat para sa inyo.

MM: Maraming salamat hijo...dun lang ako sa loob, pag may kailangan ka sabihin mo lang kay Maine, Apprentice Librarian ko siya...Maine, ikaw na bahala kay Richard...

R: Thank you po...Maine, Maine...hindi mo na ako natatandaan no?

M: dapat po ba?

R: Naman! Sa pogi kong ito? Anyway, ako yung nanalo sa Pie Eating Contest nyo dati...ung 3.1416 contest?

M: Ahhhhhh....sophomore highschool po ako noon.

R: Oo at senior ako nun...honor student din and crush ng bayan (winks at her)

MM: Ehem....

R: Ay sorry po! Aalis na po ako!

M: Yabang...

R: Goodbye Ms. Tapia!

Part 2 - Collation

Ms. Minchin and Maine put up signs and block on the North Wing, they went back to the Office to have hot salabat for Ms. Minchin and tea for Maine.

MM: Maine, ano ba yang suot mo? Sinabi nang wag akong ginagaya!

M: Sorry po, wala po kasing tubig at hindi ko po na plantsa ang damit ko.

MM: Tignan mo tuloy tinawag kang Ms Tapia hi hi hi....nag i isa lang ako na carry ang ganitong look kaya wag ka na nga, mag ayos ka, napakabata mo pa nag m mukha ka nang Kuwarenta!

M: Bukas po promise.

And that she will! This darn JR or RJ caught her at a bad time, she promised Ms. Minchin that she will not dress up like an old maid but will dress accordingly. Quite unaware of her beauty, Maine doesn't seemed bothered by the many teenager boys lurking around the Library to ask for her help. Ms. Minchin will usually drive them away with her glare...

The next morning, Maine is in her light blue dress, hair down and her new eyeglasses, she puts a little lip gloss and powder on her face. She always wear long dresses because she likes the way they move as she does. A chatter of laughing boys can be heard and as she walks to stop them, a tall man carried her and...

Hoy mga Mokong! Akala nyo hindi ko alam ang ginagawa nyo! May salamin kayo sa sahig!Mga bastos! Maninilip pa kayo kay...Miss...Miss...

It was RJ in his usual vest and checkered polo shirt and yellow hat.

M: Maine...not Miss Tapia! Please put me down!

MM: Ehem!!!! What is this?

The three high school boys froze while Richard puts Maine down to explain to Ms. Minchin what happened. Ms. Minchin called for the Guidance Counselor to pick the boys and reprimand them. While she talks to them, Richard...

R: You're welcome...

M: What?

R: Hindi ka na kasi nag thank you, so ako na po!

M: Well, mag sorry ka muna for calling me Ms. Tapia!

R: Can you blame me? Susko pwede naman palang ganyan ang itsura mo...

M: Anong itsura? Ung hindi mukhang Librarian? Yan tayo eh, stereotyping! Just because Librarians kami doesn't mean na mukha kaming Manang or Mongha!

R: Okay...can I have your number? (Winks)

M: No....

Richard smiles and follows her into the Counter.

M: Ano ba???

R: shhhhhhh...silence in the library...sige lang mag f fill up lang ako ng Library Card...

M: At bakit?

R: Para makapag basa at manghiram ng books....here you go, andyan na din ang phone number ko (winks and then leaves)

MM: Oh how nice, nag fill up si Ricardo ng Library Card!!! Maine!

M: po? Hindi ko po hiningi ang number nya nilagay lang nya...

MM: uhhhmm I was about to say na nilagyan nya ng smilling face ang Library Card! Bawal yun at ayan may cell number nga niya...okay carry on!

Part 3 - Dewey Decimal Classification

Ms Minchin went on leave for a week to visit her sisters Nelle and Amelia. Maine is feeling the pressure as this will be her first time to work without Ms. Minchin. The day went on so fast and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, there was a loud thud from the East Side of the Library.

M: No!!!!!!!!