Free Louisiana Saves the Library by Emily Beck Cogburn

Louise had clocked in for a job was when she was in college, working in the dorm cafeteria. Sylvia had probably never used a time clock in her life.
    Someone, maybe Lily herself, had used an actual typewriter to put Sylvia’s and Louise’s names on beige time cards. Lily showed them how to insert the cards into the old-fashioned time clock. It made a ca-chunk that indeed brought back college memories. Louise had hated that tedious, mind-numbing cafeteria job. After quitting, she’d used her uniform shirt to polish her black Doc Martens.
    â€œY’all have any coffee?” Sylvia asked.
    â€œI just made a pot,” Lily said. “This mug here is Hope’s, and this one is Mr. Foley’s. You can use any of the others.”
    Sylvia chose a cup decorated with flowers and poured some coffee. “Whoa, mama. This is strong.”
    â€œWe have creamer and sugar.”
    While Sylvia doctored her latte substitute, Louise looked around their new work environment. Four cubicles smaller than bathroom stalls lined the back wall, and carts of books were parked at odd angles around the room. The main branch of the Alligator Bayou library system would have to employ enough people to order new books, take care of payroll and accounting, and manage the other three branches. Someone also had to coordinate children and young adult programming. The numbers didn’t add up. Either most of the employees had more than one job description or a lot of work wasn’t getting done.
    Next to the kitchenette was a glassed-in office with its miniblinds tightly closed.
    â€œThat’s Mr. Foley’s office. He’s the director,” Lily said.
    â€œI saw him the first time I was here. For the research project,” Louise said, trying to make her voice sound neutral. Mr. Foley had been strangely absent during Louise’s and Sylvia’s job interviews. Mr. Henry had made an excuse for the director that he didn’t even seem to believe himself.
    â€œThat’s right. You surely did.” Lily poured herself some of the midnight-black coffee and added a generous amount of sugar. She concentrated on her cup, stirring.
    She had to be embarrassed about hiding when Zoe knocked over the romance-novel rack. Was Mr. Foley really enough of a monster to justify that kind of fear? If so, taking this job was a huge mistake.
    Sylvia drank some coffee and set the cup down on the counter. She was so tall, especially in her high-heeled boots, that she seemed too big for the kitchen, too big for the small-town library. Still, she leaned against the counter with the ease of an actress playing the role of her life. Louise wished she had her friend’s poise. But her panty hose were cutting into her belly fat, and her feet already hurt in the stiff shoes. She was uncomfortable in every possible way.
    When a loud crack sounded from the patron area, even Sylvia jumped. Louise had visions of rednecks wielding guns, but it was just the circulation desk’s half-door slamming. Mr. Foley shuffled in wearing slipper-like, backless shoes. Up close, he didn’t look like someone who ran a library system. His polo shirt had a frayed collar, and the cuffs of his khaki pants had been stapled, not sewn.
    Louise had been dreading this moment. Would he recall her children wreaking havoc in the library? If he did, he probably thought she was an incompetent mother and he’d conclude that she wouldn’t be any better as an employee. Not a good way to start her career as a public librarian.
    â€œLily, I’ve told you before, haven’t I? We don’t unlock the doors until eight o’clock. We don’t need the public wandering in before we’re open.” The library director put his hands on his hips in a surprisingly ladylike gesture.
    â€œYes, sir,” Lily said, hanging her head.
    Mr. Foley turned his frown into an unconvincing smile. “You two must be our new librarians.