~6.2~

The sun goes down on the public library.

A woman with soft brown eyes and tawny-colored hair hurries from around the side of the front stairs up to the main doors. She pulls them open and walks in to an almost empty floor. The reference desk is empty. No one is sitting at any of the tables or reading desks. A librarian behind the circulation desk is straightening things up. She looks up at the sound of the door.

“Hi,” she says. “We’re going to be closing in ten minutes. If you know what you need or there’s something that I can help you find quickly…”

“That can’t be right… you’re open until seven,” the woman says. “Where’s Linda? She’s usually here until close…”

“I’m afraid Linda doesn’t work here any more,” the librarian tells her. “She got cut, and so did our hours. It… well, it sucks. Some of the branches are shutting down completely. Mine did. This is way out of my way, but I’m one of the lucky ones, you know?”

“What about the extended hour nights?” the woman says. “I can’t get in here before sundown. If I want to have any time at all to read…”

“Gone,” the librarian says. “You’ll just have to try to get here earlier.”

“But I can’t!” the woman protests.

“Then you’ll have to hurry in, pick out your books, and check them out,” the librarian says. “Or complain to the city. I don’t know what good it’ll do, but honestly, the more people who let the council know how much this stinks, the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

“I don’t have a library card.”

“Are you a resident?” the librarian asks. “If you are, then I can get you one for free. If not, there’s a small fee. Well, slightly larger now.”

“I’m a resident,” the woman says.

“Okay, then I just need a picture ID with your address on it,” the librarian says.

“I… I guess I’ll be back tomorrow.”