Always a Story to Tell [Open]

The New York Public Library, for many people, is a place of wonder. A bastion of knowledge open to any and all, it is the place to be where one can find answers, helpful research, or simply just a cool place to run to from the heated, angry sun up above. Because of this, the denizens within its halls are varied, ranging from teenagers studying to adults looking for a quiet place to read. And while the technological world has advanced to the point where most of these hallowed volumes could be downloaded and read upon a flat, LED-lit screen, there was currently one audience that had discovered the love of books early on, and an appreciation for those skilled enough to read them aloud.

In the children’s section, sitting on a thick, yellow donut-looking table, is a tall, muscular man surrounded by kids. He is dressed in a simple button up shirt that seems to strain against his chest and biceps, slacks, and a stylish red bowtie at his collar. His hair is a sandy brown and combed neatly, his mustache and beard matching the hue and styling. His blue eyes sparkle with interest as he holds up a colorful book in his hands, reading with enjoyment to the varying kids sitting around him.

It is Storytime in the New York Public Library and Booker B. Bookman, a librarian, was enjoying himself immensely.

“So what do we say to Gerta the Gassy Dragon the next time we see her?” Booker reads from the page. He then sticks his tongue out and raspberries loudly, and is met with a chorus of similar sounds from the kids around him. And all together they announce.

“DON’T EAT ALL THE BEANS NEXT TIME, GERTA!”

There is another round of raspberrying and all the kids descend into giggling fits of laughter. Booker, smiling from ear to ear at the children’s mirth, chuckles as he waits for them to calm down. Slowly he ushers them there, holding his finger up to his lips and very soothingly shushes them until they are all miming him and responding in kind. Once everything has finally calmed, Booker closes the book “Greta the Terribly Gassy Day” and sets it on his magenta colored bookcart.

“Alright kids, that’s it for storytime today.” A mass break out of “awwww’s” responded and he smiled, holding up his hands. “I know, I know. But…I’ll be here next weekend! And I promise I’ll have not three but four awesome stories to read to you all! I’ll see you next weekend, okay? Remember, in the library we gotta be quiet so we don’t disturb the books resting, okay?”

The kids giggled and nodded before standing and moving off to their waiting parents. Booker smiled and watched them go. Once he was sure they were all with the people they were supposed to be, he stood, grabbed his cart and went about beginning to pick things up. He loved volunteering for storytime. But now it was time to get some of these books back to their homes.