Things are getting curiouser and curiouser

My library hired a 12-year-old. Last time I went there, he waited on me. My hold book wasn't on the hold shelf, so I suggested it might be behind the counter. "Books are never back there," he assured me solemnly. In fact, they always are. Maybe they should be on the hold shelf, but "should" is aspirational -- e.g., the president should be a good ruler, the war in Iraq should be over, you know. So I said, "I've been coming here since before you were born, son."

No, I didn't. But he learned his lesson about the way this library is run...the book was indeed back there.

So he waited on D today. Once we got out, I told him, "That was the 12-year-old!"

He said, "Yeah, I was thinking, 'Is that the 12-year-old? Well, I'm doing something really simple. He can't mess it up.'"

Aren't there child labor laws?

I also went to the hardware store. Three things are always true about hardware stores:

1) They are cluttered
2) They have no decor
3) I am the only woman in there.

And lastly, I saw the cutest dog in the world today*. A Wheaton.

*This applies to 40-50% of the dogs I meet.

Comments

Roxanne said…
I bet it's part of a volunteer program that the library has for summertime.

I think you're officially old when you call someone "son" that isn't actually your son. At least he was in the under 20 category though. ;)
12:28 AM
Anonymous said…
It's true ... you are the only woman in EVERY hardware store in the world!

-- Capy
12:44 AM
Elsa said…
Roxanne took the words right out of my mouth - I bet he is a volunteer. I used to volunteer in the library when I was a kid - but this was at the school library. I loved the dewey decimal system!! I was in grade school.
1:26 PM
This suzy said…
There are some 12 year olds working in Edmonton, and it's perfectly legal. They're only allowed limited hours, but I was looking at a notice from where my stepdaughter works, talking about the hours that students could work, and there was a category for 12-14 year olds! There's such an employee shortage up here right now that you'll actually see kids working at fast food places. It always just blows my mind. I can't imagine working at that age.
4:06 PM
Anonymous said…
I guess I'll hop on the volunteer train as well :)

The hardware store in my town has a lot of female employees, so I am rarely alone there.
3:12 PM
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