Nice

“Excuse me,” said someone behind me.

I turned around. A young man who had been working quietly for hours had approached the reference desk.

“Yes?”

“I just wanted to say … you are so nice.”

He must have overheard me working with another patron. I smiled and thanked him. And kept smiling.

While I would like to say that the work is its own reward, it is not enough when so many other negative things detract from it. Compliments like this buoy me for days.

About Halsted M. Bernard

Halsted, a/k/a cygnoir, does stuff with words. Her favourite things to do with words are keeping this diary, writing stories, and organising information. She lives in Edinburgh with her husband, two cats, a few gadgets, several fountain pens, and many books.

Posted on 27 May 2010 in Diary
  • j david

    no surprise to me. nice of him, though

    jd

  • http://www.1plus1equals3.net Lara Guth Beeson

    Thank you universe! After our conversation last night, I knew you needed and deserved this. I gladly thank the universe for helping to brighten your day like this today!

  • http://www.twitter.com/lekevbo Kevbo

    Well, you are.

    Some that roam the shelves and approach the reference kiosks still do not know about “the incident”. Other librarians speak in hushed tones at the mere mention of Halsted’s name for fear of invoking her wrath.

    Seems someone asked for Facts on File just one… too… many… times. Something inside Halsted snapped and the stacks still echo with the rip of tendons, crunch of bones and anguished screams. Certain stores of microfiche are blocked off with police tape to this day.

    Since then, it really is in a patron’s best interest to tell Halsted she is “so nice”. If done incorrectly, losing borrowing privileges would be the least of anyone’s worries.