*Catholic Librarian innocently sits at reference desk* (she *may* have been surfing Ravelry, but that's totally allowed when one doesn't have a patron)
*throat clears from behind her*
*Catholic Librarian turns*
"Can I help you?" *winning smile*
"Yes, um, hello."
"Hello!"
"How are you?"
"Fine, thank you."
"What are you up to?"
Well. This is when the Catholic Librarian's RED ALERT: WEIRD! meter first stirred to life.
"Not much. Can I help you with something?"
"Do you just sit here and wait for people to ask you things? What does that make you? Like, as in your profession?"
*small silence while the Catholic Librarian assesses her escape routes from this conversation*
"A librarian."
"Oh right! Yeah. Librarians always knows lots of things. Well anyway, I don't really have a question, I'm just really here to waste your time."
Yes, that's really what he said.
"Yeah, I'm working on a paper? And I really find that it's a lot of pressure, you know? I mean, for a test, I know how I need to study in order to get an A. But with a paper, I don't know exactly what to do to guarantee that I'll get that A, you know?"
"Yes, it's a bit more of a subjective process."
"Yeah! You know? And really *leans against reference desk companionably* I find that more than academic, it's an emotional hurdle for me. I mean, it's just very hard. I just really needed to talk to someone about this, I guess"
Emotions? There are many things I'm responsible for handling in my job, but being someones psychiatrist is not one of them. He really seemed like he was settling in to chat, and with it being the Jewish holiday, the library was fairly empty, so no hope of rescue in sight.
"Yes, well, you sound very diligent, so I'm certain you'll do well on your paper. Good luck to you."
*Catholic Librarian gives off the unmistakable "we're done here" vibe as politely as she can*
"Yeah, um, thank you."
Ugh.
too, too funny.
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