Library Love Story


I was about nine-years-old when the library love story happened. Mom was a college student by day, and worked Friday evenings and Saturdays in our town’s public library. The old library featured tall book shelves and several long tables for quiet study and reading. 


One small table for two was situated by a side window. Mom told me that Mr. J would come in and sit there every Friday evening, reading the weekly edition of our local paper. Afterwards, he’d read one of his non-fiction choices—which most often was historical. 


Mr. J was in his early 60’s and appeared to be a bit lonely. But then came Miss V.  She was new to town and was visiting the library to gather some books for her enjoyment. Mom saw Mr. J's eyes following them as she helped Miss V locate books on Pacific Northwest gardening. 




Mr. J’s table had the closest vacant seat. Mom led Miss V over to the table. Without hesitation, Mr. J stood and nodded his welcome. Smiles were shared and whispered introductions. Mom went back to her post at the check-out counter. 


The two stayed until closing time, and Mom noticed that Mr. J seemed just a bit more jovial. The following Friday, as Mom unlocked the door for the evening hours, Miss V was the first to enter. She went to the table she had occupied the week before, and enjoyed one of the magazines from the rack. Mr. J entered soon after, smiled, and joined her.


Each Friday, Mom would re-tell the happenings of what she observed from her post at the check-out counter. She surmised that Mr. J was widowed, and Miss V had never married. Even though we lived in a small town, we respected people’s privacy. But we could still imagine—and mom created all sorts of scenarios about their prior lives.




These Friday night dates continued—and so did Mom’s embellished stories of love. Then one Friday evening, Mom noticed that Mr. J reached across the table and held Miss V’s hand. Discussing this at home that evening, we knew they were in love. Today’s readers might not understand the significance of hand-holding, but that was a true sign of commitment. 


And sure enough, Mr. J and Miss V had a quiet Court House marriage ceremony. They shared the news with Mom—the librarian who first led them to share a table. As Mom liked to say, libraries offer a lot more than just books. She was right.




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