Monday, June 4, 2012

better yet



Henry felt a little melancholy. Why was he even at Derrick's? Having that little chat with Josie was a bit unexpected. He wasn't intending to see her. No, he was going to Derrick's to make this right. Some how.

It ended so terribly after the concert when he went back to Derrick's. It was suppose to be...magical. He guessed.

But it was no where close. It was as if he'd wanted to try a new drink of some kind, but couldn't quite take a sip. It was all so freaky now, as Henry thought about it. What was wrong with him? He just couldn't go through with it? And he'd sobbed like a baby.

He thought he might cry now, but he didn't. He saw that Derrick was still sleeping soundly. Obviously, he wasn't keeping Derrick sleepless. On the other hand, Henry kept tossing and turning, all night, thinking of so many things he might do to go through with this nightmare hanging over his head. Sex.

1. He could watch enough gay porn that might seize him somehow until it really happened.

2. He should try lots of rum and coke. Like his brother Aidan sometimes did when he wanted to be happy.

It didn't make him feel any better to know Josie trusted Derrick, to do the one thing that he was to be submissive too. It made him so angry with himself. How could she? How could he not? Why didn't he have that sort of trust? He thought he did?

He didn't stay around to bother Derrick. Henry got himself to the library after a long walk in the cool morning air. He was up for anything.

"You want to try something new?" Kayla asked.

"Yeah. Of course." He faked his enthusiasm. Still thinking of Derrick and sex and how it was suppose to be.

She lead him back around to the tech area.

"Mildred has a ton of books to cover." Kayla shrugged.

Henry took a look at the old woman who's scary fingers looked as if arthritis got the best of them. He didn't mean to scowl.

"She'll show you what to do." Kayla told him. Henry nodded trying his best to think this would be fun, but Mildred was so old, definitely an artifact. But she really knew this business about covering books. Soft covers too.

In a few minutes he was cutting out long stretches of plastic film to put on the book jackets. Adding tape where need be, and gluing it down properly. Soon, it was a comfort to be doing the task.

"Well, then, I should leave you to it." Mildred went to make a cup of tea.

He looked at her a bit suspicious. What did she mean?

She brought him a cup of tea as he stacked the books he'd covered.

"You like computers?" She wanted to know.

"Yeah, I'm fine with them." He shrugged.

"Better you, than me..my dear boy." She laughed softly. "They want to get rid of me. I can't seem to manage the new system. Maybe you can."

Suddenly, he felt so sad for her.

"Well, how can I help?" There was no one else around but the two of them. The others were on holiday or a massive leave of some kind. They'd left her hanging. As if it were a sure way to fire her.

She plopped down the little manual in front of him about how the program worked so people could look to see what materials the library had to offer. But it would start with merging the items into the catalog.

"See if you can decipher it." She held on to her hot tea to warm her cold bony fingers.

Henry smiled ever so genuinely. Oh, how he loved a project. Education, always had this splendid affect on him.

6 comments:

  1. I'm glad he found work and maybe its a good thing he met Mildred when he did.

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  2. Aww this is nice :)
    Aimee
    www.new-yorkdoll.blogspot.com
    xxx

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  3. I'm glad he can at least help out at the library.

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  4. Good for Henry. He needed this chance.

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