I went to the library a few days ago. I'd just finished Catch-22, which was tremendous, and I needed another book to read.I decided, on a whim, to see if they had a copy of Harry Potter, book 6. I knew it would be fruitless, though. I'm pretty sure that every copy in the world is checked out, so people can reread it before the 7th book comes out (which is exactly what I had in mind). When I looked it up on the library computer, all the copies were indeed checked out, except for one—which indicated it was in a section called "Basement Children."
There were no stairs, so I got in the elevator to go down to the basement. Only it didn't go down to a basement.
After looking around a little bit, I consulted the librarian at the front desk. She told me there wasn't a way that I could get to "Basement Children," but that she could go get the book for me. This is where it gets interesting.
She took a set of keys out of her desk, and walked to the wall. Neatly disguised by the wood paneling on the wall, was a hidden door. She opened the door in the wall and disappeared down a flight of stairs. She came back up a few minutes later, indicating that luckily the book had just barely been checked back in, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to find it.
I was pleased to get the book, for sure. But what's the deal with "Basement Children"? And the hidden door? Is there a vault down there? What else is in it?
So many questions.
3 comments:
Clearly, there are children in it. Thus, "basement children."
Catch 22 is a great book. I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books but my roommate tells me they recreate Diagon alley here in the city, when the book comes out. I think I may have to go check it out.
HA! Basement children. You should write a children's book called Basement Children about the kids who live in the basement of the library, and only get there through a forgotten, hidden door. Neat.
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