Drama in the Library on a Stormy Day

Summary

Two teenage library workers, Barbara and Sarah, unexpectedly encounter each other in the Bellflower Public Library during a stormy holiday, leading to a moment of fright before finding comfort in each other's company amidst the eerie atmosphere of the deserted building in 1961.

Abstract

On a stormy holiday Monday in 1961, Barbara Radisavljevic, a 17-year-old library clerk, finds herself alone in the Bellflower Public Library, seeking solitude and intending to catch up on clerical work. The windy conditions create an eerie ambiance, with rattling doors adding to the spooky setting. As she retreats to the staff room for a snack, the sound of the wind intensifies, and she is startled by the unexpected entrance of Sarah, a high school page with a key to the library. Both girls are relieved to discover they are not alone, and they work alongside each other for the rest of the day. The experience highlights the trust and freedom afforded to young employees in that era, as both girls had keys and were allowed to work unsupervised in the library, which was a significant part of Barbara's life and aspirations.

Opinions

The author, Barbara, reflects on the experience with a sense of nostalgia for the trust and freedom she and Sarah were given as teenagers.
The author cherishes the independence and responsibility bestowed upon them by their boss, who had known them since grade school.
Barbara contrasts the past with the present, suggesting that such trust in young employees is unlikely to be found today.
The library is portrayed as a safe and familiar place for Barbara, almost a second home, which made the unexpected encounter less frightening once she realized she was not alone.
The author implies that the experience, although briefly alarming, was ultimately a positive one, contributing to her personal growth and fond memories of her early working life.

An eerie experience that made my heart beat faster

Author photo, © Barbara Radisavljevic

The wind whistled around the Bellflower Public Library where I worked. The rolling door that led from the back workroom to the attached bookmobile garage rattled. Was it only the wind trying to get in? The lights were off in the main part of the library because I did not want the public to know anyone was in the building.

I don’t remember now my reason for being there on a holiday. But it was one of those holiday Mondays that ended a three-day weekend. I still lived at home, and I was a clerk at the library. I had a key since I often had to open and close the building. I think I had actually just wanted a place to retreat and quietly read without anyone else around.

I might also have been planning to do some clerical work I was behind on. In those days before computers, there were always new book cards to be typed so the books could go back on the shelves.

Whatever I was doing, I heard the constant eerie noise of the wind and the rattling doors that would have made a great background track for a spooky movie. It was about three in the afternoon, and the sky was beginning to darken already. I decided to go to the staff room at the back, near the rear entrance to the library. I had stashed some snacks and drinks there in the refrigerator for staff use.

As I sat on the sofa, reading a book and munching on cookies, the ruckus outside got louder. The rattling of the bookmobile garage door began to sound like a percussion section as the wind whipped around it. It felt very creepy. My nerves were on edge. I was, of course, totally alone. It was then I heard the back door open, followed by footsteps approaching the staff room where I was huddled. I cautiously moved toward the staff room door. The footsteps got nearer.

And then we met. And we both jumped back. Fortunately, the intruder was Sarah, one of the high school pages, who also had a key. She had no idea anyone else was there. Sarah was there to put in some hours shelving books, also easier when the public wasn’t around. We each felt a lot better working the rest of the day since we now knew we weren’t there alone. As I recall, we left about the same time.

Background: This occurred in the year 1961 at a suburban branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library. I doubt if it could occur today. I was 17 and Sarah must have been about 16. Both of us had been trusted with keys. It was understood that each of us could be there alone, unsupervised. I think Sarah kept track of her working hours that day and got paid.

She did her work. I did whatever it was I came to do, which, I believe, was to read in peace, away from my family at home. Essentially, we were two teen-aged girls who had the run of the place that day. Our boss had known both of us since we were in grade school and knew neither of us would have betrayed her trust.

The library had been like my second home since I was eleven. It was only four blocks from where I lived. The librarian had often looked the other way when I checked out too many books at a time. She knew I’d bring them back early. When she hired me, she knew I hoped to be a librarian someday. I was thrilled to work at the front desk and be allowed to help patrons. Most people my age started as pages, like Sarah.

I imagine the experience Sarah and I had that day could not happen today. I doubt if we would be allowed to have the keys today. I cherish the freedom and trust we were given that made that day possible, even if I spent a few moments when my heart was beating too fast.

Barb writes about nature, faith, books, family, relationships, social media, aging, bereavement, and more. Don’t miss any of her stories, ponderings, or photo essays. Become a Medium member. Part of your subscription fee will support her writing. Your membership will also give you free access to thousands of other Medium writers.