Jasmine pushed the cart down the narrow isle with barely a sound, the wheels and her slippers muffled by the plush carpet. She reached down to get the next book in the cart and with barely a glance at the spine slipped it into a small slot on the shelf to join so many of its brethren.
'New Deal or Raw Deal' had been an interesting read, but not one of her favorites. No, Hayek was a much better narrator as well as having lived through what he had been writing of.
Jasmine swiped at a strand of stray hair that had slipped from the tight bun she wore, the auburn lock falling back across her overly large tortoise shell glasses a second later.
When reshelving the PoliSci section she was always fascinated by peoples selections, everything from Rules for Radicals and Leviathan to The Spirit of the Law and the Liberty Amendments. Every book seemed a small peek into a person's life and their true beliefs.
"Uh, hi, Ms Levin," a hesitant voice said from behind her.
Jasmine turned and pretended to be surprised as she smiled down at the young man she had noticed coming into the library earlier while she thought about what other books could give a glimpses into people's lives and their beliefs.
"Well, hello William," Jasmine said with a smile.
"I, uh, I just returned the book that you recommended to me last week," William said while his face turned a bright red.
"Umm hmm," Jasmine replied with a smile, "I do hope you enjoyed it."
"Yea, I did... well, I mean..." William began before spluttering to a stop.
"The Joys of Sex is certainly one of my favorites," Jasmine replied which only caused William's face to glow a brighter red.
Jasmine smiled and watched as William shifted from foot to foot, his dark black bangs hanging down into his eyes. At 18 he wasn't quite six foot with a few more inches to go and was still filling out with the awkward, gangly look, but she could see the man he would eventually become. A man much like his father.
"Did you just want to tell me about how much you enjoyed the book?" Jasmine asked with a smile.
"Oh... uh, I was maybe hoping you might have another book you could recommend?" William managed to blurt.
Jasmine tapped a fingernail against her teeth for a moment while watching William from the corner of her eye. She caught his glance as his eyes swept over her button down dress and shifted her leg slightly so that he could catch a glimpse of her upper thigh with two or three of the lower buttons of her dress having somehow come free. William did a quick double take and then looked up at Jasmine's face just as she smiled and slowly licked her fingertip.
"Perhaps I do have another book for you," Jasmine said and squatted down next to the cart.
She could feel the cool air slip beneath her dress and across the moist folds hidden beneath, could see William's eyes boring beneath her skirt and let her legs spread just slightly to give him a glimpse of what he so obviously wanted to see. Jasmine rummaged in the books piled in the lower basket of the cart for several moments, pretending to search while letting William stare although she already knew exactly where the book was that she had slipped into the cart when she saw William come into the library.
"Ah, here we go," Jasmine said and slowly stood up with the aforesaid book in hand before holding it out to William.
William only stared at the book for several moments while Jasmine admired the large bulge in his jeans before he finally reached out to take it.
"The Bottoming Book," William read before glancing up at Jasmine again.
"I think you'll enjoy that just as much as the last book," Jasmine replied with a smile, "And I hope you can learn a few things too."
"I'll try Ms Levin," William managed to stay while clutching the book to his side.
They stood staring at each other for several seconds before Jasmine tilted her head to the side with a lopsided half smile.
"Was there perhaps something else that you wanted?" Jasmine asked and licked her lips.
William jumped as if he had been goosed before quickly shaking his head, "No, Ms Levin, thank you!"
William turned and fled while Jasmine watched with the same half smile and only a little disappointment that William hadn't been just a little more confident, a tiny bit keener on what she had said. Jasmine's smile grew at the thought of what another year or two might bring before returning to reshelving the books.
As she worked she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the large windows that looked out onto the library's lawn dotted with oaks. The reflected image that of a tall, slim woman with a plain light brown button down dress, knit sweater, bun and oversized glasses the perfect image of a matronly librarian.
A quite and shy introvert that never caused a bit of a stir or bother.
Jasmine smiled at how well she managed to perfect that look.
The last few hours of the day passed by as Jasmine enjoyed the contradiction of quite solitude with so many people about. Benjamin sitting alone staring at one of the computers without ever knowing Jasmine knew every search he made for bi men making love to a single woman as well as each other, every picture he downloaded. Caroline sitting quietly reading on one of the couches waiting for someone, anyone to sit down beside her so she could offer a blowjob in the 'family' bathroom.
It amused Jasmine to know how many people thought themselves unique in what they secretly dreamed of, what they so secretly desired. How many people would be astounded to learn how common what they lusted for was. And it made her sad that so many would never experience what they desired because of their own inhibitions.
As soon as the last people had been shooed out and the doors locked Jasmine said her goodbyes to her two coworkers and left for the night.
The night was warm and humid, filled with the sound of frogs from the nearby pond and the distant rumble of thunder. Jasmine kicked out of her slippers to feel of the rough sidewalk on her bare feet and savor the prick of the occasional sharp rock. It was only four blocks to her home, a modest brick two story that reminded her of some of the Queen Ann style homes she had seen without the ostentatiousness.