I was 36 when I started grad school. I was older because I had spent a lot of years in the military and also on starting a family. I got into a pretty good school and four years later I was writing my thesis. My area of concentration was U.S. History and in particular 19th century reform movements. This meant I spent a lot of time in the school archives as well as other archives and libraries. My advisor told me the more original source material I used the better. I was an excellent researcher so I was more than up to the challenge.
It was early May and I was in the bowels of Widener Library hunting down a book. I was going to go from there through the tunnel to the archives. It wasn't at all unusual to be the only one back in the stacks and quite honestly I preferred it that way. A couple of times while hunting the book I needed I thought I heard someone else in the stacks with me but didn't see them. I didn't think much of it but it did pique my curiosity a bit. I remember looking at my watch and seeing it was just a little after six which gave me another full three hours before the library closed. It wasn't unusual for students to get trapped in Widener as big as it is. Graduate students would get the customary "you know better" whereas undergrads were threatened with a loss of privileges. Being allowed in the stacks was unusual for undergrads so holding that over their heads provided a bit of leverage.
I was walking down one of the aisles towards the rear of the building when I saw a stunning young woman standing on a stool to reach a book on the top shelf. When first seeing her I guessed she couldn't have been more than 19 or 20. She had auburn hair that was tied up behind her head. She wore a long dress that pinched at her waist and fell to her ankles. Back then we weren't far removed from the hippie years so I figured her to be a bit of a throwback although punk style was coming in so it was a bit unusual.
I continued walking down the aisle. I needed to go to the other side of where she was standing. Just as I reached her she went to take a step off the stool and lost her balance. Being rather agile I was able to catch her before she fell to the floor.
The woman looked a bit shocked and then said, "Thank you." She blushed although for the life of me I couldn't understand why.
Being recently divorced and lacking in female companionship I quickly decided to take advantage of the opportunity afforded me. "It's my pleasure." I smiled and nodded to her. "People have been known to die from falling off these stools and then not be discovered for weeks down here." I lied of course but it was an attempt at a bit of light humor.
"Is that so?" She responded with a serious look on her face.
I couldn't believe she was taking me seriously. "No, of course not, I was just joking." My attempt at humor having failed I tried another tact. "So what are you looking for down here?"
"A book on Josiah Quincy, do you know of him?"
"Actually I do. I wrote a paper on him last year. He was the 2nd lay president of the college 1839 to 1845."
"Well, I'm impressed." She said finally breaking a smile. "I'm sorry but I shouldn't be talking to you as we haven't been formally introduced. My father would truly disapprove."
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name's Henry Everett. My friends call me Hank."
"I'm Caroline Stevens and my friends call me Caroline."
"Isn't that just a bit formal?" I asked her. I thought I was heading down a road I didn't want to be on so I quickly changed the subject to something I consider more controllable. "So maybe I can help you with your research my having already done it."
Caroline looked at me pensively and then said, "Well maybe you can." She then proceeded to ask me questions about where to find certain facts. They were all pretty basic questions that I answered easily. Finally she asked, "So you teach in the history department I take it." Before I could disabuse her of the idea she continued. "I'm surprised I haven't seen you around here but then you know we Cliffies are reigned in pretty tightly."
"I don't teach here," I said almost laughing, "I'm a student here just like you. I'm doing my thesis work now."
"Fascinating." She replied. I wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic but decided to take it at face value. As we continued to talk whole demeanor seemed to change in a way that is difficult to explain save to say that she was more warm and bubbly. She had transformed from this very serious woman to a happy and free spirit.
Caroline carried the conversation and then suddenly said, "Listen to me, I'm gong on and on. What about you?"
Her question confused me. I had no idea where it was coming from. So instead of querying her I asked, "Do you mind if I call you Carrie?"
"No actually, I'd love it. My best friend calls me that and I really like it." She was off to the races again chattering about everything. Finally she said, "Listen, I know a room over there" she was pointing through the stacks toward the side of the library "that one of the professors always leaves unlocked. Let's go in there so we can sit down and be more comfortable."