12. Monkey Books

So this is the library. That little beeping sound reminds me of the forklift when I worked in the warehouse. That was a cute sound. This is creepy.

"C'mon," Tanya is pulling on me.

Why are peole always trying the make me do things? Just because she dragged me in here does not mean I'm staying. Door, over there. You always got to have an escape plan, not get distracted.

"Pssst! Betty!"

People are staring, you doofus. Tanya's whisper is more like a shout. Oh no. They're staring at me too. Shit. Guess I'll sit in this chair for a while. Okay, I can see my cart from here. In case you haven't guessed, I hate being stared at or even possibly being stared at. This is when it's good to be small. They'll forget about me in a while.

Where exactly am I? The mystery section. Real nice---blood, death, murder, betrayal, graveyard. No wonder I gave up reading. Monkey? That's weird in a mystery title. If I still had my glasses, I might take a look. "A Number of Monkeys." Doesn't sound much like a mystery. But there's something I remember...

Oh, yeah, this is where they had that circus, out there on the grass. A tiny circus for tiny kids. No one chased me away, so I stayed on that yellow bench by the roses, and watched. Their favorite was the monkey. A real monkey, with a red hat and a red vest, doing tricks and scampering. A monkey can do nothing but scamper, and it is just so wonderful. I never say wonderful, but that monkey was. All afternoon. I fogot to eat or pee or anything. Then it got dark and I had no sleep plan. That's what happens if you get distracted. I remember that about books too. Monkey murder, no thanks.

"Oh, goody, you're still here!"

Good for who? It's hard to breathe in this chair

"Frances, this is Betty!"

Frances? Oh, shit. Gotta go, gotta go.

"Gotta go, bye," I say. Sort of polite and I'm outahere. No, I did not look at her. Frances. She's probably nice, but I gotta go.

"Hello, Betty," says Frances.

Wait. I thought I left. Who is she talking to?

"I see you found a good chair."

What?! How am I trapped in this chair, still here, sinking. They are staring at me, I am staring at the floor, for a long time. She has purple shoes. I will not cry, no matter...

"Bye, Frances!"

Tanya is grinning and waving at this purple dress fluttering away, going over there, away away, gone. Whew. I can hear the beeping now.

"Let's go, Betty!"

Tanya gives me a tap, like she's a fairy with a magic wand. I swat her away and somehow get out of that chair and out the door.

The worst is over, but I don't know that. I grip my cart so hard my hands hurt. I look around for Tanya, but she has disappeared.

Time to breathe real air.