Halloween Hauntings

As holidays go, Halloween day is usually quiet. Apparently, not many people think of going to the library to celebrate All Hallows Eve. Which is fine with me, since we get some unique costumes on regular days.

So other than the director showing up in a get-up that he thought was wizardish--we knew that because he wore a sign stating he was the "Exalted Wizard of the Library"--it was slow going. Until the the androgynous individual showed up at the OPAC.

From a distance, we couldn't tell what gender. Think Joel Gray in "Cabaret". But with more eye makeup. But upon making myself available to help I discovered that it was female & she wanted "a picture of my grandpa, Jesse James" because her copy disappeared when she "lost" her house.

Now, this female was maybe in her late twenties, early thirties. Much too young to be a grand-daughter of Jesse, unless you threw in a few greats. When we--well, by that I mean I--discovered that our Jesse James books were all checked out I suggested she look online for a photo. "Oh no, I hate computers & they hate me".

OK--then perhaps we could put some books on reserve for her.

"No, I have to go to court so I'll check later."

Now, that would have been a fun case to observe but then I got to thinking. Never seen this person before, comes in wanting photos of "granpa Jesse", pale skin, dressed in black, computer phobic, & it's Halloween. Could she be an apparition who only appears in libraries every October 31st searching for her ancestors?

That would be the best of our world. Which means that I have no doubt that she is flesh & blood (& eyeliner) and will return. Sooner than later. And probably when I'm working alone....