Library

The weather man in New England is never right. It was supposed to be 70 and sunny today and Will and I were going to wander around town in the stroller...but it was 60 and overcast, so we went to the Danvers Public Library. I figured it was a great thing to do because its close and its free..well almost. They mind as well fine me when I walk in the door considering I never have enough time to finish one book (they only give you three weeks per book!). Anyway...now that I have moved to Danvers, I thought I would start fresh at a new library with a new library card. Who knew my awful library record would follow me?

I walked in with Will in his stroller sucking on his pacifier carrying my diaper bag with all the optimism a perpetually late library card holder can have and I approached the desk:

Me: I just moved to Danvers and I would like to get a library card.
Librarian Lady: Okay...can I see you license?
...silence while she puts my info into the computer...and then
L.L: OH MY!
Me: (acting dumb): What is it?
L.L: You cannot have a card in the state of MA. You have $16 in fines!
...I thought you were supposed to be quiet in a library, but she was talking soo loud. I could either go to a different state to get a card, or suck it up...
Me: How did that happen?
L.L: Well, it looks like you returned all of your books at least three months late to the Beverly library.
...duh....
Me: How about I write a check and we forget about it.
L.L: Okay. Start fresh.

Needless to say, I walked into the new release room, selected only one title (instead of an ambitious two) while Will pulled at least twenty off the lower shelf, used my new card and quickly left. Now that I have paid my find and cleared my debt, I think I need to find a new library. I'm too embarssed to walk into Danvers again. So much for "free" mommy activities.