The walk back to the motel was longer than I remembered. Or perhaps it just felt that way with my mood still soured.
"Or it's just all the heavy bags."
Imposing, vaulted ceilings and lanes of high shelving filled with books and books had ultimately been a monument… to disappointment.
Upon entry there had been a security checkpoint. When explaining to the older woman behind the desk that I wanted to come inside and read, I was asked for my 'library card'.
Her glasses had been perched on her nose like a barrier between us - as much as the security guard, 'metal detector', and 'turnstyle' had been.
She hadn't even looked up from her computer as she explained how exactly to obtain one. When I was made to realize that there was no way for me to do so!
After that, I'd only stood there off to the side, dumbfounded as the next person in line pushed past me. By scanning their rectangle of plastic and starting to pay some sort of penalty.
