Snow Day

Based on the prompt

The snow was thick on the ground. It was extremely heavy and, in these parts, that can only mean one thing. Everything grinds to a halt.

Where the city was located, within several surrounding hills, the weather — bad or good — often missed it. So, places twenty miles away could be experiencing gales and deluging rain, while here, everything remained mild and dry. But occasionally, the city suffered when everywhere around escaped. So it was on this occasion.

Snow had been expected — perhaps a quarter to a half inch, but the local roads had not been gritted. Firstly to save money and secondly to save grit, which was on short supply. Consequently, no-one was prepared.

Jo woke bright and early, opened the curtains and … shock. The snow was six inches deep. The telephones cables hung low across the roads, heavy with the white stuff — you could nearly touch them.

Everywhere was quiet and still. A couple of cars were trying to crawl along the road — not very successfully.

Oh … no … not today? Why not tomorrow, when I am not working? She mused to herself.

Her work destination was a small local public library, for which, on this particular day, she had the key.

Her journey there was, usually, a short amble along the road to the bus stop — the bus would then take her a couple of miles — followed by another walk.

Today, getting there was going to be more problematic, but it never crossed her mind not to try.

She had the key, she needed to be there to unlock.

Although it was small, the library was well used and Jo knew all the regulars who would be popping in to change their books or read the newspapers or just chat. So, she had to make the effort.

Nothing much seemed to be moving on the road, but the bus travelled along a main thoroughfare and they were usually gritted — she hoped.

Jo prepared herself with an extra jumper, thick scarf (called Dougal — but that’s a different tale), extra warm gloves and sturdy boots.

The walk to the bus stop, usually a brisk five minutes, was slow and tiring, but on reaching the main road — Jo discovered — it had not been gritted, so nothing much was moving and, definitely, no bus. What to do?

Well, the library was counting on her, so off she set.

Although she did not normally walk to work, the distance was not enormous and should have taken about thirty minutes — under normal circumstances. But as you know, if you have trudged through thick snow, it is labourious, and with all the extra clothing, most strenuous.

A few other people were attempting to move around too.

But, the general quiet was quite scary. Snow is a great muffler of sounds, but as traffic was virtually nil — the stillness was eerie.

As Jo slogged along the road, time passed very slowly. She hoped she would not be too late arriving and that the one other member of staff on duty with her would not have been standing outside long. It was too chilly for that.

Was all this effort going to be worthwhile? Who or what was all the slogging for?

Jo knew exactly why she was exhausting herself with this long hike.

It was for the borrowers.

It could have been said that Jo had not initially looked forward to working amongst people — that is — the public. The idea had not appealed, whereas working amongst books, most definitely, had. And books were the main reason she decided to work there.

Every day in a public library was different, and you always learnt something new. Another interesting book you had never browsed before or a borrower interested in a subject you knew nothing about. School children with their homework — perhaps the first five were easy but, after those, you had to truly think where to find more information. And that depended on knowing your stock, also the Dewey system and all that comes from experience.

You know what was on loan, what was due back, who liked a certain genre and who was waiting for the latest novel by a particular author.

But then, much to her own surprise, Jo found she did enjoy conversing with people — the good old general public.

Doing so can be a joy and a pain. It all depends on your point of view. As long as the good outweighs the awful, then everything is hunky-dory. Borrowers of all ages, she discovered, are interesting, diverse and rewarding. You hold onto those and dismiss all the disheartening ones.

And so, because of them, the walk continued. The journey took about twice the time and, by the end of it, Jo was exhausted. Betty, the other library assistant, was there, huddled in a corner by the entrance. Fortunately, she had not been waiting long.

Doors were unlocked. The heating was on — soon the kettle was too and tea was made.

Did any of the local people make it there? Well, after an hour or two, the roads and paths were clearer and many brave souls did venture out. Lots of regulars popped in and the branch was quite busy.

The journey had been worthwhile, but Jo was not looking forward to the return expedition. Hopefully — the buses would be operating.

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