Our local library has this terrific leave-a-book, take-a-book deposit in its entry. I must guiltily admit that I have yet to leave anything, but I've picked up a few books this way. Even read one or two. Recently, I scanned the selections and amidst the Barbara Cartland and Mary Higgins Clark titles, I found Heart and Science by Wilkie Collins. I've read a couple of his novels before and enjoyed them enough. This one is described on the back cover as "spectacularly lurid". Right up my alley.
Leafing through the novel later I discovered a paper folded in half and then again and then again wedged into the binding. Let's make this thing as small as possible. I carefully opened the page to reveal a note written in black pen with microscopic lettering. I've known people with hand-writing like this ... don't get too close.
Maybe it is the voyeur in me, but I love finding others' notes, old letters discarded in the street, half-finished crosswords left on the bus, even grocery lists left in supermarket carts (cabbage, beer, reeses cups, shampoo ...). Who are these people? This note is particularly odd:
Leafing through the novel later I discovered a paper folded in half and then again and then again wedged into the binding. Let's make this thing as small as possible. I carefully opened the page to reveal a note written in black pen with microscopic lettering. I've known people with hand-writing like this ... don't get too close.
Maybe it is the voyeur in me, but I love finding others' notes, old letters discarded in the street, half-finished crosswords left on the bus, even grocery lists left in supermarket carts (cabbage, beer, reeses cups, shampoo ...). Who are these people? This note is particularly odd:
Lee,Quadrangle? The others? I can't even guess what's going on here. Did Lee receive this note? Was the Wilkie Collins his/hers or D's? Did they meet and resolve this strangulation? Should I return the book with the note inside back to the library immediately?
This has really been gnawing at me. I saw you with the others yesterday. Don't even deny it. You looked so free and happy without me. You had no idea I was even there. I hid invisible in the corner.
I've been thinking a lot. This quadrangle has become too much for me to handle. It's like an elastic band around my neck getting tighter and tighter.
Meet me tonight so we can talk.
-D
4 comments:
It is a fantastic idea. As an author myself, books are my life and 'orphans' finding a new home cheers me incredibly.
When I was in college, hanging out in the quad (quadrangle) was sometimes a lot to handle. Frat boys, sorority girls, jesus lovers, TAs, RAs, jocks, credit card companies swindling the freshmen, Hari Krishnas ... and me. Hell, they were "the others". Creepy.
Forward the note to 'Found' magazine.
That's a good idea. Remind me to save any grocery lists (and other notes) I find in the future. I recall one that listed several food items and then "Lord of The Rings, if we can afford it". Found items like these I find terribly interesting. They speak volumes sometimes.
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