This is with the same child as conversation #2.
"What are you doing?"
"Same thing I was doing yesterday."
"I could help you stamp the books."
"Okay."
[We set up shop at a table, me with my Sharpie in hand and her with the "DiscardeD" stamp.]
"So," she says. "Do you like working here?" [She asked me at least 5 variations of that question in about an hour. I think she was making polite conversation.]
"Yes, I do."
"Working is good. You make money." [I didn't have the stamina to explain to her that, because I am in a practicum, I actually have to pay for the privilege of working there.]
"Yeah, making money is good."
"I lost 3 tooth-es. How many tooth-es did you lose when you were a kid?"
"I don't know. All of my baby teeth."
[This went on for over an hour. She was delightful. At the end I let her choose a bunch of the books to keep. I thanked her for the help and for being good company.]
"Yeah, 'cause you get lonely, right?"
[I told the librarian that tomorrow we'll put her to work cataloging.]
Update on child from conversation #1. She came in all smiles today and announced, "I loved Hank the Cowdog!" Then she went and got another book I had recommended: My Father's Dragon.
I love working in the library (even if I'm not making any money.)
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2 comments:
I have the leisure of being on a computer for hours at a time this week. I'm house-sitting. I scrolled back in your blog to catch up. I love this entry. You must make such a big impression on the patrons because you actually see them as human beans, not as kids.
Spending an hour chatting like that with a a child is my idea of a good time. You will be so great once you start getting paid.
I actually look forward to the company of my students during the school year. They are wonderful. I look forward to casting a wider net in the library setting.
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