Note Worthy

Dropping the weight of her coat, scarf, hat, and gloves onto a chair, Amada shook out her arm while enjoying the warmth of the sun filtering through the two-story wall of windows. This was her routine, since her doctor had prescribed daily screen-free time to combat her migraines. She settled into the comfortable leather chair that faced the windows, turned the book she had chosen from the shelves over in her hands, keeping it close to her lap and then tipped it upside down, holding the front and back cover so the pages were just barely brushing her lap and gently shook it so the pages fanned out slightly. She shut it and eagerly turned it so the spine was in her hand and she could look at the pages. "Yes!" Amanda exclaimed. She sheepishly looked around to see if she had bothered any of the library patrons. While she hadn't meant for her excitement to escape in audible sound, it had, and rather loudly at that.She carefully opened the book to the page where the small edge of paper was sticking out. She hurriedly unfolded the lined note paper and greedily read the now familiar handwriting. After reading the note twice, she pulled out her notebook. Amanda added the title, author, genre, chapter, and pages where the note was found to her list. She read the two pages of the book where the note had been, but again, the content of the pages seemed to be irrelevant to the notes and their author.The first note she had found was about loneliness; it had struck a chord within her. Amada assumed that it had been unintentionally left and was going to throw it out. Then, she thought, maybe it was a cry for help. She returned the book to the shelf and watched it for the rest of the afternoon. The content of the note made her believe that its author needed a friend. As a student of psychology, she was intrigued and had a deep desire to help. When the note was still there a week later, she took it from the book and left a response. Her note read, "I'm listening. Please tell me more."Fourteen days passed with no response to her note, disappointed, she pulled it from the book and threw it away.A week later she found another note, on the same note paper and in the same handwriting, in a periodical. Her pulse raced with the intrigue of it.She began scouring the library looking for notes. Two days later she found one in an art history book. Then one in a mystery book. Amada had found eight notes over the course of three months. The note in the periodical convinced her that these notes were recent and had not been sitting unfound. She left the same response, "I'm listening. Please tell me more." to all the notes she collected. Frustratingly, all her responses were still there, seemingly unread.Today's note was about breaking the habit of loneliness. Choosing to participate and be seen. Amanda was intrigued; she'd never thought of this but could see the voracity.She placed her response in the book. She would reshelve it, then she would check on the notes she'd left, and search a few more books. Her list of where she'd found each of the notes had produced no discernible pattern or clues to the writer's identity.All the notes she had written in response were still in the books that were shelved; however, one book was missing. Maybe the author was reading her note just as she was reading his. She believed the handwriting was a man's. There had been no clue in the note's contents to sway her either way.Amanda re-read all the notes. She was struck with the belief that this person was very similar to her. Someone with whom she shared feelings of loneliness, uncertainty, insecurity, and hopefulness. She looked at the titles of books on her list and picked a classic book to read for potential clues and pleasure.

******As Amada approached the library, she pulled off her gloves, dropped them into her bag and pulled out the book she was returning. An elderly gentleman was just inside the door donning his scarf and gloves. One of the pouches on his walker had papers and a book sticking out of it. The gentleman smiled at her as he hit the button to open the door automatically. Amanda smiled warmly as he made a show of opening the door for her and pulled his walker back to give her plenty of room to walk by. Amanda thanked him and asked if he would mind if she righted the contents of his bag and zipped it so he would not lose any of his papers. "Since I've just gotten these gloves on, I would appreciate the help. Oh, that is a wonderful book, it was one of my wife's favorites. Did you enjoy it?"Amanda looked at the book in her hand and at the lined notebook paper in his walker pouch."You wouldn't have happened to have read this recently and seen a note in the book?" She asked hopefully."That's an odd question. Did you find a note in that book?"Amanda knew it had been a long shot. Everyone had lined notebook paper, including herself. But she still felt crestfallen that no progress had been made in solving her mystery."Why do you look so sad?" he asked, concern evident in his voice."I did find a note in this book, and many others. I just thought, maybe, you might have too. It's a mystery that I have been trying to solve for a few months now.""For all that time, heh? I hear that is a long time for you younger people. Why do you think it is a mystery?"I think the person is trying to reach out to someone. I've left them messages but they haven't responded."He shook his head. "I'm later than usual and have to get back to my place before dark. If you'll walk with me, I can tell you all about it.""You! You wrote the notes? Really?" Amanda was giddy with anticipation.He nodded his head towards the door, pressed the button and pushed his walker ahead of him. "You're going to think I'm a silly old fool- but that is all I am. I'm not senile. We have a bit of a walk; I'm going to start from the beginning."Amanda nodded her consent. Her eyes wide with excitement. She wanted to remember every detail of her companion Vernon and what he was about to tell her."My wife, she was amazing. I knew she was the one from the first time we talked. Her parents didn't believe I was worthy of her, but we were in love... There's no stopping two kids in love! We could only see each other in secret. She was so smart. Her parents never thought of us meeting in the library. We would leave notes in code in the reference room where few people went and that note would point to a meeting spot or the location of another message."She's been gone now for three years. I miss her every day. The holidays this year were the hardest. I don't know why. I started coming to the library in the fall to get out and meet people. It hasn't worked so far. One day, I don't know what came over me, I wrote her a note. I left it in that book that you had today. That was one of her favorites. Somehow, I felt better. Less lonely and burdened. So, when I have something I want to share or I need to feel connected to her, I find a book she would like and leave her a note. I know, I know, that is an odd thing to do, but it's helped. And what harm could it cause?"I'm sorry it caused you concern. It never occurred to me that someone would find more than one note or that anyone would respond to them. I assumed whoever found them would believe it was left behind by accident and throw the note away. I had hoped, that someone would read one and find some wisdom or simply feel less lonely.""I did," Amanda said.Vernon patted Amanda's hand and gave her a smile. Walking and talking in the cold air had taken the wind out of him. They entered the lobby of his building and the desk clerk welcomed him warmly."I would like to see you again," Amanda said. "I still have some questions about the notes and, now you're going to think I'm crazy, but, after reading your notes, I feel like we have a lot in common."Vernon's chuckle was warm and quiet; perfect for a library. "I would like that, very much."