Home Sweet Home

the Daily Gazelle

She shook her head.

But never spoke.

"So," I offered.

"The newspapers are not on your computer."

She shook her head again

Still not talking.

I took a deep breath.

"This would go a lot faster if you actually spoke to me."

She looked surprised.

"Wasn't I talking?"

I shook my head.

She stared at me blankly.

"Are you just thinking what you want to say?" I suggested.

She put her hands to her mouth.

Still nothing.

"Betty. Look at me."

She stared at me. She had beautiful blue eyes.

"Talk. Speak. Converse."

"Sorry," she apologized.

"I don't get many people in here. Actually there hasn't been anyone in here in months."

"Newspapers, Betty. You don't have the old issues on computer?"

She shook her head.

Please let her speak.

"We don't have a computer."

"Shit."

I looked around.

"Microfiche?"

"Sorry."

'What kind of library is this,' I wondered.

This was a dead end.

"But we have every paper that the Gazelle put out since its inception in 1940."

"You mean Gazette," I corrected her.

She shook her head as she showed me the title block of the newspaper.

The Daily Gazelle.

"The spelt it wrong way back when and just never changed it. No one ever noticed."

"Including me," I thought aloud.

Why had I never noticed that before?