It's too damn Quiet

It's too damn quiet in the public library

I think to myself

Alone

Surrounded by red felt walls

On this island table surrounded by too many books to read

Not enough time to read them

My attention shifts from a the flipping of a page

to hush whispers

to someone walking along the linoleum floor

as their feet squick and screech against the rubber of the soles of their shoes I hush myself silent as I grit my teeth.

My attention shifts again

Someone unzipping their backpack

The gentle roll of the wheel of the chairs perfectly aligned along this island between rows of books

the soft sizz of an open can as contraband makes its rounds

it's too damn quiet in the library

my attention holts.

To a lady sitting at a table next to me

She rifles through her belongings

Sits in the chair

and begins to snack

More contraband I try to joke

but the noise gets too loud

a soft crunch sends shivers down my spine

i-is that popcorn? I begin to wonder as my teeth yearn for it to stop as they scrape together behind my pierced lips.

crunch

crunch

crunch

munch

munch

munch

ugh I can't take it

it's too damn quiet in the library!

The lady stopped chewing 

The lady got up and left the table, okay. 

Her stuff is still there but that’s okay, for now I have freedom from 

smack smack munch munch crunch crunch chew smack crunch 

She’s coming back. 

It’s too quiet in the public library. 

For a minute, a soft swoosh brushes over me and I relax a little to the sound of my own keys as they press against the quiet keyboard as I work to distract myself from he chewing.

It's enough to set my attention straight and get me focused

because it's too damn quiet in the public library

A cough

the woman is now blowing her nose

I better not get sick

It's too damn quiet in the public library!