December 6, 2021, was an exciting afternoon in the Meekins Library. Elves were busy putting up Shirley’s Winter Village. The Chief Financial Wizard was organizing and updating funds. Meekins Market items were being priced. Upstairs books were being efficiently checked in, checked out, carted around, and shelved. Everyone was busy in their own little corners of the world.
Then—it happened—downstairs—a small gray spot streaked by—a motion caught just out of the corner of my eye. It was that most dreaded of all library critters—a mouse. Though really very small, this one seemed like a giant—as its stature grew the more it raced up and down the maze of aisles in the stacks. But the great, experienced, Meekins library rodent catching duo, Ro and D, were undaunted. With speed and dexterity, they grabbed two plastic bins—a garbage can and recycling bin to be exact—and commenced the chase. Up and down the aisles in the stacks— the mouse ran. Strategically, Ro ran up the first aisle one way, D took the corner at speed and faced off with the mouse coming down the next aisle. The critter stopped—regrouped— and turned to run back the way he had come. But D and Ro were ready—and closing in. First one way, then the other—the mouse turned and turned again—his trajectory getting smaller and smaller with every turn. Then he tried to dodge. D blocked him and Ro lowered the bucket with a deft, swift hand. The mouse was snagged!
But perhaps the trickiest negotiation was left. How to remove the mouse from the premises without an escape? That is where foam core, patience, and quiet determination came into play. While D held the bucket steady, Ro skillfully wiggled the foam core under the bucket—without incident. Then with their best litter-bearing technique, D and Ro carried the mouse outside and set him free—as far away from the Library as possible. He moved so fast that Ro only caught a fleeting glimpse of his tail as he ran.
Walking back to Meekins, D and Ro remarked: “All in a day’s work for your local Meekins librarians.” The End. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and wrangler. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 12/30/2021
