I fight my way through the heavy double doors into the lobby with the Sailor. By the time I have Crossed the Threshold, I am near about to collapse. Of course this has not escaped the attention of the Guard, who frowns and waves for me to get out of the doorway and get about my business. I dump the Sailor in a chair and move to the circulation desk as if I have a purpose here. The Librarian eyes me suspiciously.
“Yes. We’re looking for the Inter-library Loan Office. That’s in the back right?”
“Down the hall and to the right.”
I nod “Okay” and return to the Sailor, to the Guard’s piqued interest.
“And what about him?” he smiles. Big smile.
“Oh! He’s with me.” I grunt, trying to hoist the man out of the chair, and turn my back to my inquisitors.
I give the Sailor’s arm one last tug and he flies up into my arms. Flies because on the last tug he is not Sailor Lou anymore. Flies because I tugged hard enough to yank a 280 pound man off the chair. Not a 50 pound baby monkey.
Yes. Monkey.
On the last tug, Sailor Lou has turned into a baby chimp in little kid’s clothing. A red corduroy jumper to be precise. The chimp clings to my neck. The Librarian wildly calls in additional security. The other security guards must have been lurking nearby out-of-sight, because they now pour in around me and the Sailor-Chimp. Curious patrons crown in too.
“What is that?”“It’s a monkey!”“Look at its little legs! It is a monkey!”
As I am swallowed by the crowd, I lift the chimp up over my head above the melee.
“I promised I was strong, old man.”
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