When I first began working at the library, I didn’t think I needed help at the front desk. I was wrong.
I met Natalie, who is now seven, a couple of years ago when I was working with her mother, Jennifer, at the Gathering Grounds. Natalie was always very sweet and talkative; I didn’t mind having her around. She nicknamed me Tinkerbell, which her brother, sister, and their friends began calling me. I don’t know why, but, for me, that was always a secret sense of pride, I suppose because the name suits me so well.
Once I started working at the library, I’d see her and many other kids blowing through wanting to use the computers. One day, she was on the waitlist and she seemed kind of bored so I asked her if she wanted to sit at the front desk with me. She agreed.
I learned right away that she is wonderfully curious and bright. She would ask me questions about how the computer works, why there are barcodes on the books, what is the purpose of the computer’s ringing sound. I’m not always the best at explaining things, so I figured if she was really that curious, she should just learn for herself. I showed her how to scan the material barcodes carefully (“always make sure to press enter after you hear the ding”) and click checkout (“ask if they want a printed receipt”), as well as the importance of making sure that DVDs are in their cases.
This quickly led to questions such as: “Will I get paid for this?” and “Why don’t I get paid for this?” To which I can only reply: “You volunteered. If you want to be paid, you’re going to have to fill out an application. Bring your resume too, while you’re at it.” She usually just says, “Aww man!” and jokingly lowers her eyes, crosses her arms and pouts, or something to that effect. Somewhere along the line, the term “unpaid intern” was teasingly thrown around and stuck. Then I had to explain what child labor laws are.
Most of the time, the two of us sit and chat about our lives. She tells me what it’s like to have a younger brother and what’s new in school. I answer her questions as best as I can and sometimes read books to her. We discovered that we have a mutual fondness for all things Hello Kitty, like my cell phone, which she lovingly states is “her phone.” Sometimes I print out Hello Kitty coloring pages for her. And for me too.
Natalie isn’t the only “unpaid intern.” She probably doesn’t realize that by getting her foot in the door, she paved the way for other after-school kids looking for something to do.
She probably doesn’t realize that she makes the last hour and half of work that she makes the last hour and half of work that much more entertaining and meaningful for me.