a librarian told me this got it from her friend at west branch so it’s true I can supply names an elderly woman reported a lost book wanted to pay for it the librarian said why don’t you just wait a little longer it will probably turn up no said the woman I want to pay for it now the librarian remonstrated if you’ll wait a little longer look around some more — the woman interrupted look honey you don’t understand you’re not getting that book back my husband was half through it when he died I put a marker in it and tucked it in his casket my friend’s friend did not know what to reply I read recently a quote by someone whose idea of heaven was one vast library I picture this husband after the last page looking around for where to return the volume to its proper space on the celestial shelf