To be honest, I was a nerd in high school. I read comics, science fiction, and books about things that probably would not interest anyone else, at least not the girls at my school. Everything that I knew, I learned from books; I just could not connect with people as well as I wanted to. The few dates that I did get never got very far, and I did not expect that to change very much when I went to college. Luckily, I found a woman who taught me that not everything can be learned through books.
As my first semester began, I was opened up to a wide range of thinkers that challenged how I viewed the world. This meant more time in the library reading books. I was checking out some works by Freud when I noticed the library clerk at the counter. I was compelled to introduce myself. She said that her name was Alex, and I could not help but stare at this beautiful, short-haired Chinese woman who was helping me check my books out.
She was petite, slender, and had make-up that gave her a mysterious edge with a smile that seemed sweet and naughty at the same time. Her outfit was a frumpy button-down shirt, stereotypical of a female librarian, and a black skirt that went past her knees. She was not dressed very fashionable, but her natural beauty and energy were mesmerizing.
I snapped back to reality in time to learn that she was a senior and had plans of going to graduate school. She welcomed me to the university and said that I could go to her if I ever needed help with anything. I thanked her and left. She flashed me her smile, and I knew I would be back just to see her again.
As I am a voracious reader, I finished everything that I checked out in a week and went back to return them. I was delighted to see Alex again. As I returned my items and stuttered to make small talk, she thumbed through all of the titles. She noticed Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality and showed a look of intrigue.
“I have read this one, it’s… interesting,” she said. She continues, “Do you know anything about this topic yourself?”
“No,” I said, “Nothing beyond what the book says.”
She nodded and said, “I am closing up tonight. Why don’t you stay here with me afterwards, and I can help you understand this stuff?”
“Thanks,” I said.
“No problem,” she responds with a smile, “You can’t really understand this stuff by yourself.”
I smiled and walked away to find new books, but I was puzzled by what she meant. I lingered around the library, trying to find a book that would keep my interest, but I just could not get my mind off of our conversation. Soon enough it was closing time, and everyone left except for her and me.
I could not help but ask, “What did you mean earlier, about not being able to understand these books by yourself?”
“I was not talking about the books, I was talking about the subject. Let’s sit down on this sofa,” she said.