Time Ticks On

The time is 2:32, on a Monday afternoon. The outside of the lounge is warm, not hot. It seems that the October month is finally starting to run out the remnants of summer. The inside of the lounge and library are quiet save Jill, whom sits with a younger girl that looks about her age. (Let’s call her Ellen,) the two sit at the table in front of the one Jack and Jill sat at the previous week. Both sit upright across from one another, writing in their respective journals. Jill keeps a purple binder in her lap, and an open book atop her desk. She seems to be discussing the subject material from with Ellen as she writes in her own open journal. I notice that the majority of the majority of the educational material being discussed comes from questions Ellen poses toward Jill, it is possible I am witnessing a tutoring session. To the right of me, only separated by a small grey platform, sits a very young looking man with black hair. A red roller desk has been pulled to his seat and now houses sun glasses, a red computer mouse, a paper packet, and about two highlighters (let’s call this man NB.) At the moment a man with long black hair enters the library, and a man with short black hair exits the library. In spite of all the laid out material, NB seems to be the most interested in his red cellphone, of which he holds close to his face as he sits up on the edge of his chair. To the farther right of me, in the seat aside where Brown previously sat, sits a fidgety man with a black cap. Aside he lays various books and journals, and two black backpacks, one large and the other a smaller travel looking bag. The man (let’s call him fidget,) keeps a thin journal filled up with writing on his lap, I notice that the man’s right twitching leg is propped up on his left which also fidgets. The man now fishes through the pages of the journal as if looking for something. A desk away, directly in front of me sits a newcomer to the lounge, a girl in athletic attire and a messy bun, she seems to have set up an apple laptop on her grey desk, and aside she has placed a monster drink. She scrolls through her computer lazily, taking sips in-between scrolling. In the far corner of the lounge sits two girls virtually out of my line of sight, Ellen and Jill block the first girl, and a large laptop hide the second. The time is 2:57, NB has now fished out a black laptop and placed it atop his packet of papers, his phone lays aside him. The red mouse that once looked out of place now comes to life, clicking rhythmically in line with it’s master’s decisive motions. A tall girl in pink exits through the lounge, followed by a man in a festive shirt, who looks around the lounge as if it is his first time in, he soon exits into the library. The man exits through the lounge moments later, no longer paying mind to his surroundings, he now has white earbuds in his ears. Jill and Ellen talk quietly, always digging in their respective journals and scribbling down notes. Occasionally I see Jill crack a joke or laugh. Ellen writes with one hand, and with the other holds a phone close to her face, I wonder if she is viewing an online text as she does not seem to have a book. I hear Jill read out a problem, and realize the two are discussing math. The formally unseen Girl 1 stands and exits the lounge.  A Man in shorts enters into the library. Meanwhile, in Fidget’s area, the man has put his journal away, and keeps a book in his lap. His legs are not crossed, but his feet are, strangely crossed. Three older women whispering, exit through the lounge. I notice that the women all use three separate doors to exit. A man in purple then enters the lounge from the library and places his things on a table in front of the athletically dressed girl with the monster drink. After setting his things down, the man disappears into the library, only to emerge moments later, takes his things and leaves. NB takes a break from his clicking, lies back in his chair, and plays on his charging phone. The time is now 3:12, NB is back to his affairs on the laptop, and then quickly goes back to his phone. Four men then exit through the lounge. The monster drink girl scribbles notes from her laptop screen, taking swigs here and there of the monster. A dark skinned man exits through the lounge. I not notice that the majority of people entering and exiting are men. NB gets into the habit of starting and stopping his affairs on the laptop for time on his phone. Girl 2  who was previously hidden behind her laptop, has now sat up, and is in view. I can see her now talking loudly on her cellphone. 3:20, Jack enters from the library, and meets Jill. Jill commands him to do something, he agrees and exits. The three older women from before enter the lounge again, through their respective doors. A young man with a skateboard enters the library after. Jill and Ellen begin to pick up, laughing and talking as they do. The two soon hug and exit together. The monster drink girl following. After NB begins to pack up, and soon follows the girls. Girl 2, as if influenced by the gang follows minutes after.  Fidget and I are now the only individuals in the library, he quietly flips through the pages of his book in the extremely quiet lounge. A Woman in blue, takes a seat aside in the formal chair of Girl 2, and takes out a laptop. The library is left in silence.