#scarsdale

*******Scarsdale Public Library********************

"Do you like movies? We could get movies, too, if you wished..." Zara is bundled up against the late winter cold - spring mere days away - in her usual grey.

Miriam is wrapped in one of the Uncle's old coats; she gaped in amazement at Hirim's castoff so they put her in one of Ratchet's old coats. The cold has reddened her face and while she moves steadily enough she's clearly putting effort into it. Her respiration is elevated. Ratchet walks behind them.

"Movie? I guess. I don't .... I can't remember the last one I saw."

Ratchet coughs.

"And look, there, see? That's my house." She points as they pass. "Well, the library has DVDs. Maybe next time."

"Yeah. Ok."

"Moves are better at home, anyways. Theaters are usually too loud. Crowded, too."

They reach the library and Ratchet groans quietly as they reach for the door.

"What is it?" a look at Ratchet. "I have my card, she can borrow on it..."

"No." Grimly. "I just realized this could be a very bad idea but... we are here now." He looks at Miriam. "You understand you were... gone... for a long time, nu? Fifteen years? Many thing changed. You are ready for that?"

"How much could a library have changed?"

Miriam looks confused, and nods. "Yeah, I get it. Can't remember anything anyway. Should be fine."

Ratchet just sighs, then shrugs in defeat. "Ok. In we go."

And they enter the library. Miriam looks at Zara for suggestions.

"Have you read any steampunk?"

In the library, of course, some things are absolutely the same - colorful posters, comfortable chairs, inviting wooden shelves...

But also - computers? The screens mere centimeters deep, other people on tablets and smart phones. A picture of the New York skyline that is... wrong...

Ratchet watches, one hand covering his face. Miriam glances around, then does a second sweep, more closely and with a faint, puzzled frown.

"Oh, they've got what they call blind date with a book - wrap it up in brown paper, so you are surprised. That could be fun?" she reaches for the woman's hand, to guide her towards the table in question.

"Steampunk...." She follows along behind Zara, still looking around her.

"It's... like, what if instead of regular science fiction, that the world had gone of more.. Jules Verne. Zeppelins, steam-powered cars, lots of cogs and gears..."

"Sounds... sounds interesting. I've heard the term....

"You might find it fun. Something different, nu?" she picks up a wrapped book, the brown paper decorated with markers. ('Do you like... gardening... sibling rivalry... and pastries? give me a try!')

"Yeah... ok. Hey, I'm kind of... can I sit down for a minute?"

"Oh, right. Right. Yes." flutters back, a hand at Miriam's elbow to guide her to a chair.

"Thanks... Wow." Looking around. Ratchet stands nearby and looks ready to jump on a grenade if needed.

"They have coffee...?" uncertain, concerned.

"Coffee? In a library?"

"There's a little nook by the computer room Can't have it out in the stacks, though."

"No...." Increasingly dazed. ".... bad for the.... books. Hey, what's that?" She points to someone using a tablet.

Zara blanches, stomach plummeting. "A tablet. Like.. like a laptop, with a touch screen?"

Ratchet mutters something that might be a prayer.

"A touch screen? Like... "She gestures.

"Yes. A... a bit Star Trek, I guess."

"Star Trek.... ok. Wow. Hey.... that sign says they give classes in stuff here?"

"They do! I've thought about coming over for sign language..."

"What do they offer?"

"Computers, knitting, puppetry... I think the have an arts lecture series.. lots of book groups..."

"Next month they have a thing about Emily Dickinson... have you read her? She's a poet."

She flinches slightly at the textile mention. "Oh. I've heard of her, sure."

"Oh, we could get you an anthology. I like her, too. Could read it during puzzles?"

Dark eyes flick to Ratchet, gauging his state.

Ratchet is worried and watchful.

"Not during puzzles. I like to focus. But yeah. Other times, I guess."

"Ok. Steampunk and poetry. Seems like a good order. You want to sit while I find them, or do you feel up to walking?"

"I'd like to.... to look around. Yeah."

"Okay. Sometimes the best books are found by accident, anyway." she offers Miriam an arm up.

She takes it and together they go Into the Stacks.

Zara is happy to let Miriam take all the time she needs. In general, she is guiding her towards the "classic literature" area, but won't dictate.