After a morning of queries, book requests, and re-shelving followed by a quick box of salad in the break room it was time to launch my festive plan. “Linda, can you cover the desk for a while? I’m heading into the Shed.”

The Shed needs capital letters as it is a dark and sinister place. For security reasons it has no windows and the single light bulb doesn’t exactly reach fingers of light into every corner. I’d taken the lights from my bike as extra assistance and chosen to wear clothes I didn’t mind getting grimy.

She nodded and settled in behind the issue desk with a baking magazine.

I trundled off with the library trolley.

An hour later I had transported two boxes of Christmas decorations back to the desk, plus five crates marked “Book Sale.&...

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