Hello. I have never "posted" anything on the Internet before. We have it here in the library, but it is not my job to deal with it and for that I am glad. Mankind did just fine with the printed page for hundreds of years, thank you very much.
I am "posting" this at the request of a young man named Puce Parchesceau. He is standing over my shoulder as I type this into the screen. My name is Claire Northpine, and since 1957 I have been employed by the public library in Northpine, Ohio. (Yes, I am a descendant of the founder of our little town, but that is a story I have neither the time nor inclination to convey at present.) Young Mr. Parchesceau has become a fixture here at the Northpine Public Library, which became less of a problem after I took him into my home and instructed him in American bathing practices.
As near as I can come to fathoming his strange speech, he wants everyone on the "Web" to know that he is doing well, both physically and, to the extent possible, mentally. He does walk with a limp, the result of an unfortunate incident with a Coca-Cola truck in the course of his journeys. (Again, I am extrapolating this explanation from what he has attempted to tell me. His accent does not seem to emanate from any country with which I am familiar, although it does sound vaguely Eastern European.) However, he is able-bodied enough to assist me with various chores around the house, such as organizing the root cellar and trimming my corns. He seems to have been abused horribly in the recent past, and I believe that a little discipline and a lot of hard work is just the thing to straighten his spine. Also, I am teaching him to play the ocarina.
Well, it is nearly time to open. (Our Sunday hours are 1 to 5 p.m., and we will thank you to dress appropriately.) I do hope you enjoy your "Net." Now Puce, dear, please wheel me back to the front desk.
Posted by at November 7, 2004 12:55 PM