STORY OF A PHOTOCOPY Story of a photocopy The Librarian, Mario Contorted, had to make a photocopy. He was on the main floor and the photocopying machine was on the floor below. He decided to go down to the ground floor, where the distribution was located during the summer. He smiled, imagining the perfect success of the brilliant operation. Imagining the scene, he held a hand on his belly. He was posing as an actor before the thunderous applause of an amused audience, and the scent of the suitors' roses was already tickling his nose. As he stepped out of the lift he found himself facing the beaming Auser Assistant, Angela Confident, and entrusted her with the task. Auser, the city's senior citizens' association, had been bringing its valuable help to the Library for over a year. The Auser Assistant, Angela Confident, found it slightly difficult to carry out the task. She was inexperienced in the use of the photocopying machine but, to give a young and useful idea of herself, she had not dared to confess this to Librarian Contorted. Fortunately, the Antechamber Services Officer, George Crafty, came to her aid. He had observed the scene and, seeing her somewhat hesitant, had guessed the problem. "Let's give it to Builders: he's capable, he's good..." suggested Crafty, grinning with a shrewd look. The Security and Surveillance Officer, Emil Builders, was given the task. He took the lift, went to the copy machine room and, with perfect efficiency, made the photocopy. Angela and Crafty had told him to deliver it to the main floor. Without delay he went there, but found no one waiting for him. He waited patiently for less than a minute. He caught sight of the Security and Surveillance Officer, Jade Redeemed, who was walking towards him with a huge booklet in her hand. "Giada, Contorted told me to make this photocopy.... I think it's about the Consultation Room.... Is it your stuff?" Giada put the book down and ran her eyes over the copy. 'Yes, yes, thank you. It's for Irons: it's beyond us." Emil Builders, satisfied with the mission accomplished, was about to return to the ground floor. And there appeared on the scene the Vigilance and Surveillance Officer, Ingrid Assistance. Usually, at 10.30 a.m., they would take a break together for coffee. As the stories go, the right person had appeared at the right time. After a nod of agreement, they walked chatting towards the Refreshment Room, right on the same floor as the photocopier. In the room were, seated at two different tables, the Great Librarian Simona Withoutpepper, and the elderly Librarian Sarah Verykind. They were engaged in a discussion about the products of the weekly market. On Saturdays and Wednesdays, the town market flourished in the square adjacent to the Library. Its fabulous produce sprouted from the bags of the Librarians, Clerks, and Co-workers. And the characteristic shouts of the salesmen, piercing the thick walls of the building, even reached the Reading Room. Emil and Ingrid sat down at their usual table, carrying on a lively conversation. Quick as lightning, Director Leopold II Threadoftower burst into the room, accompanied by former Coordinating and Continuing Collaborator Claudia Landless. The two sat down at Emil and Ingrid's table: Claudia Landless, as she usually did; the Director, because he had important considerations to make about his predecessors, and about himself. Leopold II took the stage in a flash. He launched into pompous, slightly complicated, somewhat confusing but, in any case, dense speeches. With the speech largely underway, at precisely the same instant, two events occurred. The phone rang and the Librarian, Mario Contorted, peeped through the door of the Refreshment Room, clamouring for Emil Builders. The phone was also ringing for Builders. Emil, caught between two fires, picked up the receiver before listening to Contorted. It was Auser Assistant Angela Confident "Hello Emil, is Contorted there?" "Yes, I'll put him through. Mario it's for you." The Librarian, before answering the phone, inquired about the photocopy. The Security and Surveillance Officer, Emil Builders, quickly gave a detailed account. It turned out that the precious single photocopy was in the hands of Jade Redeemed. Contorted, before going to the Refreshment Room, had already spoken to Giada's colleague, the other attendant in the Consultation Room. The colleague was also looking for the photocopy, only, unfortunately, she had not seen Giada before Contorted arrived. In any case: the photocopy was in the consultation room, right where it was eagerly awaited. Contorted, heartened, answered the phone, but there was no one there. He dialled the Distribution number to speak to Auser Assistant Angela Confident. "Hello Angela: what did you want?" "Nothing! I wasn't looking for you, I was looking for Builders to tell him that you were looking for the photocopy, then I heard that you were there and that you were talking to him, and I hung up." Contorted then recalled. After talking to the clerk in the Consultation Room, he went downstairs to see if Angela had made it. He put down the phone and said: "It was for the photocopy." The Director, Leopold II Threadoftower, had interrupted his important speech to allow good communication between the Library employees. The Vigilance and Surveillance Officer, Ingrid Assistance, could hardly contain her laughter. Referring to the director's arguments, and taking advantage of the general confusion, she asked Emil: "But did you understand?" "Librarian Mario Contorted left the room, he had to go and tell the Reference Room Clerk that the photocopy was in the hands of his colleague, Jade Redeemed. As he rode up in the lift, a strange doubt assailed him: "Could I have made the photocopy myself?" he thought. After a short pause for thought, he calmed down. He had done the right thing; it was not his job. Photocopying is the job of the custodians. A Librarian has to do more important, conceptual things. ENRICO