Anthro
December 29th, 2020
Starring: Audre (female, 40-55), Ari (male, 19ish)
Second semester. The college library stacks, fifth floor. Thursday night, less than an hour to closing. Audre is alphabetizing a shelf of books on one end of the floor. She hears the click of the automatic motion light from the other end of the floor, then the sound of a backpack hitting the floor. She stops to listen, but finishes her sorting. We follow her as she pushes her empty book cart down the hall towards the elevators. No noise. She investigates.
Audre goes down the hall towards the corner study area, which is filled with desk “study cubbies.” The lights are off, but she can see the outline of someone sitting at a cubby. As she gets closer, she can see the figure’s pants are partially pulled down. She can hear breathing, quick and sharp. She slips into an aisle to get a better view, but the auto light turns on. She’s caught, briefly illuminated, but retreats all the way out the other end. The figure swiftly pulls up their pants, followed by a performative throat clear. Their head pops over one of the study cubby walls, like a submarine periscope.
Audre walks in from another aisle, and the study area light turns on, revealing Ari, holding a thick book. He smiles and waves from over the cubby.
ARI
Hi!
AUDRE
Hello. How are you tonight?
ARI
Oh, not too bad. Just trying to get ahead on some research.
AUDRE
It’s not syllabus week?
ARI
No, it is. This is for my directed study.
AUDRE
On what?
ARI
Anthropology?
AUDRE
Oh, that was my major.
You know anthropology’s on the fourth floor—
ARI
Yeah I got this down there earlier. But this is kind of my preferred study area.
AUDRE
A lot quieter. It’s probably my favorite spot too.
ARI
Everyone’s got one, hehe.
…
AUDRE
I don’t know if you heard the intercom, but we’re about forty-five minutes till close.
ARI
I didn’t, I had headphones in. But I was planning on packing up in a minute. Been here a while, so.
AUDRE
Was that not you who—
ARI
Hm?
AUDRE
Oh I just thought I heard someone come in.
ARI
Uh
No I’ve been here for a little bit. At least the last hour—you know—hacking away.
...
Sometimes I’ve noticed the lights just turn on for no reason.
AUDRE
Pretty creepy.
ARI
Yeah.
Ari notices Audre knows. It’s subtle, but he clams up.
AUDRE
I didn’t mean to disturb you. Honestly I was a bit creeped out myself.
ARI
I get that.
It’s just me, hehe.
...
AUDRE
Well I’ll be down at the circulation desk until close. Let me know if you have any issues.
ARI
Will do.
AUDRE
You’d let me know. If there were any issues?
ARI
Sure.
AUDRE
I like to help. If you need it.
ARI
I’m fine.
Holding up the book:
Just um...working everything through.
AUDRE
I hope you do.
It’s confusing, studying people.
...
But carry on.
There’s a polite, awkward standoff. Ari moves first, smiling and disappearing behind the cubby again. Audre walks slowly toward the elevators. As the elevator comes, she looks back down the aisle, seeing Ari peeking out from behind the cubby. The two of them make one last second of eye contact, in silent acknowledgment of what went down. The auto light goes out.