The Greywater Gazette
Tuesday Arrives on Schedule; Town Has No Objections
The library reopened this morning after its annual October cleaning, which is the event that officially signals the end of the season's outdoor phase and the beginning of what Greywater Falls calls, without irony, reading weather. Philippa Crane, who has been the library's sole volunteer cataloguer for the past eleven years, reports that the shelves are reorganised, the periodical binders are updated through September, and the reading chairs by the east window have been reupholstered in a green that she describes as 'sensible.' She also reports that a small stack of books was left in the overnight return slot over the weekend by a patron she does not recognise, which is not unusual, except that none of them are in the library's catalogue.
The books — three slim volumes, cloth-bound, no publisher's mark — were shelved provisionally in the new-acquisitions area while Philippa looks into their provenance. She has not opened them yet, she says, because she likes to process the paperwork first. This editor considers this an admirable practice and a reasonable deferral. The books will keep.
Elsewhere: Hank Mossley has ordered a new supply of weatherstripping for the hardware, which he offers every autumn and which the town accepts gratefully and never quite installs until spring. Gerald Pith was at the Kettle before eight this morning — back to his regular hour, Marigold noted, with something close to relief — and he had, by his own account, no particular reason to be early except that the morning felt organised. He did not have the red notebook. He did have a small blue one, still blank, which he set on the counter and did not open.
The letter in the Gazette's lost-and-found has not been claimed. It was there this morning when this editor arrived at the office, exactly where she left it, addressed to its unrecognised recipient in a hand that is neither hurried nor decorative but simply legible, the way a hand gets when it has written the same address many times before. Greywater Falls does not, at present, contain a Mr. R. Oduya. It is a fact this editor is simply holding, the way you hold a stone you picked up on a walk, not knowing yet whether you will carry it home.
From Around the Falls
Library Reopens; Three Uncatalogued Volumes Added to New-Acquisitions Shelf
Philippa Crane confirmed the library is open for regular autumn hours: Tuesday through Saturday, nine to four. The three unrecognised volumes — cloth-bound, no markings on the spines — have been placed on the new-acquisitions shelf pending provenance research. Patrons are asked not to remove them until cataloguing is complete. Philippa estimates this will take 'a few days, assuming the paperwork cooperates.'
Gerald Pith Observed with Blue Notebook; Contents Unknown
Gerald Pith arrived at The Kettle at eight o'clock this morning — his customary hour, restored — carrying a small blue-covered notebook which he placed on the counter and did not open. When asked by this reporter whether the notebook had a subject yet, he said 'not exactly.' When pressed, he said 'not yet.' Marigold Vance refilled his coffee without being asked, which is, at this point, simply what happens.
Weatherstripping Season Declared Open by Mossley Hardware
Hank Mossley confirms a full stock of weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window rope-caulk is now available at Mossley Hardware, 12 Carrow Road. 'Every year,' said Mossley. 'Every year people say they'll do it before the cold.' He declined to speculate on uptake. Stock is ample.
Lost-and-Found: Sealed Letter, Still Unclaimed
The Gazette's lost-and-found continues to hold one sealed envelope, addressed to Mr. R. Oduya, return address listed as The Greywater Gazette, 4 Mill Road. No individual by that name is known to this office or, as best as can be determined, to the town of Greywater Falls. The letter will be held at the Gazette until claimed. Items in the lost-and-found are held for thirty days. The clock began, as near as this editor can determine, sometime over the weekend.
Letters to the Editor
“Dear Wren — I am writing to say that I bought a blue notebook this morning at the stationer's, which is the only stationer's, so Hank will know which one. I have not written anything in it yet. I want to be careful about the first entry. With a red one you can just start anywhere because red notebooks are for urgency. Blue requires a bit of thought about the subject. I am not in a hurry. I notice that I am not in a hurry, and I want to say that plainly, because it is not a condition I am accustomed to and I am finding it — on the whole — very fine. Yours, Gerald.”
“Dear Editor — A clarifying note for the record: the territorial situation on the commons has stabilised. The geese have claimed the north half; I have retained jurisdiction over the post-box and the curb. This is an arrangement I am prepared to honour through migration season. I would also like to state, for the record, that I am aware the scarf is still at your office. I know exactly where it is. I am letting it be there on purpose, which is different from forgetting about it. Yours, Constable R. Dunmore, Badge 1.”