My Daily Battle
It's high noon, a drop of sweat slides down my brow, and I enter the gauntlet. Between the detectors, past the plaster walls and into the stacks I stride. Thousands of book titles try to catch my attention from either side, but I stare straight ahead, completely focused. A yellow tape arrow under my foot directs me as I swing a sharp left. More books pass by unnoticed before I swing a sharp right, bringing my target into view. Someone's coming right at me, but I pay him no heed. Just before we slam into each other, I swivel my shoulders sideways so that I slip by, barely missing him, all the time keeping my eyes locked on my target: the two lightswitches on either side of the last row of books -- the only two switches along that path that can be operated manually.