Faces turned to the horizon

In a public library in Wellington, I said to the librarian, "I'm losing my mind." He was a kindly young man, unfazed as he showed me what to do. He was so helpful my spirits began to rise.

- Charlotte Grimshaw

The morning had begun at an office, where we were making an administrative application. We had arrived for the appointment with our documentation ready. As we entered, a flustered couple were being ushered out and directed to the library two blocks away, where they could print material. Clearly, they'd come unprepared.

Soon, though, we were receiving the same instruction. Parts of our application needed to be printed; we could use the library. Directions were given. In the library, we couldn't locate a login, the printer wouldn't work and the screen timed out. The saintly librarian made soothing noises as he worked the computers, around which people were gathered, agitated or slumped like players at the pokies.