Lab assistant

"I want to be a scientist," said Alice. "But I suspect that with my limited experience, I'm going to have to settle for being a lab assistant."

"Hey, at least it's a start," said Riley. "Let's go to the library and look up leads."

The nearest library, surprisingly enough, was only a block again. It seemed like a quiet place. Because it was winter and the middle of a school year, no one seemed to be inside save for a few die-hard senior citizens and an occasional oddball middle-aged adult.

As a result, Alice and Riley had absolutely no trouble locating a computer terminal.

Though Alice did find herself blushing when she glanced down an aisle of bookshelves and saw a nearly naked brown-haired girl pushing a case full of books. The brown-haired girl wore only gold-colored hoop earrings, white stockings and white tennis shoes and she could tell by Riley's lack of reaction that Riley did not consider the book cart pusher's appearance to be in any way unusual.

Nevertheless, she asked, "Riley, doesn't that girl seem out of place in a library environment?"

"Not in this city," said Riley. "Though I must admit that the earrings are unusual. She usually wears clip-ons."

"May I help you?" asked a blonde lady in a white blouse and blue jeans whose lapel pin identified her as "Librarian."

"Oh, thank God," said Alice. "Someone works here who's fully dressed."

The blonde woman frowned, "You're not going to last long in this city with an attitude like that. I only dressed like this today because it's Casual Friday. During the week, I dress far more conservatively."

"Like how conservatively are we talking about?" asked Alice.

"Like wearing the garb of the original Lady Eve," said the blonde woman. "I always liked to think that her outfit was about as conservative as you can get. And very economical too."

"You mean you wear a fig leaf?" asked Alice.

The blonde woman just smiled. "Gee, you are a prude. A fig leaf? Geez, please don't tell me that you're one of those women who undress in the dark and take baths in a bathing suit."

"No, but -- " Alice started to say.

"Oh, don't frown so," said the blonde woman. "I'm only teasing. As much as I love being a librarian, I can never resist the impulse to rib the newest patrons. Anyway, I'm Marian. What's your name?"

"Marian?" asked Alice. "As in Marian the Librarian?"

"No, actually that's my name," said the blonde woman. "Also the name of my great-grandmother, the one I'm obviously named after. Anyway, what I want to know is your name."

"Alice," said Alice. "Alice Phryne."

"Pleasure to meet you, Alice," said Marian. "Are you here to check out a book or are you looking for something else?"

"I wish to use a public computer," said Alice.

"Well, the log-on terminal is right there," said Marian. "Do you have a library card?"

"Not yet," said Alice. "I just moved here. I don't even have a job yet."

"Well, tell you what," said Marian. "Why don't I assign you a computer under my I.D. -- and you can make it up to me later by applying for a library card after you get all set up at your new job. How about that?"

"Okay," said Alice.

Believe it or not, Alice thought, my luck might be starting to turn around.