I'm a librarian in an academic library and since we are now mid-exams, t'is the season of rampent insanity. Conversation with random physics undergrad ran thusly:
Me: Do you know about your fines? (chirpy and non-confrontational tone of voice)
Boy: Eh?
Me: You have thirteen euro in fines from, oh, from January of '06 and Decemeber of '05.
Boy looks at me, I look at boy.
Boy: But that's like ..........a year and a half ago? Is it?
I look at boy in a 'what the hell does it like to you my job is' kind of way.
Boy goes away.
Short time later boy comes back.
Boy: I won't be able to, you know, take books away, em, home with me cos of the fine, will I?
Me: (Back to chirpy mode now) You won't be able to borrow books till your fine is ten euros or less.
Boy: So I won't be able to take books home with the fine?
Me: (speaking slowly with hand signals) You have to give me three euro or more and then you will be able to take out books.
Boy looks at me blankly, draws breath and then wanders off.
For this librarian's money, the poor bastard doesn't stand a chance.
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