dreaming about bad patrons

i had a weird dream about a patron that does not exist. even while dreaming, i am still 'working' in the library.

a man of middle eastern origins walked into the library. he walked over to a large reading table in the back of the library, between new non-fic and new fic. i didn't see what he was doing. i didn't care. the man approaches the circ desk and asks me if we have any paper plates we can give him. i fibbed and said we had no paper plates (of course we do...in the STAFF room). he asks again and again i said, "no. sorry." "you're not sorry", he replies. hurumph

i watch the man walk back to the table wondering what he needs plates for. i see that he is walking around the table setting places with a paper plate, and plastic knives, forks and spoons. he has a couple of Coke bottles on the table as well. i ask him what he is doing. "i'm giving a seminar and i am serving food afterwards. that is my custom." he looks at me like i am an imbecile. i explain to him that food is not allowed in the library and, furthermore, seminars can be held inthe program room not out on the floor of the library. he shoots me daggers and i tell him i will see if the program room is available. i check with the secretary and it has been booked (by the library...us...for our christmas party). i tell the man that our room is booked. he refuses to pick up the plates and accuses me of being a bigot. right. not letting you eat a full course meal with 12 other men in a public library makes me a racist. he starts spitting words at me and accusing me of having a lot of paper plates but not giving him any because he is Iranian and all americans hate Iranians and he's a man! how dare i tell him what he can and can't do.

so,i did the only thing i could do. i got the director.

unfortunatley, i don't know how the dream ended. i DO know that the director would not let anyone eat over her 'new' carpet...which is 4 or 5 years old. that is 'new' to us compared with the original orange and gold carpeting of the early 80's...which has not even been shampooed in the last 13 years!

so, even in my dreams i cannot escape rotten patrons!