the cruelest month

Item! The semester is winding down and my teaching assistant Jack Dawkins tells me that I’ve been asked to start contributing more to that George Bellairs website. I’m tired of cataloging the same damn folios as it is so I might take up the boss (Mr. Lornten) on this request. I’ve also been asked by the Music Department to emcee an end-of-the-semester student concert, so apparently ol’ Broty is back in the game. It’s nice to be wanted.

Long time readers of the Bellairs page may remember my stint in years past interviewing evil-doers as part of my “All About Evil” series. I’m not exactly sure when my interest in the “evil arts” began (I tend to think graduate school), but I have enjoyed my association with these characters. Judging from the boss’s comments I need to do more interviews. Or compose transcripts of these interviews. (I secretly think this power trip stems from him being on the staff.)

Item! I’m sometimes asked by the school newspaper about the rarest books here in the Salamis Library. One of the more colorful tomes on display is not an original text but a copy of a copy. I’m not sure how the school acquired the Codex Colossus but it remains popular for those than wander in. As the story goes, a monk in the thirteenth century promised to write the book overnight to atone for his sins. Early the next morning he found the task near impossible and prayed for guidance to a certain “fallen angel.” By dawn the book had been spun into gold and the monk was free to marry the king’s daughter, Rapunzel. In tribute to the ghost writer, the monk added a feverish illustration of the “fallen angel” to the book. We prop the book open to that page since it’s the page that visitors want to see. Did I mention people do wander in? Special Collections is open weekdays from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. (2 P.M. on Fridays).

I like marigolds and my wife, Dalchini, has transported some of the potted plants we have in the backyard into my office to try and liven up the place. They’re orange and Dalcy says it brings out my natural ruddiness.

Traffic has been heavier out on Maple Street the past week. I’m not getting the best gas mileage. My son-in-law says to give up the Fiero Indy – but it’s just so sweet a ride!

I guess that’s all for now. The shelves on the far wall aren’t going to dust themselves and I’ve still got to pay off Uncle Sam.