Chapter 16 — Second Floor Library Girl

Phuc quit school on the day the group had to submit the first survey.

Ngoc looked at the empty space by the window and saw that his chair still had pencil marks on it. She texted and asked, but received no reply. Minh Chau called the cake counter, and her grandmother said Phuc had to take her to the doctor.

“He didn't tell the group,” Lam said.

“He has family matters,” Ngoc replied.

“But the technical data is up to him.”

Ngoc opens the public folder. Phuc sent the roof measurement table, number of fan inspections and list of supplies. He left a note: "If you need to ask, call after four hours."

Bao read it and said: "He prepared like someone who knew he would be absent."

“Then I'll use what I have,” Ngoc said.

No one competes. They completed the survey, but the explanation about exits and shelf loads was missing. Ngoc called Phuc at ten past four. You don't listen.

In the afternoon, she and Lam went to the cake stand. Grandma Phuc sat behind the stroller, looking tired. Phuc was removing a customer's bicycle wheel, his hands were covered in oil.

“What did you come for?” he asked.

“See if you're okay.”

"I'm fine."

“You're not good at lying.”

“Where did you learn this sentence?”

“From yourself.”

Phuc shut up. Grandma said she just had back pain, the doctor prescribed medicine, it was not serious. Phuc exhaled.

Ngoc asked about the technical part. Phuc gave her the notebook and said he had finished writing it down. Lam took a photo with his phone and asked for permission first. When Ngoc was about to pick up the toolbox, Phuc told her not to touch the car that was being repaired.

“I just want to help.”

"I know."

“Then let me do it.”

“Do you know how to repair cars?”

"Are not."

“So help by not causing more jams.”

Ngoc crossed her arms. She understood he was right but still felt pushed away.

A customer came to pick up his car, the rear brake screeched. Phuc tested the wheel, then discovered the brake cable was frayed. He did not deliver the car, even though the customer said he would only go nearby. The customer was upset and said replacing the wire would cost money. Phuc explained that if it broke in the middle of the road it would be more dangerous, then suggested the cheapest option.

Ngoc looked at the way he stood in front of the hot person. Don't over-promise, don't use a pitying tone, just give information and let the customer choose.

After the customer left, Ngoc said: "You work the same way I want the library to operate."

“I just fixed the brakes.”

“You check, report risks, make choices.”

“You are turning everything into a lesson.”

“I'm sorry.”

Phuc wiped his hands. "No need to apologize. Just don't learn from me without my consent."

Ngoc nodded. That sentence reminded her that she also felt uncomfortable when others turned her work into a story about privilege.

In the evening, Phuc sent the technical explanation to the group. He apologized for not telling her sooner, but said his grandmother suddenly felt sick so he didn't think to call. Minh Chau replied that the group understood. Bao sent a photo of the cake box with portions for you.

Ngoc typed: "Next time if possible, just text 'busy'. No need to explain."

Phuc replied: "Okay."

The next day, on the way to school, Phuc's bicycle brakes suddenly lost power. He stopped in time on the side of the road, but the wheel slid into a puddle. Ngoc had just arrived at the bus stop and saw him parked his car under a tree.

“Are you hurt?”

"Are not."

“Are you sure?”

"Sure."

“Don't talk like that.”

Phuc picked up the car. “I will walk you to school.”

Ngoc looked at the front wheel. “Let me call someone to fix it.”

“I can fix it myself.”

“You're late for school.”

“I still made it on time.”

“You don't need to prove it.”

Phuc stopped. "You too."

Two people stood on the side of the road, each holding one end of the same problem. Ngoc wanted to call a car, but remembered he needed permission select. She asked:

“What do you want me to do?”

Phuc looked at her, then pointed to the cake. “Hold the car for me while I check the wires.”

Ngoc kept. Phuc removed the brake cable and discovered a broken piece of metal. You don't have spare parts. Ngoc suggested taking the car to a shop near the school. Phuc agreed, but told her not to pay herself.

“I know.”

“You don't need to say that.”

“I'm practicing.”

They took the car to a small repair shop. The worker quoted a lower price than Phuc thought. Phuc paid with the savings in his wallet, then asked if he could pick up the car in the afternoon. Ngoc went with him to school, both were ten minutes late for the first period.

Ms. Hanh asked the reason. Phuc spoke the truth. She let them into class but asked to make up the work.

Bao heard the story and declared that the car could become a rival to the library. Lam asked why. Bao said it also had a history, needed someone to take care of it, and also made Phuc arrive late.

Ngoc reminded him not to blame the car. Bao said he was just looking for a villain.

In the afternoon, Phuc received the car. The new brake is more sensitive, you have to squeeze gently. Ngoc stood next to him and asked if he wanted to try his way around the yard. Phuc nodded.

“Won't you teach me to pedal?”

“No. I am acting as a pedestrian.”

Phuc pedaled around and stopped in front of her. “You know to ask first.”

“I learn quickly.”

"I know."

Ngoc suddenly realized that that sentence was different from when he praised her for writing on the board. It's like a private recognition.

That evening, the group completed the report. Phuc's technical part was clearer than everyone else's, but he agreed to write Minh Chau's name because she corrected the presentation. Ngoc suggested registering the names of all participants, including 10th graders who delivered books.

Phuc asked: "Do you want your name to be first?"

“No. The group has no head.”

Bao said: "I suggested my name be in the middle because it's easy to find."

Lam replied: "Your name is under the warning section."

Bao looked proud.

Ngoc submitted the report. She knows she wanted to change things many times today, but in the end she learned to keep the car, ask first and let others fix their part.

Phuc texted later: "Thank you for keeping the car."

Ngoc: “Thank you for letting me keep it.”

Phuc: “You are saying something difficult to understand.”

Ngoc: “You start first.”

Phuc sent a dot. Ngoc looked at the dot, thinking maybe he was practicing saying something but couldn't figure out how.

The next morning, Ngoc received a text message from a 10th grader: "I broke the book borrowing board, can I fix it myself?" Previously she would respond immediately with a long instruction. Phuc once advised that when you are not sure, ask someone else, but asking does not mean pushing all responsibility to the person asking.

Ngoc met her on the second floor. The borrowed table is only dated wrongly, it does not affect the original. She shows you how to draw a line in red ink, sign the editor's name, and write the reason at the bottom of the page. The student asked why he had to do so many steps. Ngoc replied: "So that the next person knows what happened, and so that I don't have to be afraid that a small mistake will turn into an error that no one can explain."

Phuc stopped by in the middle of the practice session. He looked at the form and said the instructions were a bit difficult for someone who had never done it before. Ngoc is not narcissistic. She asked him to try again from memory. Phuc intentionally made a mistake, then pointed out the part he didn't understand. Bao laughed because he acted so realistically, but Minh Chau said that was the best way to test.

The group reduced the instructions from eight steps to five steps, replacing a paragraph of text with an arrow. Ms. Hanh agreed to try it for a week. Ngoc posted the new version next to the board, recording the start date and person in charge of evaluation. Phuc said if no one responds, they won't know if the new version is better. Ngoc added a small box "what confuses you?".

In the afternoon, the 10th grader returned, this time bringing a friend. Both asked how to find books by topic. Ngoc instructed them to use the shelf map, then deliberately stood back. She found a local history book herself, then showed it to her friend. Ngoc sees that something given is not something that disappears; it becomes someone else's ability.

Before closing, she checked the duty book and took pictures of the status of the drawers. She doesn't check to suspect people. She checks so that tomorrow someone else can start where they left off today. Phuc sent a text message: "Is the key okay?" Ngoc replied: "It's okay. But the lock keeper must know when to open the door for others."

In the afternoon, a 10th grader asked Ngoc why Phuc was no longer present every shift. Ngoc explained that he was learning a trade, then pointed to the new instruction board. She said she wanted to learn how to fix shelves so she could help. Ngoc gave me the name of the orientation session, but did not promise that I would be accepted right away.

Phuc sent a video on how to identify loose shelf legs. He speaks slowly, does not cut scenes when he makes mistakes. After watching it, he said the video lacked background music. Lam said the lack of music helps to hear more clearly.

Ngoc recorded the response. She realized that Phuc's absence would not create a gap if the team knew how to convert skills into documents. He didn't make himself the only one needed; That's how you stay even when you're far away.

In the evening, Ngoc put the key on the table, checked the name of the person on duty tomorrow and texted a light reminder. She did not call each person. She believes they will read the calendar, and if they don't, they will report it.

The next day, Phuc sent back the brake repair instructions to the council. He added the section "when not to self-edit". Ngoc read and saw that he wrote very clearly: if you are not sure, stop the car, take it to a professional, do not try to go further for fear of being late.

“Do you apply it to cars or to everything?” Ngoc asked.

“For things that can make people fall.”

“So can our argument knock anyone down?”

“May offend.”

“Different?”

“If you are disappointed, you can fix it with words.”

Ngoc looked at him and saw that Phuc no longer avoided difficult questions. He just wanted the answer to have a place to stand.

The group gave instructions to the 10th grader in charge of engineering. She asked what if it was installed incorrectly. Phuc said to report immediately, not to hide. Ngoc records this principle in the incident table.

In the afternoon, Phuc had to go practice. Before leaving school, he gave Ngoc the key to the reading room. She asked if she was sure. He said the key is not absolute faith; it's just part of the duty schedule.

Ngoc accepted. She didn't think holding the key made her more important. It just reminds her that a person can be absent and the job still needs to be done right.