One Night at the Library

by Jeremy Stratton

He should really have gone to the Law Library to study, since he was in Law School. But tonight-well the Law Library was too damn dull and he was sick of all the other law students. They were too serious. Most of them were either married or else going to pot for other reasons, and all they ever thought about was Law School and what they were going to do when they got out. Most of them hardly realized the big, main University Library existed.

But John knew. He knew all about this other place. It was all glass and brand-new and the students were different. They were animated and had a fresh, young interest in life. And the fellows wore their shorts. That was what John liked. They didn't allow shorts at the Law School. Some goddamned visiting professor from up North had complained to the Dean and he had issued a ruling forbidding law students to wear shorts to class. They had worn them before that. But the administration had allowed their fears of non-conformity to rule and the shorts had disappeared. But tonight ah, tonight would be different.

John entered the big foyer of the University Library. A fountain played smartly near the stairs and already he could see the young fellows stand-

one

ing around in the lobby talking and smoking. Hairy, sun-tanned legs sported all kinds of shorts: yellow prints, grey and maroon plaids, blue and white pin-stripes. Of course they wore no socks. They just stuck their feet into their Bass Weejuns (bought one half-size too large so they would slip at the heel as they walked). The whole effect was well, how could you describe it? It was-exhilarating.

He was nervous tonight. Jumpy as a frustrated tomcat. He looked at every pair of male legs that came by. Why tonight, particularly? Ah, it was one of those unpredictable things. You could stand just so much Law School and then you had to spend an evening cruising legs in the library. Kind of silly, he guessed. But that was life.

He got on the escalator and floated up toward the second floor. From the escalator he could look down over his shoulder into the lobby from where he had just come. There was the whole panorama spread out before him: dozens of handsome fellows; dozens of pairs of legs; dozens of tight shorts, round and full in the back. This was the finest entertainment in the world. And to think there was no admission charge!

He got off the escalator and dropped his heavy law books down on a