[Prudence]

Dear self-important busy-body patron in the microfilm section of Suzzallo library:

I realize that in the many years since my job was to locate and print out articles from microfilm for off-campus patrons I have lost some of my dexterity and it now takes me a whole second to line up the notch on the reel with the bump on the spindle.

However, I don't think that required you springing from your seat halfway down the bank of readers and racing over to shout at me "You must be doing something wrong!!!"

It definitely did not require a mini lecture (as I tried to ignore you) on what will happen if I load the reel improperly.

Your parting shot that I need to learn how to read the instructions was entirely uncalled for.

I successfully navigated the first two reels; what made you think that the third was going to go terribly, horribly wrong?

Was your Cream of Wheat extra lumpy this morning? Did hooligans steal your favorite seat on the bus? Perhaps some spry young thing refused to let you cut in line at the corner market?

Go back to your conspiracy research and leave me the hell alone.

No love,
Me.