Thursday, November 15, 2007

Black Sheep of the Family

Every family has one.

A family member who has done something so bad that no one in the family ever talks about it.

Until now.

Yes, my sister-in-law Pam is that person.

It started very simply about 15 years ago.

She rented the movie, "Arthur" from the Lancaster Library, when she took it back, the bin was pretty full, but she managed to put the movie into the bin (or so the story goes).

A few weeks latter Pam went into the Library to check out a book, when she was stopped cold by the Librarian who told her she owed $80 for the movie that was not returned.

Here is where the story gets weird, Pam told the story about the full bin, even offered to replace the movie with a brand new copy, answer = No, she must pay the fine!

That was 15 years ago.

This past week she went back again pleading for a 2nd chance, she said the "The Mayor of Lancaster stole money from the city, has been to jail and now is out, if he gets a 2nd chance, why can't I?"

Pam even tried to use her poor daughters card, but the plot was quickly stopped until the daughter showed up in person. So now Pam has to write a letter to the Columbus Public Library and plea for a 2nd chance.

I am thinking of selling T-shirts that say "Free Pam" to raise money to pay the fine, but that would end the story, it is much more fun to hear the latest updates.

(FULL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT)

To be honest I also have a Black Sheep in my family, Corey. It seems that when he was 3 years old, we had a dog that had a disease so we got rid of it. When Corey went to get a puppy from the pound, he told them about it. They said he was Blacklisted from ever getting a dog from their pound because he got rid of a dog "in its greatest time of need". Remember, he was 3 and had nothing to actually do with the decision, but that did not matter to the pound.

1 comment:

Amanda said...

Well, as far as libraries go.... Newark seems to be a bit more forgiving. When I was 16 or 17 years old I check out a book and lost it, It was my fault, I told on myself. They allowed fines to accrue for about a year until my mother finally called them on the phone and informed them that since I was a minor she would not be paying the 40.00 And the 30.00replacement of the book. So I was forbidden to check out books.
As an adult I offered to make it right, but the amount owed was now about 200.00, which was really ridiculous. So I used Drason's card. Finally, last year, it had been 10 years, and I once again explained to someone what had happened. They said the debt, which who knows how much it was up to, was not not collectable, and had been written off. So I was finally given a library card. :-)
SO far so good, I thikn I've had all of 3.00 in fines? and no more sneaking around the library :-)