Bookworm, Interrupted

There was a bitch in the BEL (Busan English Library) yesterday, and it was me.

I'm usually mindful of the fact that when I am out in public, I'm not just me.  I represent all Americans.  It's up to me to make a good impression on the Koreans.  It comes with living and working in another country, and I usually step up and try to be pleasant and helpful if someone wants to practice chatting in English or needs help with English homework.

Yesterday though, I didn't quite meet my standards.  The Bookworm Inside Me refused to yield.

There I was, sitting in my proper section of the library (the Orange Corner), reading a book.  I was pretty caught up in it when I felt someone plop down next to me and say "Excuse me".

I reluctantly dragged my eyes off the page and my brain out of 1910s Deep Valley (okay, I confess: I was reading a Betsy-Tacy book) and the woman launched into a grammar question about when it's appropriate to use a colon and when it's appropriate to use a relative clause.

I was supremely annoyed, and couldn't even force a smile.  My thoughts probably showed on my face: 

 Shit. Nowhere to run to.  Nowhere to hide.

Go away, I'm reading.  

Give me a break! It's the weekend.

The nice part of me struggled for control:  Aren't you ashamed of yourself?  Look good for America!

I don't feel like explaining grammar!  Now that I've finally got a proper library to hang out in, I want to relax and read without the threat of having to pull a mini-lesson out of my butt at a moment's notice!

You're reading a Betsy-Tacy book, for God's sake.  It wouldn't kill you to break off for a few minutes.  Quit acting like you're an animal and she's gotten too close to your food dish.

Grrrrrrrrr!

I couldn't bring myself to be entirely rude, but I was pretty terse with my explanation, and I served it up with a pleasepleasepleaseleavemealone expression. I also kept my book open, and as soon as she got up, I went right back to reading before she'd even walked off.

It's just like Julian Smith says: 

If you ever interrupt me

You can bet you're gonna see

The nasty me, the nasty me, the nasty me...

During my next visit to the BEL, I've got to find a place where I can be concealed and still remain in my proper area of the library.  Perhaps I could enlist the aid of the staff, but I think it would go like this: