Every Thursday, Nora’s class went to the library after lunch. The return slot was beside the door. The chapter books were along the back wall. Picture books stayed near the windows because the shelves were shorter there. Nora kept her library card in the front pocket of her binder.

When the class reached the library, Mrs. Chen stood behind the desk scanning returns.

“Find your cards first,” she said.

Nora opened her binder. The pocket was empty.

She stopped moving.

Then she checked the inside cover.

The library card was there instead.

She pulled it out and walked toward the card catalog drawers beside the checkout desk. Each class kept their cards in a different section. Nora’s class used the N drawer. A line had already formed in front of it.

Priya stood near the front. She held two books against her chest instead of one. Priya always checked out more than one if she could.

Nora waited behind Marcus. Marcus opened the drawer too far. The cards bent forward slightly.

Mrs. Chen looked up from the desk.

“Not all the way,” she said.

Marcus pushed the drawer back in.

Nora stepped forward. She pulled the drawer open carefully. The cards were packed tighter than usual. She found the M section first by accident. Then the N section. Her card was behind NORTON instead of behind NORRIS where it usually was.

Nora touched the top edge of the card with two fingers and slid it loose. The line behind her moved forward. She slid the card back between the others.

It stopped crooked.

Nora looked at it.

“Next person,” Mrs. Chen said from the desk.

Nora closed the drawer. The card was still crooked inside.

She walked to the checkout table and opened her book. The library card was still in her hand.

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