!VAR HAGENDOORN

Nightmare In Which I Get A Huge Library Book Fine

Librarians at the New York Society Library recently discovered that George Washington had failed to return two books he borrowed in 1789. Adjusted for inflation, the fine would amount to $300,000.

Oddly this is a nightmare I have from time to time. What happens is that in my dream I suddenly discover a book I borrowed years ago when I was in highschool or at university which has accrued a fine that runs into thousands of euros. In one version of the dream I'm in The Netherlands but I borrowed the book when I was at UCL. Sometimes I wake up with a shock, sometimes I offer the library to buy a new copy of the same book rather than returning the old book.

I was also reminded of the story about the girl who was arrested for not returning two books to the library.