my small Red story

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

Years ago, I worked at the Boston Public Library.  One day a 
co-worker came over to me and told me to stop some guy smoking in the 
sports section.  He and I never got along,  and I figured he was just 
being lazy.  I wasn't keen on some idiot burning the building down, 
so I went over.  Most times, the offender was gracious after a 
reminder, but there had been a few incidents that got worse.  I had a 
knack for smoothing things over, so it wasn't the first time I'd been 
handed the dirty job.  I got a cup of water, and went over.

When i reached the aisle with the wisp of smoke, there  was Red 
Auerbach, a book in one hand, a cigar in the other, pointing out 
something to a man I didn't recognize beside him.  I cursed my 
co-worker,  who, like me,  was a die-hard Celtics fan.  He didn't 
want to face Red's wrath.

I walked up, and waited politely interrupted, saying, "I'm sorry to 
ask this, but the books don't care what starts the fire. Would you 
please douse the cigar?"  Red looked up sharply, then at the lit 
stogie.  He admitted he hadn't even realized he'd lit it.  He sighed, 
then dropped it into the cup, saying he'd been arguing a point of 
basketball with his companion, and had stopped in so Red could prove 
his point with the passage in the book.

I thanked him for taking it well, noting my co-worker had sent for 
me, knowing I was a huge fan.  Red looked around, spotting the guy by 
the way he was grinning.  "That guy?"  he said.  I nodded.  Red said, 
"Okay, come with me," and walked toward the guy.  When we reached 
him, Red looked at him like he was a diseased bug and said, "You were 
afraid of getting yelled at, so you tried to set him up, just to bust 
his chops and embarrass him, figuring I'd raise hell and refuse to 
put it out.  You have no class."  Red then turned and walked away.

That was a very good day.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
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