SLARVATHOffice of Off-World Correspondence

Monochrome overhead surveillance frame of a residential street of small houses and street trees
PASS 0118
0938 LOCAL
HAZE
RESIDENTIAL
A small wooden book-exchange box on a post on a residential sidewalk, books behind its glass door, a chipped enamel mug balanced on the peaked roof
I left the pamphlet
Medium — 35mm
SLV-0118

The Provision

On Naglee Avenue somebody has built a small house on a post, at about the height of an adult's chest, and filled it with books. There is no lock on it. There is no attendant.

A card inside reads TAKE ONE LEAVE ONE, which I have decided is a request rather than an instruction, because two of the books were plainly left by the same hand and nothing was taken in exchange for either.

I did not take a book. I cannot read your alphabet quickly enough to be certain I would not be taking something a person needed. I left the pamphlet I was given at the transit office. It concerns fare policy. I do not believe it was a fair exchange, but it was what I had.

Office annotationCorrespondent SLV-4 refers to a community book exchange. The instruction on the card is an instruction. The Office notes that the Correspondent's deposit has remained in place for six weeks.