However, going upstairs would mean moving from the chair, which fit him so well after all those years sitting on it, so he called a student monitor. The student monitor was excited to be of service, and dutifully took the paper with the name of the book up to the library.
The librarian looked at the book title and said, "I'm sorry, but this book is in reference. You can't take it out of the library."
"But it's for Principal Suit," protested the monitor.
"Rules are rules," said the librarian, and began to arrange things behind her desk.
Principal Suit could not believe the news when the monitor gave it to him. We'll see about that, he thought, and personally marched up to the library. He looked around and decided he liked what they'd done with the place, but would withhold any compliments until this matter was dealt with.
"Excuse me," he said to the librarian.
"Yes, Mr. Suit," she replied.
"I sent a monitor to get a book, and you didn't give it to him."
"That's right. It's a reference book, and reference books do not leave the library."
"But I need it."
"Well then you'll have to look at it here."
This was too much. He played his trump card. "But I am the principal. I need this book to do work, and I need to do the work in my office!"
"Well, Mr. Suit, if you insist on doing things this way, I will need a note, written and signed by you, that you took the book out against my admonition."
Principal Suit was dumbfounded. No one talked to him like that. No one. What was the point of being principal if people were going to talk to you like that?
He took one more look at the librarian, her arms folded in defiance.
Then he wrote the note, signed it, and she gave him the book.
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