Bookmobile Confessional

This morning we saw the Lackawanna Bookmobile rumbling down Keyser Avenue. Being jam-packed with books, this vehicle is just full of potential. But instead of feeling the sense of excitement that one should feel in the presence of such opportunity, my friend turned to me and said somewhat quietly and with an air of shame, "The Bookmobile."

Apparently my friend and I both have that same childhood guilt lingering around reminding us of the humiliation we felt as we paid the late fee for that very-overdue-library book, or (dare I admit it?) for the book that we didn't manage to return at all. When we see the shiny white Lackawanna Bookmobile bus, it conjures up images of desperately hunting through the house for a missing book, that finally shows up months later under your bed. Or maybe you accidentally got the library book wet and hopelessly tried to dry it, only to have each of the pages crinkle in their own unique direction. As a consequence of our early Library Misadventures, libraries and that darn bookmobile have the effect of making us very uncomfortable.

So I had this idea, for a traveling confessional to help remove this guilt and allow children and adults throughout our area to once again feel joy when they see the Bookmobile, instead of a sense of dread. The confessional could be pulled along on a trailer behind the bookmobile. Before returning that overdue book or before applying for a library card, one could meet with the priest on call.

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been 18 years since I signed out this book."
"That will be $42.55 and two Hail Mary's. I absolve you. Go in peace."

I think Bishop Martino might want to think about implementing this plan. I think it could bring about a revival both in the Church and in libraries throughout the area.