The umbrella on the library steps

An original narrative set outside an invented town library.

Rain had started by the time I reached the bottom of the library steps. I pulled up my hood and tucked my returned books inside my jacket.

Mr Okafor, who was locking the side door, lifted a black umbrella from the stand in the porch and held it out to me. I said I would be fine. A luggage label with a telephone number was tied to its handle, so I guessed that a reader had forgotten it and would come back for it. Besides, my stop was just across the road, and my bus was already turning into the street.

Then the bus swept past without stopping, its sign showing 'Not in service'. Mr Okafor was still holding out the umbrella.

In your own words, explain two reasons why the narrator first turned down the umbrella.