Twin Coincidences
"Blessed - look out." My 'chosen' book. The first line. I settle down to a relaxing day, musing over the fact that I usually have few customers. Only a booklover would come to a tatty looking book exchange. I wouldn't want to sell books to anyone other. It's a criminal offence (possibly punishable by death - or eternal damnation - or maybe a good profit?) Usually there is only enough money made to cover expenses, with a little bit left over. If an accountant saw the financial state of the business(?) then they would probably have a heart attack or something. Just think - me, overloading the public medical system. I look at the beautiful old oak shelving dully reflecting the light shining through the clear skylights. No electric light in here unless there is so little natural light that reading is impossible. I was careful not to harm my chosen book. That would lower the resale price.
I was reading when a tinkling bell brought my attention to my first customer. A woman. She looks confused. "Can I help you?" I wanted to put her out of her misery.
"Yes, um, do you have a book called 'By the Sword'?"
"Hmm, we might. I'll go and have a look." Discretely I took the book I was reading and went. Do I want to sell it now, or read it first? Keep it, I decided. Re-entering the shop after sufficient time had passed I say "Sorry no, we don't have it at the moment. If you leave me your name and number I can ring you if we get it."
The woman agrees dejectedly and slouches unhappily out.
A while later, further through the book. "Ting-a-ling." Another customer. This time a dark stranger. Even stranger, he was doing nothing strange. In books and tradition, dark strangers, often tall, are suspicious characters. This man, however was only of medium height and couldn't help his dusky skin colour. He looked briefly in the sports section and exited, finding nothing of interest.
A little later, before I can pick up my book again the bell rings for a third time. A child comes in holding her mother's large hand in her own small one, her older brother following behind. They make a beeline for the children's section. Cries of "Hey, this looks cool" and "Mummy, can I have this book" interrupt the silence. Another customer enters the shop. This must be the usual midday 'rush'. I glance at the clock on my desk. Yup, unless I forgot to wind it up, then it's 12.27. The 'new' customer was looking unsure of her way around. After a short while, I watched her home in on the extensive science-fiction/fantasy section with a look of satisfaction on her smiling face.
The mother interrupts the show by coming to pay for the books her children have found. Two each. "$3.00, thanks." She pays and exits the shop with two happy children in tow. When the show resumed the girl was gone. Ah. No. There she was. Sitting off in the corner with a pile of books by her side. I watched her picking them up and reading bits. From the laughter on her face she was enjoying it. I could almost imagine it was me. I used too read at every opportunity and go to second-hand book shops at every other one.
I tore my eyes away to avoid discomforting her. I continued reading my book, losing track of time in kinship with the blond girl. I was torn out of my reverie by a tentative question "Um, this book has no price on it, but can I please buy these?" "Sure." Good Gods - a polite shy person who loves books. Could be my twin. She pays and leaves, the priceless book being literally that for one such as she. At five o'clock a squealing din clanged in my ear, informing me that it was closing time. I set the deadbolt to lock when the door was closed and left the shop. "Ting-a-ling."
"Blessed - look out." My 'chosen' book. The first line. I settle down to a relaxing day, musing over the fact that I usually have few customers. Only a booklover would come to a tatty looking book exchange. I wouldn't want to sell books to anyone other. It's a criminal offence (possibly punishable by death - or eternal damnation - or maybe a good profit?) Usually there is only enough money made to cover expenses, with a little bit left over. If an accountant saw the financial state of the business(?) then they would probably have a heart attack or something. Just think - me, overloading the public medical system. I look at the beautiful old oak shelving dully reflecting the light shining through the clear skylights. No electric light in here unless there is so little natural light that reading is impossible. I was careful not to harm my chosen book. That would lower the resale price.
I was reading when a tinkling bell brought my attention to my first customer. A woman. She looks confused. "Can I help you?" I wanted to put her out of her misery.
"Yes, um, do you have a book called 'By the Sword'?"
"Hmm, we might. I'll go and have a look." Discretely I took the book I was reading and went. Do I want to sell it now, or read it first? Keep it, I decided. Re-entering the shop after sufficient time had passed I say "Sorry no, we don't have it at the moment. If you leave me your name and number I can ring you if we get it."
The woman agrees dejectedly and slouches unhappily out.
A while later, further through the book. "Ting-a-ling." Another customer. This time a dark stranger. Even stranger, he was doing nothing strange. In books and tradition, dark strangers, often tall, are suspicious characters. This man, however was only of medium height and couldn't help his dusky skin colour. He looked briefly in the sports section and exited, finding nothing of interest.
A little later, before I can pick up my book again the bell rings for a third time. A child comes in holding her mother's large hand in her own small one, her older brother following behind. They make a beeline for the children's section. Cries of "Hey, this looks cool" and "Mummy, can I have this book" interrupt the silence. Another customer enters the shop. This must be the usual midday 'rush'. I glance at the clock on my desk. Yup, unless I forgot to wind it up, then it's 12.27. The 'new' customer was looking unsure of her way around. After a short while, I watched her home in on the extensive science-fiction/fantasy section with a look of satisfaction on her smiling face.
The mother interrupts the show by coming to pay for the books her children have found. Two each. "$3.00, thanks." She pays and exits the shop with two happy children in tow. When the show resumed the girl was gone. Ah. No. There she was. Sitting off in the corner with a pile of books by her side. I watched her picking them up and reading bits. From the laughter on her face she was enjoying it. I could almost imagine it was me. I used too read at every opportunity and go to second-hand book shops at every other one.
I tore my eyes away to avoid discomforting her. I continued reading my book, losing track of time in kinship with the blond girl. I was torn out of my reverie by a tentative question "Um, this book has no price on it, but can I please buy these?" "Sure." Good Gods - a polite shy person who loves books. Could be my twin. She pays and leaves, the priceless book being literally that for one such as she. At five o'clock a squealing din clanged in my ear, informing me that it was closing time. I set the deadbolt to lock when the door was closed and left the shop. "Ting-a-ling."