The wheels of her car rolled over the cleared pathway with little trouble but Elsa groaned when the engine hiccupped for the fourth time that month. She hoped the vehicle wouldn't need any repairs before the weather got worse but by the sound of it, she would probably have to make a trip to the auto shop soon.
She pulled up into the employee parking lot and wrapped her scarf around her face before stepping out into the cold. While the turtleneck sweater and quilted jacket kept her more than sufficiently warm, she knew the importance of keeping the facade she felt cold. People would wonder how a girl of her slight stature wasn't bothered by weather measuring at below Fahrenheit.
Across the lot, she watched the sun rise just behind a jagged frame of tall trees. The yellow blending in with the blue harmoniously, the space in between the two colors filled with an almost heavenly glow. She sighed, once again feeling the grating temptation of the wild call out to her, but continued her way toward the white building that was her destination for the next eight hours.
Careful to avoid any falling icicles hanging off the roof side, she pushed open the door to let herself in and the jingle of the bell above the doorframe alerted the inside of her arrival.
"Elsa, thank the stars. Come sort out this mess on yesterday's files," fretted her co-worker Dawn.
Elsa merely rolled her eyes and tapped the snow from her boots. She was tempted to take her take her time in the little mudroom, but knew Dawn would come looking for her soon enough.
"I checked the receipts and files before I left yesterday. What did you do now," Elsa muttered, hanging her jacket and scarf on her designated hook.
Once her boots were clean of snow, she slipped them off and placed them in the empty cubby underneath her jacket. Pulling a pair of Mary Janes out from her bag, she slipped into the dainty shoes and walked further into the building.
The smell of fiber filled the air and posters of popular book covers freckled the two sidewalls and back wall. These two elements combined gave their store an endearing sort of ambiance. Just the sort of environment she preferred, peaceful and quiet.
"Don't you look nice," Dawn greeted as per usual.
Elsa suspected the compliment held little sincerity since the majority of her outfit never changed. Always the same black Mary Janes, black thick tights, and black knee length skirt.
"Thanks. What mess did you find?" Elsa replied, coming over to the computer and looking at the monitor's screen.
The first thing she happened to notice was the time in the right hand corner, and asked,
"Have you opened the store yet?"
"Of course, I did," Dawn answered, giving a small chuckle as she walked away from Elsa's expectant stare.
"I was reviewing the titles in our last few orders, but I couldn't find any of the Hugankiss books," Dawn commented.
Elsa sighed again, as she watched Dawn turn over the greeting sign and unlock the front door.
"We ordered some last month, but they don't seem to be taking to the buyers," Elsa pointed out, glancing at the bookshelf full of her coworker's latest obsession.
The Hugankiss books were by no means great works of literature in Elsa's opinion, but merely rubbish of an overzealous amateur author. Still, Elsa relented to her coworker's request to order the books, believing they would make a small profit with the tourists and adolescent teens.
"That's because we over ordered, the trick to sales is limiting the supply to heighten the demand," Dawn argued, pulling the blinds up so they could look out of the bay window. Outside, cars drove by on the main street, as the other stores began opening their window displays and changing their signs to 'Welcome' and 'Open'.
Elsa nodded, her mind never capable of completely following Dawn's thought process. Just as she was going to argue that the status of demand was the problem, the phone rang and Dawn rushed back to the counter to answer the call.
"Thoughts & Blots Bookshop, this is Dawn, how may I help you?"
Content to find there was no actual 'mess', Elsa went into the back and began filing out the inventory needed to restock the main room. When she returned, she found Dawn sticking foldup maps of the local areas inside a text about the history of their little town.
"Is that for the caller?"
"Yeah. Randy made a sale with the house on Ridge Lane. You know the one at the base of the northern mount. He said the buyer has no idea what's around here, so Randy wanted some info materials to give as a gift," Dawn answered, setting the textbook in a paper bag.
"And you just thought to take it to him, right now?" Elsa asked.
Dawn gave a 'mm-hm' and passed Elsa to go back into the mudroom. When she came back, coat and boots on, she picked up the bag and rushed to the door.
"You don't mind, right, Elsa? You like being alone in the store, and you can play whatever music you like," Dawn pointed out.
Dawn gave no mind to the forced smile on Elsa's lips.
"Not at all, and you're right. Be sure he signs the receipt when you give him that order," Elsa reminded Dawn.
Before Dawn stepped out, she admitted timidly, "Actually, I was in such a rush to get everything, I forgot to write up an order form. But you can do that, can't you? Thanks Elsa!"
Elsa flinched at the harsh sound of the door slamming shut. She breathed out a sigh and turned toward the monitor again, selecting a playlist and setting the volume to half capacity. The hum of background music from the speakers in the four upper hand corners calmed Elsa's nerves and she set about writing up Dawn's forgotten order form.