Chapter 779: The First Story
Tuesday, March 28th, Evening
The door opens, and old-school bells chime. The tall blonde removes her sunglasses and looks around at all the old, well-made bookshelves. Every bookshelf was filled with books, not the Barnes and Noble way either, with books turned to show their cover to fill space. There was a small cafe in the corner. At one table, it looked like a college student was doing homework. There was also calming music playing through the in-house system. The front was a simple checkout desk with a bored teenager standing there, chin in hand, leaning on the counter.
Christy first goes to the section with Classic Literature, smiling at the hardcover collections. She picks up the Doyle and Poe books and some of her favorite philosophy texts before going to the front counter.
"Welcome to The First Story. Have you found everything you are looking for today?" the bored teenager asked.
"For today, yes, and thank you," Christy smiles, reaching into her phone wallet for her credit card.
"Maggie, it's your break. I'll handle the customer," a woman in her late twenties to early thirties said.
"Yes, Ms. Morgan," Maggie said and left.
"Sorry about that," The Older Woman said, her lament said Jolie.
"I get it. I worked through high school myself, so I definitely recognized that look," Christy laughed.
"She's a good kid," Jolie said.
"Aren't they all?" Christy asked.
Jolie nodded, "I guess," she said.
Christy looked at the lament and Jolie, one of the names Aly had given her. "You're Jolie," she said.
Jolie laughed and held up the lament, "That's what this says," she said.
"The funniest thing happened when I was at the coffee shop yesterday," Christy said.
"What was that?" Jolie asked.
"I met this woman, Aly, and she said if I wanted good books, see you," Christy said.
Jolie laughed, "Aly, she's a good person; she does the taxes," she said.
"Small world, isn't it," Christy said.
Jolie laughed, "Yeah, they get like that," she said and picked up the first book, "Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 1: Illustrated Restored Special Edition, very nice, probably the most American of authors."
"I brought one of my favorite books to read during downtime," Christy smiles, "I'll be adding more to my collection today, though."
Jolie nodded and picked up the second book, "Sir Arthur's A Scandal in Bohemia; without Poe, there would be no Doyle." she rang it up.
Christy nodded, "I'll make a list and keep that in mind."
She searched for a few more books, and it didn't take long. Jolie looked at the books as Christy set them down, "Plato, Aristotle, and Meditations, core classics."
"Some of my all-time favorites," Christy nods.
"Okay, so you're not from here, right?" Jolie asked as she kept ringing Christy up.
"Definitely not from the area," she replies.
"So, how are you finding it so far?" Jolie asked.
"Intriguing," she smiles.
"Hmm, anything you'd like to see while you're here?" Jolie asked.
"Quite a few things on my list," she nods.
"I have the scoop on everything here and maybe even the book," Jolie said, laughing, "What would you like to see?"
"I'm going to try and get all the touristy stuff out of the way," she smiles, "and then hit the local spots."
"Fort Fisher at the end of Peninsula is nice; there are beaches too; Carolina Beach is my favorite," Jolie said.
"Two stops that are on my list," Christy says.
"Where else are you intending to head to, if you don't mind me asking," Jolie said.
"Charlotte. There's some things I want to see in the Queen City, too."
"Do Charlotte over a long weekend; it's a drive down there," Jolie said and looked at Christy, "Would that be debit or credit?"
"Either or," she hands her card over.
Jolie finished ringing Christy up and handed her back her card and receipts. "Well, welcome to Tree Hill, and feel free to come back anytime, even if it's just to enjoy the cafe," she said.
"Count on it," the blonde grinned, securing her credit card and walking out with her purchases. Next stop within the next few days? Ironclad Records.