On an apparently somewhat normal seeming day at the local bookstore…
psychic ghost lady informed management that there were angry native american spirits in this store and that there was a portal to other realms located in the back of the cafe…
pagan goddess did not like this at all so she hid crystals in the bookshelves to counteract the bad vibes…
conservative christian was offended by the wiccan endcap and wanted to know why the gay and lesbian section was located right next to the religion section and could we please change that…
gay man wanted to know why we had not put up the optional gay pride encap yet…
republican wanted to know why we were hiding all the conservative political books…
democrat wanted to know why the liberal books were not in the front window with the conservative books…
found in sex aisle…passion parties business card,
coffee and a bible…
found in children’s department on storytime stage…sex book with curious george collection book jacket…
found in main aisle…popcorn trail leading to women’s bathroom…
popcorn lady wanted to know if we could clean up all the paper towels someone had just scattered all over the entire bathroom, and why this happens every friday night at the exact time she is here…
No, really…anyone read any good books lately…and how exactly do you get through that portal?
Comments 3
Heather, this friggin’ rocks! The best part is that this here is just the tip of the iceberg, we both know that this can be expanded upon like nobody’s business. I think it should be. When I read this (and I have three times I get so much joy from it), I see a group of booksellers lamenting their week over margaritas and Long Island ice teas. This really speaks to the heart of anyone who has worked not only at a book store in in retail in general. LOVE IT!
Posted 19 Feb 2010 at 11:00 pm ¶I’m in love with this. I lie how all the titles are singular. “Republican” instead of “the republican.” It just adds to the feel. Very simple, and very well done. Great job!
Posted 24 Feb 2010 at 1:58 pm ¶I agree with Chris. The simplicity is what makes this piece sparkle. A little reworking of the intro and ending (they just don’t quite mesh with the rest of the piece), and you should seriously consider submitting this to a literary magazine.
Points to consider w/ Intro and End:
Posted 25 Feb 2010 at 6:38 pm ¶-”apparently somewhat” contradicts itself, and combined with “normal seeming day”, the whole section sounds rather awkward.
-You need the idea of the bookstore for the rest to make sense, so two thoughts on the intro: Either work it into the title, possibly as a subtitle (very cliche example– “Menagerie: reflections from the local bookstore), or try something different with that first sentence.
-I think the ending might sound snappier if you cut straight to: “How exactly do you get through that portal?”
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