Thursday, January 8, 2009

I get presents

Late Thursday afternoon, and I am tired. I'm sitting at my desk looking at the mess.

And it is a mess. Half of York County must have made a New Year's resolution to clean up the clutter, starting with the books. We're getting inundated. Without exaggeration I can say that I've sorted, priced and shelved at least a dozen boxes of books in the last two days. And, by actual count, 75 videos and no less than 3 dozen DVDs. And you can't tell. The front of the shop is a disaster with stacks of books on the counters and boxes of books on the floor.

So I was tired and a bit disgusted with myself for not having a nice, clean book shop and it was only about 4:30 in the afternoon. With the York Chess Club coming in tonight, I was looking at another 5 hours before I could head out.

It was then that two gentlemen walked in the door. "Burst in" would probably be a better description.

"Jim!"

"Guilty," I said in reply. I didn't quite remember him. It seemed to me that he'd been in the shop once or twice before, but I honestly didn't remember much more than that. He'd brought his brother with him this time (apparently he was in town for a few days' visit).

He grabbed my hand and gave it a shake. "I was here right before Christmas looking for a book," he said. "You didn't have it."

That, unfortunately, happens a lot. I have learned that it is one thing to have upwards of 300,000 books; it is quite another thing altogether to have the right 300,000 books. I am convinced that I can probably get rid of half my inventory because it will never sell. All I need to do now is figure out which half.

I started to say something about being sorry that I didn't have the book he wanted, but he just waved that off.

"I found it online," he said. "A used copy."

"Oh, good," I said.

"And I got one for you, too. Here," he said as he handed me a copy of Take Over: How Euroman Changed The World, a science fiction novel written by Dr. Arthur Niehoff. Dr. Niehoff is a retired anthropologist who, during a career spanning 47 years, did original field research in addition to carrying an academic load on various college campuses. At least, that's what it says in his biography on the cover.

Before this afternoon, I'd never heard of the book. Or of Dr. Niehoff.

I stood, mouth open, with the book in my hands.

"I've got to go. See you next time!"

The two of them walked out the door and left me standing there like that. I'm not even sure I thanked him.

All of a sudden, I wasn't quite so tired. And of the 300,001 books in the shop, I know of at least one that I will never sell.

8 comments:

  1. Where you have find this info, if you need best Independent kolkata escorts then contact http://www.kolkataescort-service.co.in/

    Kolkata escorts services

    Escorts in Kolkata

    Kolkata escorts

    Kolkata call girls

    Call girls in Kolkata

    Independent kolkata escorts


    ReplyDelete
  2. High Profile Mumbai escorts welcome you to the world of Ho Escort Service in Mumbai. Get best Mumbai Andheri escorts from full fill enjoyment vile Parle escorts.

    High Profile Mumbai escorts

    vile parle escorts

    khar road escorts

    Mira road escorts

    andheri escorts

    powai escorts

    Mumbai Escorts Services

    Mumbai Escorts


    http://mumbaiescortservices.co/about-us.html
    http://mumbaiescortservices.co/services.html
    http://mumbaiescortservices.co/gallery.html
    http://mumbaiescortservices.co/rates.html
    http://mumbaiescortservices.co/contact-us.html
    Visit Here: http://mumbaiescortservices.co/
    7506802561

    ReplyDelete
  3. We’re a local roastery based in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. Since 1998, we’ve been roasting and delivering fresh coffee each and every week. We have a passion for good coffee and a deep respect for the people who grow it.


    Fair trade coffee in Canada
    Weekly delivery in Canada
    Direct trade coffee in Canada
    Single origin coffees Canada


    Visit here: https://www.equator.ca/
    Elgin St.
    Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
    equatornac.cna@gmail.com
    613.563.7771

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enjoy our short video promoting Paithalmala Tourism. We are located inside the natural landscape of Paithalmala, which is the highest geographic peak in Kannur, located about 65 km from Kannur, becoming a favorite location for nature enthusiasts, creative photographers and international travelers

    Paithalmala Tourism

    Visit here: https://paithalmalatourism.org/

    Paithal Mala, Chandanakampara Road,, Near Paithal Mala, Vanchium., Kannur, Kerala 670582, India

    +91 9605482389 | 0460 2219062

    Kerala

    ReplyDelete
  5. Enjoy our short video promoting Paithalmala Tourism. We are located inside the natural landscape of Paithalmala, which is the highest geographic peak in Kannur, located about 65 km from Kannur, becoming a favorite location for nature enthusiasts, creative photographers and international travelers

    Paithalmala Tourism

    Visit here: https://paithalmalatourism.org/

    Paithal Mala, Chandanakampara Road,, Near Paithal Mala, Vanchium., Kannur, Kerala 670582, India

    +91 9605482389 | 0460 2219062

    Kerala

    ReplyDelete
  6. The experts from Gates and Cameras in Dubai have outdone themselves! They have installed several Parking Gate Barriers, Industrial Garage Doors with Motion Detectors and a Wireless CCTV Surveillance Camera System, which I can even check in remotely from my phone app!

    full service for automatic shutter doors
    sliding glass door replacement
    weather proof cameras
    dvr systems
    day and night camera
    security camera
    elka german barriers in Dubai
    supply installation and repair works


    Visit here: http://gatesandcameras.ae/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Professional India based Responsive web design company India - Indian SEO Company 9999669114 is offering affordable SEO Services India for its clients And Online Reputation Management and mobile App Development.

    Best Internet Marketing Company in india
    Best Internet Marketing Company
    SEO Services India
    Best SEO Company India
    SEO Company in India
    Best SEO Company In india

    ReplyDelete