CHAPTER 6Clarke“I think you’re really going to enjoy this one, Mrs. Gerber.” I lovingly wrap one of my favorite books of all time, The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy, in lavender-colored tissue paper, sealing the edge with an oval sticker that says, “Clarke’s Corner,” and place it in a gift bag.
Mrs. Gerber was one of my very first customers when I opened my door for business, and she comes in at least once a week for a new book. Lately, she’s given up control to me to introduce her to new genres and today, I’m passing off a literary genius of a book, in my humble opinion. I’ve probably read it twenty times, my own paperback copy worn and dog-eared.
“I look forward to it, dear,” she replies, handing over her credit card.
While I ring up the transaction, I keep an eye on two female teenagers who came in a few moments ago. They’re lurking in the back row and giggling about something, probably reading snippets from a sexy romance novel or something.
“Now, Clarke,” Mrs. Gerber says as she leans across the counter a bit, lowering her voice. “My book club was thinking about branching out of our normal brand to try something new.”
“Like what?” I ask. Her book club is made up of little old ladies like herself, who, while they enjoy books, love the social aspect of getting together once a month to nibble on sweetcakes and gossip after their book discussions.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she replies breezily, waving a hand covered in expensive rings and dotted with age spots. “We were thinking of maybe trying Fifty Shades of Grey.”
I suck in air so fast I actually end up choking. Mrs. Gerber watches me warily while I pound my own chest and try to apologize through my wheezing.
“Fifty Shades?” I manage to gasp, and I notice the two teenagers in the back have gone absolutely silent. I imagine their heads are tilted, ears pointed in our direction so as not to miss anything. “Do you know what the book is about?”
Mrs. Gerber’s lips flatten, and she gives me a look that causes me to physically shrink back a bit. “I’m old, Clarke, not dead. Of course I know what it is, and why wouldn’t a woman my age be interested in something like that?”
I have no good reply because she’s absolutely right, and I was just stereotyping her based on her age. “You know what,” I drawl as I move out from behind the counter. I move over to the third row of books, where, lo and behold, the two girls are standing and watching me with wide eyes and slide my finger down a row of books. I find what I’m looking for, grab it, and head back to the counter.
Holding it up for Mrs. Gerber to see, I display a hardback edition of Fifty Shades and slide it in her bag. “This one’s on the house. How about you read it first? Then, if you think your book club would like it, I can put in an order for them.”
Mrs. Gerber beams, and I know, without a doubt, The Prince of Tides will not see the light of day for a while.
After I complete the transaction, I walk around the store, making sure nothing has been moved out of place by the browsers who have been in and out today. I’ve got another two hours before I turn the night shift over to my only other employee, Nina, who has been with me from the start. She’s a college student paying her own way through school, and she covers the store for a few hours each evening, Tuesday through Saturday, where we’ll close at nine.
Sundays and Mondays, I close at five.
Finally, the two young girls emerge from the stacks, one with two bright splotches on her cheeks carrying a paperback book. I recognize the romance novel from afar, and I find it slightly adorable they’re embarrassed to be buying it.
I have no clue the true source of the blushes. It could be they’re embarrassed in general to be reading romance, which I think is ridiculous. If this is their first, maybe they’ll come back tomorrow and buy more. Maybe it’s because it has sex scenes and they’ll be getting an education, but Lord knows… I read my mom’s when I was about their age and it’s how I learned about the birds and the bees.
Maybe it’s because they just had a back-row seat to watching an elderly woman requesting Fifty Shades and being proud about doing it.
Whatever the reason, I chat them up as I ring up their purchase, telling them if they enjoy the book, I have more recommendations. And, as I tell every new customer before they leave, “Thank you for shopping here, and I’d really love to have you back.”