It was the odd fall rain, not expected, but nonetheless, it brought some brief respite from the drought. He wandered out into it, donning a cap and jacket, not knowing if it would persist or peter-out. As it turned out, it did persist, so he bundled up and continued his stroll. His attention paid to the passing storefronts; the gift shop, the consignment store, the bank, and Post Office, when he came to realize, he was really in it, and the downpour was building.
He scrambled into the book store.
“Be with you a minute,” her voice
called.
“No!…no…rush…really…”
“Just duck in from the storm? ” as
she came into view. Oversized sweater…her jeans weren’t sold worn, they were worn.
“Well…yes…but, now I’m here, I
think I’ll look around…”
“Sure. DO! Welcome…”
So there he was, free to browse,
but ‘where to start?’
“Let me know if you need help.”
“I do. uh…fiction?…general…or,
noir?”
“Jackpot. We’ve got a great
selection. Right this way.”
Given the size of the little shop,
she gracefully stepped across the room and offered up a large bookshelf, itself
a wounded yet useable piece. “Nice wood…”
“My Grandmother’s. Can’t get rid of
it.”
“Yeah. I can understand that.”
“Still has her scent…”
“…is that what that is? I’m
kidding. I can’t tell…”
“Yeah…well, happy hunting,” she
says, excusing herself to go back to her business. “I’m within shouting
distance if you need me.”
So browse he did. He leafed through
several, read jackets, often taking in the author’s photo and bio, but nothing
appealed to him. He looked out the window, and it stormed, blowing horizontal,
streets were emptying quickly…there was no getting out. So he studied the
shelves again, perhaps a little less finicky with his selection. But after
another review, and another…there was not a book to be had.
“Hello?”
“Yes,” she came back into view.
Glasses now on.
“Sorry, but…no luck.”
“Are you sure?”
“I looked them over and over…and
over again…thrice! So sorry, no dice.”
“You’re some smart cookie, ain’t
ya?”
“I was just about to say the
same thing…”
“Oh, yeah. Bet you say that…”
“Don’t say it! And I don’t.”
“Who do you think you are coming
here and bossing me around?”
“I only came in here because of
the storm, see? It was bad out there, real bad…”
“Oh yeah? Well it’s building in
here, too!”
Well, this pitter-pat went on all
afternoon…
Until, in a fever, they could go on
no more, and relinquished to their flesh.
The storm had finally passed, the
awnings were still dripping, when they locked up, bid farewell, and went their separate ways.
V
