#21
The Three Types of Booksellers
Quiet down, please
No talking at the back.
Here we have specimen number one
Of the species Homo litterae
In its female adolescent form.
Note the eyes;
Wide and unblinking
With tones of hope and inquisitiveness.
Of particular interest
Is the manner in which she has adjusted her micro-habitat -
A half-finished double-shot Starbucks caramel macchiato to one side
And her third Brontë book of this year
Lying on the counter
Bookmarked – not dog eared.
Now,
Let’s move along -
Don’t touch that.
Here we see specimen two,
A fully grown male.
This one would be somewhere between thirty and forty five
(It’s hard to tell).
See the thick, dark bags under the eyes.
He doesn’t sleep much anymore,
It was keeping him from reading.
The hair is thinning, but the spirit is strong.
You, miss, would you like to try buying this Hemingway Omnibus from him?
That’s it, nice and easy when you approach him.
Do notice the sincere smile,
And the self-assured assertion of approval:
“Excellent read –
You’re in for a treat.”
Later, he’ll go home
To his whopping home library
And flick through his second hand A Moveable Feast,
Bookmarked to his favourite parts.
Bookmarked – NEVER dog eared.
And finally,
We have our third specimen.
I must ask you not to move too suddenly,
Or make any loud noises.
This would be the senior female,
Only really here for a hobby.
She may appear friendly, but don’t be fooled –
Any minute now she’ll be asking if you need help
Or are just browsing.
As you reach down to a lower shelf
To find K for Kerouac,
You’ll feel her eyes following you
From behind the till.
We’ll move on quickly,
Before the children become frightened,
As soon she’ll be taking her lunch,
(Beetroot sandwiches)
And having a quick read of that Best of Pam Ayres collection –
Dog eared.
