Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(28)
Write back if you want a friend.
—Greg
You may be my oldest consistent friend! I may have thought it strange at first that a sixteen-year-old boy was looking for a pen pal, but after spending some years in the Pennsylvania countryside, I was able to understand how deeply lonely it can be out there. However odd it may have been at first, I am so glad that we maintained this relationship through the years. At first we corresponded through my uncle’s post because—let’s just be honest—I did not trust the Royal Mail to safely fly my letters to your house in Pennsylvania. It just made more sense to write back when I had the chance to visit my uncle. And then, ah! The glorious advent of the email! I daresay our correspondence picked up a bit after that. I detest technology but am thankful for it in this case.
As you know, at our estate it has been a tradition to have the family visit during the holidays (some travel here from as far away as northern Scotland). We ride horses in the snow and try to catch a few pheasants. I’m not sure if I told you this, but there is a rather large marble fireplace in the main sitting room that the maid takes excellent care of. (We usually have about ten maids, but we have significantly cut down for the holidays so that they can go home to their families. We manage, albeit barely!) The fireplace is the cornerstone of our Christmas celebration. There is nothing like sitting by the fire with hot cocoa on Christmas Eve. As you know, we don’t all get along perfectly well, but for Christmas Eve we manage to rein in the ill will—that is, until presents are exchanged and we find out how much we really don’t know about each other. One year my sister, who lives in London with two boys and a rather awkward husband, gave me some awful fuzzy socks that looked like fungus. I have about five pairs accumulated from previous Christmases, and each year a new one gets shoved to the back of my sock drawer. I am thinking of regifting them to the maids. It turns out this year that nearly the entire family “had other things to do,” and they didn’t let me know until the very last minute. After I had arranged a banquet of food and had the maids clean the house top to bottom, my family have the nerve to skip out on my Christmas. I was livid, though also a bit relieved not to have a great showing. Sometimes the feeling of abandonment is rather a relief, as you have no one’s expectations to live up to but your own.
How are your holidays treating you? Have you purchased any new buildings lately? I imagine it slows down a bit in the winter months. Do you only purchase and restore old buildings and homes, or do you work with modern ones as well? I ask because there are many modern but deteriorating buildings in London and in the States that could use a face-lift.
All for now. Do take care. Happy Christmas and New Year!
Much love,
Fawn Windsor
P.S. Do you think a Mercedes-Benz for my little brother is too generous a gift? My sister is appalled!
December 23
Fawn,
I can’t believe it, but I found a coupon for premium cat food! Enjoy. Not you personally, of course.
Mother
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 8:09 AM
To: Angela Washington
Subject: More Snow TODAY?
Angela,
Does your father have any more snow he can spare? It seems to draw people into the store; however, it has blown away and so have our sales figures.
Thank you,
Fawn, Owner
From: Angela Washington
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 8:17 AM
To: Fawn Birchill
Re: More Snow TODAY?
I’m glad this snow directly correlates with your sales figures. I think it’s time we talk compensation. Let’s say every time we blow that snow for you, I get 10 percent of daily sales?
—A
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 8:23 AM
To: Angela Washington
Re: More Snow TODAY?
Angela,
I am not implying the snow is the only reason sales were good that day, nor am I offering you a commission on sales for the snow machine. When I was young, I lived in a world where employees helped out without expecting that they would be rewarded for every little thing that they did.
Never mind about my request. I am no longer interested in your blood snow.
Fawn, Owner
From: Angela Washington
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 8:28 AM
To: Fawn Birchill
Re: More Snow TODAY?
Holy hell on earth, I was only kidding.
—A
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 8:34 AM
To: Angela Washington
Re: More Snow TODAY?
Angela,
I apologize profusely. I never meant to send that email to you. I was just getting my anger out and must have gotten carried away enough to hit “Send.” Forgive me.
The holidays tend to make me a little edgy.
That said, my word still stands: you cannot get a commission on books sold due to your father’s snow machine. I will still utilize the snow machine if you are offering, however.
Fawn, Owner
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 3:45 PM
To: Staff
Subject: Thank you!
Dear Staff,
Truly, I am moved. The fuzzy socks will be so warm in my cold Victorian apartment! And the Starbucks gift card—how thoughtful.