Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(33)
Yesterday I walked down to the Schuylkill, and in the woodpile beside the tracks was a mother cat and a large litter of kittens. Two of them were playing just outside the woodpile while another little gray one was drinking from a puddle of questionable origin. The mother seemed to be stalking something. When the train came barreling through, I watched as they all ran with practiced dexterity and timing into the safety of their improvised house. I wanted to bring them all home with me, but it was clear that they were perfectly fine without my interference. Their mother was providing them with everything they needed. For a long time, I stood there and imagined what it would be like to grow up in an environment of play, warmth, and love. I let myself wonder how things would be different, if they would be different, and most importantly, if they should be different. Maybe it isn’t for me to decide what should have been. The world simply is, and we must do our best to make the most out of it. Some are born into a household that shows love through spankings and assignments; others are born on sprawling estates with royal blood in their veins and no cares in the world, while others still are born by the train tracks under a woodpile. And there is no deep meaning to any of it.
It is useless to lament what could have been. I didn’t see the kitten complaining as she drank from the oily puddle by the tracks. Why should I lament? And yet . . . and yet I do. Because if my life were different growing up, would I be here putting myself through this? Would I have been happier? Would I have known what happiness was if I encountered it? And am I able to discern it now? The other day I went to heat up cat food in Jane’s apartment, and she took one look at me and said, “Oh, you poor thing.” I couldn’t believe it, and I didn’t have the gumption to ask her what exactly made her say that. Instead I just smiled and left as quickly as I could. But what did she see there as the seconds wound down, as I watched the wet food rotate on the little plate? What did she see?
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 8:15 AM
To: Mark Nilsen
Subject: The trash police
Dear Mark,
I have been putting my trash out at six thirty every Friday night for the past couple of decades, and I have never had anyone call and complain. I know it was you because the ornery woman who handed me the fifty-dollar fine had no qualms revealing the identity of the man who called the sanitation department on me. After five we get very little foot traffic, so the likelihood of someone walking down this well-lit street and stumbling over my trash is about as high as winning the Powerball.
How easily threatened you are by my business. I would be flattered if I wasn’t so angry.
Fawn Birchill, Owner, The Curious Cat Book Emporium (a The Adventures of Tom Sawyer specialist store)
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 9:56 AM
To: Staff
Subject: Sales Numbers
Dear Staff,
I have never seen sales numbers this dismal around Christmas (attached). Since I have heard absolutely nothing from anyone as far as ideas go, I feel I must introduce an incentive. I believe our top priority right now is that we have to move these Mark Twain books to make room for some variety. With that goal in mind, please bring me your suggestions by the end of the week. The winning suggestion will receive a fifty-dollar gift card to the Fresh Grocer. And no, you cannot suggest nuking the Grumpy Mug, even though it would be an easy fix—ha ha!
Thank you,
Fawn, Owner
From: Sam Asimov
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 10:08 AM
To: Fawn Birchill, Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
Hi Fawn,
What about selling your books online? I’ll gladly help in any way I can.
Sam
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 12:13 PM
To: Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
Dear Sam,
If I do that, we might lose our physical customer base and become nothing better than a warehouse. I don’t like using the internet to sell—it feels like an easy-way-out solution, and I want to be a bit more creative. Plus, I don’t like computers, so though you have kindly offered to spearhead the operation, I will politely decline.
Fawn, Owner
From: Kyle Krazinsky
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 1:32 PM
To: Fawn Birchill, Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
Hey Fawn,
What about just having more of an internet presence? I’ve attached a list of websites that might be good to start with. I know the Grumpy Mug uses the Parrot, and they have a lot of followers. (It’s like Twitter.)
If you build a presence, they will come.
Kyle
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2019 at 3:00 PM
To: Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
All,
I don’t know anything about Twitter, but if the Parrot works for the Grumpy Mug then we should give it a try!
Sam, I would like you to spearhead the operation, posting as much as you think is realistic. Angela and Kyle should certainly help you. Please keep it relevant to the goings-on in the store, and keep it positive. This is an excellent and necessary idea now that we have competition, so we must take such measures as these and leave our comfort zones.
Many thanks,
Fawn, Owner
phillysmallbiz.com
Mon, Jan 7, 2019
Top Review—The Curious Cat Book Emporium
I was so disappointed by the customer service in their store. None of the books I wanted were in stock, and no one seemed interested in doing anything about it. I went to the Grumpy Mug after, and they were super nice and helpful. I honestly don’t know how the emporium is going to make it now that this new place has moved in. It’s going to need a lot of luck, and I think they should be very worried.