Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(70)
I had a most revelatory thought yesterday that Kyle never used me as his reference for the Grumpy Mug. I wonder if he had even put my shop on his résumé to begin with (though he should have, as it would have left a gaping hole in his résumé, and employers hate to see that). I wonder if perhaps he had Angela or Sam give him a reference and if they feigned a managerial position to sound authoritative. I don’t understand what frightens Kyle about using me as his reference. I am fair and honest, and I have been in this business for many years. Though, all that said, I would have probably turned down giving him a reference if they had called me, so it’s probably for the best that they didn’t bother. By law I am not allowed to say terrible things about previous employees; however, I believe my silence would have been more than enough to hammer the nail into the coffin.
I have not heard back from Ian McEwan. I wonder if my letters go into a dark void in outer space. Or perhaps, because of the Mark Twain incident, all authors have written me off. I wonder if they are all that tight-knit and band together against certain letter-writers and fans. I do hope not.
THE CURIOUS CAT BOOK EMPORIUM
Blog Post #4
Employee Profile: Jack Grisby II
For this blog entry, we are going to do a quick profile on the newest employee, Jack Grisby II.
Jack Grisby II
Hometown: Chestnut Hill
Favorite Book: The Da Vinci Code
Favorite Food: Chipotle (the chain)
Favorite Pastime: I can sit for hours and look at my hands and be totally entertained. I also like waiting for toasters to be done.
Favorite Music: Music that’s emotional
Role Model: My dad, and Ryan Gosling
Goals and Aspirations: To one day fly in a hot-air balloon, to one day swim faster than my brother Chuck, to one day be an actor in Hollywood like Ryan Gosling.
Something People Don’t Know About Me: I have a hard time memorizing lines so I sometimes write them on the insides of my arms. I hope I never have to do Shakespeare.
Favorite Quote: “Love is like a butterfly. Hold it too tight and you will crush it; hold it too loose and it will fly away.” My acting teacher told us this and said you can apply it to acting, but I’m still not sure how they connect. I still like the quote, though. I’d like a girlfriend to try it out on.
Fawn Birchill/CuriousCatBooks/4m
Fawn here! What #classic novel do you want to see made into a #movie that hasn’t been? #Post your answer!
From: Jack Grisby
Sent: Sun, May 19, 2019 at 7:13 PM
To: Fawn Birchill
Subject: Commercial
Dear Fawn,
I was watching a Big Bang Theory rerun and a commercial for Geico came on and I looked up their annual revinue and they actually do really well as a company so I thought well what if we did something like that? I mean TV commericials, not insurance.
Jack
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Sun, May 19, 2019 at 8:17 PM
To: Jack Grisby
Re: Commercial
Jack,
Though that is a terribly smart idea, I do not believe I have the time with all that is going on to write up a script or devise any clever ideas for hooking people. I appreciate that you are thinking of different ways to reach out to a greater audience, however. It is touching to know that someone besides me is strategizing—and on the weekend!
Fawn, Owner
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, May 20, 2019 at 8:09 AM
To: Jack Grisby
Subject: The Floor
Jack,
I understand that you were trying to help, and I appreciate your effort, coming in early to “surprise me.” I know very little about wooden floors, but what I do know is that one should never ever take a Brillo pad to original hardwood flooring. I am not sure how to handle this seeing how the entire downstairs floor is now stripped and covered in scrapes. I wonder, Jack, at what point you realized your mistake—or was it only when I pointed it out to you? Clearly, you do not think this is an improvement? I am sorry I am writing this in an email, but I believe a face-to-face talk would result in nothing but a lot of yelling.
Fawn, Owner
From: Jack Grisby
Sent: Mon, May 20, 2019 at 8:15 AM
To: Fawn Birchill
Re: The Floor
Dear Fawn,
I apologize with all my heart for what I have done to your floors I can’t believe I did something so stupid and no I didn’t notice it. Rainbow said maybe it wasn’t the best idea but I didn’t listen to her I should have. I’m in the bathroom very upset. I’m sorry. I will resine immediately.
Jack
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Mon, May 20, 2019 at 8:18 AM
To: Jack Grisby
Re: The Floor
Jack,
It will be okay. I’ll find a few thrift store rugs for the time being and throw them over the flooring. Please don’t resign—you meant well, and I still need your help.
Fawn, Owner
From: Gregory Harris
Sent: Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:14 PM
To: Fawn Windsor
Subject: Philadelphia
Dear Fawn,
I hope you are well. It just so happens that I am going to be in Philadelphia, about which you’ve told me so much, in the coming weeks. I have meetings at UPenn, so I will be in the area for about a week. Would you mind sharing your recommendations again on where I should go and what I should see?