The Diary - August 1

August 1, 2026

The Diary

Twelve-year-old Hanna was my shop assistant on Friday and Saturday. Her dad dropped her off in Henry on Thursday night. Friday morning, as we prepared to head to the store, she stood in the doorway and earnestly asked, “Mr. Chuck, what’s more professional?  Should I wear my hair up or down?”  Something caught in my throat. She was taking this gig seriously.

In the shop, Hanna quickly learned how to ring up a sale and take cash and card payments. Working at the sales desk was her favorite task. She also enjoyed rearranging the sideline products and deciding what books should face outward on the shelves. She perused a catalogue and selected a dozen children’s books for me to order.  Tidying up the storeroom and wiping down bookshelves was fun for the first few minutes but eventually became a drag. On Saturday, Hanna flatly refused to clean the bathrooms and planted herself in front of the register, ready to deal with customers.

Business ebbs and flows in the Reading Room. Sometimes there are multiple customers in the shop. There are also stretches when the store is empty.  Hanna found these quiet times the most difficult. During one slow period, she exclaimed, “Mr. Chuck, you have the most boring job in the world!”

Tomorrow, I am headed to Madison, Wisconsin to see what all the “buzz” is about.  I plan to spend most of my time downtown between the capitol and UW campus.  I hope to visit a bookstore or two for some inspiration and jump in a lake if the sun comes out.  I will report back next week.