The Diary - May 24

Three teens perused the general fiction shelves.  Two were graduating from Peoria Notre Dame and the third was taking final exams at the end of her freshman year. They pulled books from the shelves and then replaced them with constant commentary.  “I read this for English class but didn’t do well on the test.”  “I started but couldn’t finish this.”  “Loved this book!”

A self-described “retiree” surveyed the octagonal tables that host non-fiction and  contemporary fiction.  She admitted she was worried she would not finish all the books she currently owns. Her friends and family would inherit her books!  However, she was still on the hunt for another good read.

The two parties met in the front room, around the re-purposed dining table displaying books that have just arrived. I was at the sales desk and could only hear snatches of their conversation.

The lady reappeared at the sales desk with a stack of three or four books. On top was “Project Hail Mary.”  As she prepared to pay, she pointed to the book and conspiratorially whispered, “This is for the young people up there,” tilting her head in the direction of the teens in the front room.  “They were interested in it but didn’t have any money, so I thought I’d buy it for them.”

She finished paying and marched over to the teens.  “This is for you,” she said and handed the girl the book. The three uttered a polite but surprised “thank you.”   Her business complete, the lady turned and headed out of the store with new stories under her arm.  She left me with a story to tell as well.