Young kids who love the store and are very possessive of it make me happy. It thrills me to see a child stride in, head up, marching toward the register to give one of us a hug. When kids show off the store their friends it just kills me. The tour they give is priceless: “Here is where they have the book I have at home.”
Yesterday I was working alone. I was deep in the heart of a multi-step mail order sale when one of my favorite kids came in the store. She didn’t come in the store as much she swept in, practically dropping her coat to run toward the register. Celine didn’t care that I was on the phone as she shouted, “Hi, Josie!”
I was charmed to bits. This curly-headed moppet adores the store and loves coming in. Celine made herself very comfortable behind the register, sitting on one our spinning office chairs. Chad, her babysitter, had never been to the bookstore with Celine before and was somewhat horrified to see her making herself so at home while I was on the phone. As I was hanging up I heard Celine explain why she could sit in the back. “I have a wish list here.” As if that explained it all. And yesterday, it did.
Always awesome to hear stories like this, my little is 9 and loves to visit book stores.
Jessie
That is so sweet. I sometimes feel that we in publishing are bottling up the champagne but not at the party where it sparkles. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of that party!
My 8-year-old niece is very proprietary about Otowi Station Bookstore. She introduced me to one of her friends: “This is my aunt. She owns Otowi Station. Have you been there? We have all kinds of great stuff. We have books. We have Pokemon cards. We have stuffed animals. We have manga books. You’ll probably have to get permission from your mom to read manga, because sometimes they’re kind of bloody. We have all kinds of toys. You should come to our store.”
I agree, awesome. I was a little worried, until you mentioned the babysitter.
They say word of mouth is the best of advertising and it really is — especially when it’s between 8 and 9 year olds!!
Love the warm fuzzies!!! 🙂 e