When little kids shop at the bookstore they often come with things. Sometimes they come in clutching a beloved doll or stuffed animal. I’m always amazed at the plethora of animals kids have. They range from tiny dogs to seemingly full-sized pandas and rabbits.
The kids with dolls are often the cutest because they usually will introduce you to their doll. There was one little girl who started speaking so fast after I asked her what her dolly’s name was. She went on and on telling me about their latest tea party. It was adorable, but I was hard pressed to keep up.
Today a parent was trying to hustle her family out the door and I kept hearing her asking, “Did she have a dress on? Didn’t she have a dress?” At first I thought her young daughter had taken off her clothes. There are times little kids will trail their boots, socks, pants and shirts behind them as they make their way into the store. I actually take it as a compliment that they feel comfortable enough here to treat the store like their house.
It turns out there was a naked doll in the store. Abby, the young doll owner, had been reading and taken her doll’s dress off. After a small search involving her two very patient teenage older brothers, the dress turned up under the picture book section. I loved that the whole family was involved with this search. Apparently, the mom has suggested that rather than remove her clothes in public, Abby could take her doll’s dress off. Nice suggestion and it turned into a fun family activity.
In all the years we’ve been open, no one has ever said, “Did she have a dress on?” when referring to someone in the store. I was still laughing about it when I got home.
The other thing that staggers me is what gets left behind. We have at least a dozen pairs of sunglasses. I tried putting them on the Folkmanis puppets one time as a novel display, but it made every giraffe and pig and octopus look kind of menacing, like lurking hitmen.
Ha! Love this, Carol.
The other day, we found a cane in one of the nooks, and my colleague turned to me and said, “How did the person who lost this get out of the store?”
We find lots of car keys in the library, which raise a similar question.
Too cute. What I remember were the diapers … used. Thank you, Elizabeth, for writing this piece and for writing about retail with such heart. I love to read your entries and they always remind me of what you just can’t get online, but can in a community bookstore.
Thanks, Donna, for your kind words. Josie wrote this post, and in fact, she is often responsible for the sweet, heart-filled pieces. Has a real knack for capturing those adorable little kids….
My favorite as a bookseller was when a little boy left behind his tiny little purse. We opened it and inside was a tiny little matchbox car that just fit. We kept it hoping his mother would return for it but she never did. Eventually, someone threw it out. I wish I had known because I would have saved it. It was just that cute! I still smile thinking about it.
I am frequently that person leaving the cane. I always go back for it and say something like, “A miracle occurred!”
Ha! Love that, Alison. : )