The difference between working in a book shop last year and every other year I’ve been here

There is no difference between last year and every other year I’ve been here. There were small things, like mask wearing and checking in, but people, and my shop, basically remained the same:

• The quality of customer-peering (through the door) remained the same
• The record number of books held under one arm while browsing stayed the same (9)
• The same books fell off shelves and tables in the night and dented their own covers
• The streams of conversation passing the door were as intense, rich, and deeply textured as in 2014
• Dogs still urinated just outside my door
• Children still read on their knees and replaced the books backwards
• Window books continued to draw clear, crisp and authoritative comments from passers-by.
• Young people gazed through the front window at a single book on the table with the same unreadable facial expression.
• Readers still bought bookmarks
• Everyone still turned to open the door the wrong way
• Readers still went silent when they find a book they really want and then breath slowly outwards
• People still come in thinking I’m the bakery

What didn’t stay the same:

• My landlord died

This was sad because Malcolm liked my shop and used to leave books for me in the storage room. It’s only because of Malcolm and Ann that I’m still here.

I’ve been really lucky for a long time.

Sculpture by Eudald De Juana