The Greek Statue at Post

Today was my first opportunity to start working in Anagram Bookshop. It was more of a 4 hour training exercise, but then again, there is only so much you can train for in a bookstore. What it came down to was really quite simple. I was shown all of the sections of books (not many, considering this is an independent enterprise), the filing system (the same program I used at Jigsaw Editorial), and the cash register. That was about it. And, since no one was coming in for the first two hours, I was literally left with browsing the books, getting to familiarize myself with all of them. I have a reading list now. Its long. And those books are expensive! Even with my 20% discount.

Something I found odd in the first minute of starting out, was the closet. This was no ordinary closet. And no, it wasn't like a magical doorway leading into a land of talking animals and parallels with Christianity. No, this closet had a toilet inside it. Now, when I say a closet, I mean that the area of the closet would probably never be able to house a human being, and especially hard with a toilet inside. I'm not sure why anyone would want to be so claustrophobic when using the bathroom. Doesnt make much sense to me at all. But there it was. Of course, this "bathroom" was a bathroom no more. It had been transformed into the coat rack, and small storage area. But still. Weird.

My manager, Paval, is this funny Czech guy that I am still trying to figure out. When I first met him he didn't seem like much of a reader to me. He has this pessimistic attitude, but it can change off and on. And he's pretty funny, but I dont think he is trying to be. It just sort of happens, and it surprises himself when it does. But maybe he is trying to make it seem that way. I'm still not sure. After the grueling four hour shift I had today we were having a smoke and he says, "You know, you are too serious. You are like one of those Greek statues." And proceeded to laugh at his own joke. But then, I want to be serious on my first day of work right? Business is business. I told him he had not seen me with a couple drinks in me, to which he got serious again. "Never at work, Hunter." Jeez, I was just kidding. Of course not at work.

I think its funny when people walk in and start talking in Czech to me in an English language bookstore. And then when they figure out I don't speak their magnificent tongue, they can't believe it. And then they don't know English. What the hell are you doing in an English language bookshop then?!?! Thankfully Paval is always there to save me, but he won't always be there. Which always gives me the warm and fuzzy feeling that soon I will be left to fend for myself in the confines of an alien language. At least I will have my books to save me.