The Bookshop

It was one of those extraordinary experiences one has, especially when least expecting them. 1

I was browsing in a second-hand bookshop one day, as one does, taking out one book to look at it, then another, not really interested in buying, as I was short on cash. 2

The shop was one of those dark musty ones full of interesting old novels, poems and atlasses. The long shelves stretched far into the back, stacked with books gathering dust and cobwebs. But it was warm and the atmosphere was one of learning and curiosity, as what else would drive people to such a dilapidated place?3

This particular day I had all the time in the world; no one was waiting for me and of course there was not a single book that really captivated me and made me want to buy it. So I stood there in my personal Eden, which consisted of rows and rows of books. I was enjoying the atmosphere only vaguely noticing that it was raining cats and dogs outside. I glanced around the shop to see if there were any interesting people around, for sometimes the most intriguing a person enters such a shop. But somehow there was not really anyone worth writing about. Oh I am sure every one of the few people there was interesting, but there was no one strange or different. Just little old ladies and the like. 4

So I went back to my aimless browsing and, to my surprise, was quite immersed in a book, the title of which is of no significant importance to the story. Just then the old bell above the wooden door began to go wild. I started out of my reverie and noticed a man had entered the shop. He looked as if he had been blown in by the gale outside, as his white hair was tousled and his face scrunched up so fiercely against the wind that everyone looked away as if nothing had happened. 5

From what I could see he was an elderly gentleman with a dark moustache, which was partly covered by a muffler. His dark beetling eyebrows underlined the expression of fierceness on his face. His long trenchcoat was patched and frayed and his boots certainly looked well worn and as if they had made contact with quite a few puddles. The water had seeped up to darken the brown of his corduroys, which added to his ragamuffin appearance. 6

The bell jangled to silence as the man stomped off towards the shelves trailing mud as he went. I lost sight of him soon enough by moving to a different section, when all of a sudden he bumped into me.7

"Oh 'ello" he said, "sorry about that."8

I murmured some polite and noncommital reply and assumed he would move past without much ado. Instead he looked at the book in my hands and said curiously:9

"Aren't ye a bit too young to be reading such books?"10

I seem to think it was something historical that no one except me would touch with a ten-foot-pole.11

I looked up at him in surprise and found myselft staring into startlingly clear brown eyes. They looked so full of knowledge, but also, as if he liked discussing what he knew instead of just reeling off what he had learnt long ago.12

"I'm eighteen!" I replied indignantly, "and why shouldn't I be interested? Sir."13

He chuckled at my somewhat childlike and obstinate response.14

"Quite so" he smiled and seemingly random pulled a book out of the shelf.15

"You seem a bit lost in your looking. I wonder if you'd like this."16

He handed it to me in an almost loving manner. I wondered what memories he connected with the tome, because it certainly looked long. The book was heavy and the title sounded boring and monotonous, but if so fascinating and odd a person recommended it, how could it be so? Determined to give it a try, I looked up to say so and found the man gone. I reached the end of the aisle only to see him moving towards the door. Expecting the loud jangling I covered up my ears best as I could. After he had left I watched him wander up the street in the continuous downpoor, stepping into puddles on the way.17

I have often wondered why he came into that shop and whether he often did such things. I have never seen him again, but I am determined to open someone else a new world, as he did for me.