Amusing bookstore exchange

Today is Good Friday, so Westminster has no classes or rehearsals. This is more due to practical considerations rather than religious ones - so many students work in churches that classes would be practically empty. So, since I had the day off, I woke up a little later, worked on Gesualdo and Berlioz, and then walked to the YMCA, where Rider students can get in free (Westminster has no gym.) SJ is my normal lifting partner, but (since she works in the church) she's busy today. Since we only went to the gym once this week, I thought I'd go on my own.

Well, guess what the C in YMCA stands for? They also are closed on Good Friday. Should have seen that one coming. Oh, well.

On my way home, I passed Micawber Books, which always has a bin of $1 books outside. I found one I wanted, which necessitated going inside, which necessitated going past the "discount fiction" table, which ended with me picking up The Return of Merlin by Deepak Chopra. I was buying these two when the clerk said, "You know, we have another table of $1 books right over there." I lifted both hands as if he was holding me up, and said, "Don't do that to me! You must work with a lot of book addicts, you know that's not a very nice thing to do!" (I tend to get a little defensive in bookstores, b/c I'm perpetually so close to walking out w/ 20 books.) He just chuckled.

There was a pause.

"You know, there's an Ursula LeGuin book over there."
"There is? Which one?"

He walked me over to the table and pointed at The Wind's Twelve Quarters.

"I'm saved! I have that one!" I said.

And I escaped with only two books (one of which is not even for me.)

I was pretty impressed that he pegged me for a LeGuin fan that fast, though.