Rose DeWitt Bukater (never_let_go) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-05-09 16:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, rose dewitt bukater, tessa gray |
Who: Tessa and Rose
What: Rose visits the shop
Where: Gray’s Books
When: Early May
Rating: Low?
Status: Complete when posted
Tessa was sorting through some paperwork at the counter when she heard the bell on the door ring as someone came in. Looking up, she smiled at the lady who walked in as she put the papers in a stack to one side. “Good afternoon, how are you today?” she asked with a smile on her face.
Rose had seen the book shop when she had applied at Baxter Bakery, but hadn't hadn't gone in before now. She had wanted to make sure that she had a job before she went into a place where she was likely to spend a lot of money. She hadn't really needed to watch her money before now, but she knew enough to know she shouldn't spend money she didn't have yet. By looking at her, however, one wouldn’t guess that she didn’t have a lot of money. Her clothes were obviously expensive, and she carried herself with the air of someone who was used to having a lot of money.
"Hello," she said, giving a pleasant smile to the woman behind the counter. "I am well. And yourself?”
“Very well thank you,” Tessa smiled at the woman. She seemed well put together and well spoken, she thought, stepping out from behind the counter. “Would you like some help or are you happier browsing by yourself?” she offered, folding her hands in front of her. Tessa herself was young, but mature in disposition. She loved meeting people in the shop and discovering a little about them in order to help them buy a little something to make them even a tiny bit happier that day.
“I actually just got a job right around the corner, and thought I would stop in to see what you have to offer,” she said. “I would appreciate any help you can offer me. I was wondering if you perhaps carried any resources about living on your own? Oh, and any art books you may have.”
“Oh well, firstly, congratulations,” Tessa said to the woman genuinely. “Where are you working then? Perhaps I know of the place?” she asked. After having the shop here for some time, she’d gotten to know quite a few of the shopkeepers in the vicinity.
“Secondly, come right this way, I think I have just the book for you,” she gestured for the lady to follow her to a row of shelves on the right of the shop. Bending down to look at one of the lower shelves, she ran her finger along the spines of the books of the shelves, looking for the right one. “Ah, here we go,” she told her happily as she pulled the book entitled Life Skills 101: A Practical Guide to Leaving Home and Living on Your Own from the shelf and passed it to her. “This has got very good reviews from readers and it should give you the skills you need to survive on your own,” she joked lightly. “Of course if you’re wanting a slightly more irreverent, yet equally as informative title, then I would suggest this one,” she bent down again and pulled 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother from the shelf to hand to her. “It’s based on a mother’s own experience with equipping her children with the skills they needed to know before the flew the coup,” she described then stepped back slightly to let her think about the options.
“I just started at Baxter Bakery,” Rose said, smiling. “If you haven’t been, you must. Everything there is simply delicious.” She was actually pretty excited about having her first job ever, even if she was fairly sure that if her mother found out what she was doing, she would have an aneurysm.
She read the back of both books, but it didn’t take her long to choose one of them. “I think I’ll go with the Life Skills 101,” she said, handing the other book back to Tessa. “Thank you. I’m sure this will be a great help.
“Baxter’s? Oh, how wonderful! In that case we might be seeing a lot more of each other. Baxter’s often provides catering for events I hold here,” Tessa explained as she took the book back from the girl.
“Absolutely,” Tessa smiled, taking the book back from the girl to put back on the shelf. “And art history books are just over here,” she gestured for the girl to follow her again. “I’m Tessa by the way,” she introduced as they walked.
"Oh, that's fantastic!" Rose exclaimed. "Do you hold many events? I suspect you'll be seeing quite a bit of me as a customer, too." Assuming Rose could afford to buy many books. She knew that she wouldn't be able to buy as many as she did at home, but she hoped she'd be able to come in often enough.
She followed Tessa toward the art books. "I'm Rose. Have you worked here for very long?" She seemed to know the book store pretty well.
“Quite a few, we held two very successful ones in April for World Book Day and World Book Night, then for Easter we had a big day with readings and workshops and Baxter’s supported us,” Tessa told Rose proudly. “In fact I’m going to be putting out a job ad soon because I need some extra hands, but shh, don’t tell anyone yet,” she looked over her shoulder and winked at the girl. “I should say, I own the place,” she smiled kindly at the girl as she turned at the aisle where the art history books were shelved. “Here you go, it’s not hugely extensive, but it can be difficult, being an independent bookstore, to store to get the range you’d like,” she told her.
“Those sound like they would be quite something!” Rose said. She hoped that she would be able to come and enjoy one of the events herself sometime. “This is your shop? Well, it looks like you have done a tremendous job so far! And it’s great that you’re busy enough to hire new people.” She browsed through the titles of the art books, before pulling one about impressionism out. There were a couple that looked interesting, but she would just buy the one for now. “Oh, the selection seems more than adequate to me,” she said. “There’s more than enough to choose from. I think this should be it for me today though.”
“Yep, my very own, thank you very much” Tessa smiled proudly. “They really are amazing! I have a friend called Glinda who comes in to read to the children dressed as the Good Fairy, at least I think that’s what we decided on calling her,” Tessa grinned, watching the girl look through the books. “Well thank you for that, I try to give as much a selection as I can and if you find something you’d like which I don’t have in, then let me know and I can order it in for you,” she told Rose. “If you’re sure, then bring them on up to the till and I’ll ring them through for you. Of course, if you’d like to have more of a wander around, just tell me and I’ll leave you to browse,” she offered, knowing she had taken up a lot of the girl’s time.
“Glinda the Good Fairy?” Rose asked. “Oh, that sounds absolutely perfect. The children must love it. These events truly sound like they would be a lot of fun.” Rose contemplated looking around some more, but decided against it. She would no doubt find other books that she wanted, and she was sure she would have trouble resisting buying them. “I think that just checking out for now should be fine.”
“She is fabulous and the kids love her,” Tessa smiled fondly. “That’s fine, I can do that for you,” she indicated for Rose to follow her to the till and then rang up the items when she got there. “That’ll be $20.48, please,” she told her, having given the girl a 20% discount as a little welcome to the neighbourhood gift.
Rose handed to the money to Tessa. “Oh thank you,” Rose said, when she noticed the discount. “You didn’t have to do that.”
"You are more than welcome," Tessa smiled at her, handing back Rose's change. "It's not that long ago that I was just starting off here, I know it can be difficult and how rare it can be that you get to treat yourself to nice things," she winked at her. "Anytime you need a talk or a book, just let me know," Tessa reassured her. She knew it could be tough.
“Of course. I will most certainly be back. Thank you for all of your help.” Rose hadn’t been in the OC for that long, but so far, this was one of her favourite shops she had been in. She would be recommending it to anyone who needed books.