Eric didn't have a lot of time to read, what with his many obligations to the Lake Association, the PTA, the Young People's Association, his radio show, his wife, and his two children. But he did occasionally have reason to enter a bookstore nonetheless, particularly in a situation like his current one, where his son, Aaron, was struggling in school. It had been going on for weeks now. The class was learning to tell time, and no matter how many practice worksheets he brought home, or how many times Eric asked him to read the clock in their kitchen, Aaron was not catching on. Eric had decided he needed to seek help from an educational expert, and decided to hunt through the bookstore shelves for a manual or two that might offer some helpful hints.
In the meantime, however, he was distracted by books on many other topics that kept catching his eye as he wandered to the education and parenting section. First it was the bestsellers, then drama (always his favorite), and finally mysteries. He probably would have gone right on by the mystery section and headed for his true destination had he not seen Violet standing there looking obviously upset. But curiosity, and an overwhelming sense of obligation to help every person he met who needed it, compelled Eric to stop and move in closer, to try and make everything alright again.
"Miss?" he asked, concern evident in his tone. "Are you okay?"