The Bookstore Clerk by Mykola Dementiuk Read Free Book Online

had the exclusive restaurant Top of the Sixes, with its panoramic views of New York. I stood downcast at the waterfall.
“I didn’t get it,” I sulked, shrugging like it didn’t mean anything, “The bookseller’s job, I mean.”
But Timmy shook his head, as if he knew differently.
“For now you didn’t get it, but this afternoon I have a meeting with Mr. Simmons, one of Doubleday’s top people. We’ll be discussing just that, the operation and staffing of the bookstore. Don’t be upset, a good word from him will put it motion. Things are spinning right now, as we speak.”
“But Miss Terri won’t let it happen. I just saw Connie going in her office. She’ll also tell her she’s against it.”
“Oh, bosh, of course they’re against it. Those two lesbian creeps are always against what a man comes up with.”
I looked at him.
“Connie’s a lesbian? I didn’t know.”
“Uh huh, and she’s Terri’s lover. They live together. Down in Greenwich Village.”
“Wow, so why are they against us?” I lowered my voice, looking around at people walking by the waterfall. “Queers who like each other, just like they do?”
He sighed and rubbed his face.
“If I knew that, the world would be a better place, wouldn’t it? But that’s the way things stand between us; nothing’s any different than it ever was. You just have to stand up and fight, not let them get away with even the slightest bit, because they’ll only take and take until there’s nothing left.” He sighed again. “Let’s go back. Face the monsters, because we’re better than them.” He put his arm around my shoulder. “We’ll know for certain by this afternoon.”
I looked up at him. God, I wished we weren’t with so many people on crowded 5 th Avenue. I would have kissed him. I nodded and we started across the busy, traffic-filled avenue.
The store was busy with a noontime crowd, people wandering the aisles, some carrying books that they had chosen to buy, others just lazily looking and biding their time. Mr. Jennings nodded at me and went to help a customer as I headed for the basement. I was nervous and tense but I steeled myself, ready to face anything that came up, just as Timmy had suggested.
Most of the crew had left for lunch but I saw Ramos sitting in a corner, and eating a sandwich while reading a small paperback. I immediately recognized it as a Spanish comic book, one of those pocket booklets found in Spanish neighborhoods, the barrios, around New York City.
“Hey,” I said, taking a chair beside him.
“Hey,” he nodded at me, holding his comic book. “It’s lunch time, you already had?”
I shrugged. “Not hungry. What you reading?”
“What, this ?” he turned the book to its cover, showing a drawing of a large-breasted woman running from a man. He smiled. “ De amar a un hombre . To Love a Man, it means, just silly romantic nonsense, doesn’t mean anything.” He looked at me, still holding the comic. “You ever love anyone like that, so much that you run away from them, like a man ?” I instantly blushed and sighed. What did he know or suspect? “Things happen, you know?” he winked.
I looked at him.
“Yes, things happen. I never thought I could love like that, but there it is. Love as I never knew it. And that’s the funny part. When you’re in love with someone, the world suddenly closes in, like it wants to break you apart for your happiness.”
He agreed.
“You can’t let that happen,” he said, shaking his head. “Man or woman, straight or queer, love is love. As bad as it may seem now, love will triumph in the end. Just remember that, love always wins.”
He took me by the hand and gave it a squeeze. I looked at him and melted. I wanted to kiss him in gratitude. For so long we had worked together, just nodding and tolerating our coworkers and now, suddenly, we were close. He beamed at me as I returned the warm feeling I had for him.
“Thanks,” I nodded, “that means a lot to me. I can’t run