The Bookstore Clerk by Mykola Dementiuk Read Free Book Online Page A

away from it, it’s my life we’re talking about, and there’s nothing more important than that.”
I also squeezed his hand and heard someone descending the stairs. We quickly let our hands go and looked at the crew returning from lunch. Danny just sneered at me but didn’t say a word. We went back to work, but with the lovely but quiet Ramos nearby I felt much warmer than I had ever felt with someone before. My small world had gotten much larger and more certain.
At around 4:30 there was a sudden silence in the back of the stockroom, where I was packing up boxes for mailing. The radio, constantly playing oldies but goodies, “Be my, be my baby…” had been switched off. I looked up and saw Mr. Jennings standing with Mr. Simmons, a Doubleday executive, and they were about to enter Mr. David’s office. There were the usual greetings between them and the crew, then the door closed. Mr. David rarely closed his door.
I nervously continued working when Danny turned the radio back up, staring at me. I narrowed my eyes. What does the radio have to do with anything? I thought, packing up another book for shipping. Mr. David’s door opened. Timmy and Mr. Simmons came out, walking in my direction. I bit my bottom lip, looking down, and just continued with my work.
“Billy,” I heard Timmy say, “this is Mr. Simmons. He has something to say to you.” he nodded his head.
Mr. Simmons cleared his throat. He was probably the same age as Timmy but very formally dressed in a tuxedo and shined shoes. I’d heard him joke with Mr. David about going to a fundraiser that evening, just before they’d closed the office door.
“Billy, you’ve been chosen as the new bookstore clerk, starting tomorrow,” he shook my hand and turned to Timmy. “With Fall approaching, it will be our busiest season. We have to prepare ahead of time before Christmas is upon us, our busiest time of year.” He again rapidly shook my hand. “Welcome aboard, Billy,” and he winked at me and turned to Timmy. The two were beaming at me. I heard footsteps; Connie and Miss Terri had come down to the stockroom, with Miss Terri around, Connie looked incredibly sheepish, trailing after her but looking like she expected nothing.
“Sidney,” said a stern-voiced Miss Terri, “can I have a word with you about this situation?”
Mr. Simmons’s face showed nothing.
“There is no ‘situation.’ Billy will be our new bookstore clerk.” He was looking right at Miss Terri. “Starting tomorrow. It’s a corporate decision. Is that clear?”
I saw Miss Terri’s face tighten, but she turned and headed back up the stairs, with Connie still trailing after her.
“Well, good, she’s gone,” said Mr. Simmons, shaking his head and turning to Timmy. “The bookstore clerk’s position is your responsibility and, by the look of him, there won’t be any problem,” and he winked at me again.
“Yes, sir, no problem at all. Can’t wait to get started tomorrow,” I said, as they left the basement. I shook a few hands around me but I quickly noticed that Danny and a few others had already vanished; it was after five o’clock, anyway.
I waited for Timmy outside. The evening crew had just heard the good news and were smiling at me, though a few of them just shrugged and went on with their duties.
Timmy came out, happily smiling.
“I told you that you had nothing to worry about. You just have to know the right person, that’s the only way you can get ahead in life,” he said as we descended to the subway.
“It was a very emotional day,” Timmy said when the subway let us off on 86 th Street. “I’m spent, as you must be, too.”
“You’re right. I feel drained and exhausted, too.”
But he led me into a men’s store. I needed a new suit for tomorrow.
“But I thought you were going to give me yours,” I protested, “and that we were going to take them in?”
“Can’t,” he shook his head. “This is a rush, and Philip is our man,” he continued as we