Another Bookstore Conversation

I may have to stop going to bookstores, since they result in strange conversations with employees. I was at the mall getting some perfume (Clinique's Happy), and decided to stop at Waldenbooks. I had made a quick run through romance and was looking at the Ellora's Cave paperbacks.

Entirely Too-Perky Employee: How are you doing? Are you finding everything?

Alyssa: (Wants to be left alone to puruse the options) Yes, I'm fine.

Employee: (Looks at Jaci Burton's Summer Heat, which I have in my hand) Have you read any of Ann Rice's books?

Alyssa: (Knows this is going to turn into a conversation) No.

Employee: (Reaches down to pull out a boxed set) They are written under a psuedonym, but I don't know how to say the last name.

Alyssa: (Has heard about these books and wants the conversation to stop now)

Employee: This one is three parts. It's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but instead of being woken with a kiss, he wakes her with . . . well, you know.

Alyssa: (Doesn't know the details and would prefer to remain in ignorance) Huh.

Employee: She's taken to a kingdom where she is taught to obey with, you know . . .

Alyssa: (Starts to worry about whether anyone else is listening in on this conversation)

Employee: . . . spanking and stuff.

Alyssa: (Feels face turning red)

Employee: The story is great. But some of the stuff is extreme--well, I ended up talking to my mom about it.

Alyssa: (Feels brain explode while envisioning the conversation between this woman in her 20s and her mother)

Employee: (Smiles widely and holds up Sleeping Beauty) We're having a buy-four-get-one-free sale.

Alyssa: (Hopes to move the conversation along quickly) Cool. That's great. I'll keep looking, then.

Employee: If you buy this set, you'll already have three books.

Alyssa: (Decides it's time to continue to another section of the store)

Employee: Just let me know when you're ready, and I'll manipulate the computer to get that discount.

The five books I ended up buying (and this employee did ring up my order): one Ellora's Cave (Summer Heat), one anthology, one mystery, one Harlequin Presents, and one true-crime. No Sleeping Beauty.

I think the employee was disappointed.

Alyssa