If Morris could describe a typical day at his workplace, people would most likely decide to change the subject in an instant. But he would understand why.
Morris still loved the bookstore. It was a typical brick and mortar structure located in the left side of a strip mall. He never regretted purchasing the place and doing business. He had plenty of customers. He made plenty of sales. It didn't matter what size or type the book would be. Hardcover or paperback. The customers became his top priority. He seemed to flourish in the business. The store stayed strong for the past decade or so. He regarded the bookstore as a major success.
But something seemed to be missing in his life.
He did well in the city of San Diego. His store had been situated in a safe and tranquil suburban district. He had never met a burglar, nor did he experience any hardships with disrespectful consumers. The residents of San Diego remained friendly. No one had a doubt that Morris did well with his store.
It dawned on him, however, that this store became the only part of his life. At the age of 42, he began to notice that all of his friends had moved on. They either moved away or focused on their own families by cutting down on the minutes spent on interacting with Morris. The store owner had no one left. All of his relatives had moved out of California. He rarely visited them during the holidays. He was basically alone. The bookstore became a good distraction over the years. But even then, he still couldn't suppress the fact that his solitude would soon progress to a more broken standard.
Something had to change, but he didn't how to make it happen.
And then, on a casual Friday evening, the last customer of the day entered the store. Morris gave him a smile. Spencer regularly visited the bookstore for the past couple of months. At the age of 19, he was a handsome young man. In fact, his slim physique and shaggy hairstyle did wonders for his overall appearance. Tonight, he wore a black tank top and a pair of blue jeans. The hot summer day made him more comfortable in that sort of attire. The air conditioning would give him a better reason to stay inside the building.
Morris asked, "Which book are you looking for?"
Spencer replied, "Don't worry. I already know where it is. I could've bought it last week, but I didn't have the money yet."
Morris understood. "Just let me know when you're ready to buy it."
Spencer nodded before turning away. He made it to the far end of the bookstore, an area that lacked windows.
Morris waited until Spencer would return to the counter. But the young man didn't. Morris decided to check up on him. Just as he passed through between two shelves, he stopped right at the end. He spotted Spencer standing alone in the corner. He didn't seem to notice Morris finding him in that exact spot. The young man looked down at the paperback that he held in his hands. He slowly turned the next page in silence. He didn't say anything. He read on with great concentration. The comfy chair that stood beside him couldn't be used during such a seemingly pivotal chapter.
Morris appreciated the other man's love for fiction. Spencer admitted that he would regularly read books as a hobby, something that grew to be a rarity in the newer generations. But Morris didn't lament the shrinking size. He only felt grateful that Spencer would be the one who cherished his pastime.
Morris didn't step away from the shelves just yet. He kept his gaze on the blond-haired reader. He couldn't look away from such a beautiful creature. The bookstore owner could only admit to himself that Spencer possessed such good looks. He was intrigued by the visitor's ability to display such an alluring exterior. He had met plenty of handsome men in San Diego, but none so handsome than the one who currently read the book within the building.
Morris slowly turned away. Bothering Spencer with a fixed gaze could lead to an awkward situation. Instead, Morris returned to the front counter and analyzed the financial records for today. Nothing out of the ordinary took place. He had made good sales for yet another day. He would return home as a happy man.
* * *
The final hour had come to an end. With the city growing dark, the street lights lit up the nearly empty parking lot beside the strip mall. Morris looked out the window to see the leaves on the palm trees swaying in the breeze. He was ready to close his store for the night. He checked the time on his smartphone. Only two minutes left until he would drive home and get some rest.
He closed the blinds for the windows at the front of the store. He locked the front door, but he realized something right as he used the key to turn the locks. Spencer was still in the building. He never saw him leave the store. He returned to the exact same spot that Spencer stayed in. He found him still reading the same novel in the corner. He leaned back against the wall with a fixed gaze on the pages below him.
Morris couldn't stop studying him. Spencer was such a gentle creature who held the same passion for reading as he did. But Morris snapped out of it. There would have been a good chance that Spencer had other plans for the rest of the night.
Morris snapped his fingers, prompting Spencer to quickly look up from the open book.
Morris reminded him, "It's time for me to close for the night."
Spencer chuckled. "Sorry about that. I didn't know I'd be here for a long time. I guess I can't keep my eyes off of this book."
Morris already knew the title, since he had read that same book himself. "I don't blame you. It's a good one. One of my favorites."
"I'm almost done with this chapter. Give me a few more minutes."
"Maybe it's best that you buy it, and then you can finish the rest of it at home."
"Hey, the thrill could be gone by then. I just need a little more time. I'm almost finished."
