Either She’s A Revisionist Scholar, Or She Needs A Dictionary
Me: “Ma’am, may I help you find a particular title?”
Customer: “I don’t know exactly what I want. I just want a good book to read.”
Me: “Is there a topic that you are especially interested in?”
Customer: “I like historical stuff.”
Me: “Great! What kind of history specifically?”
Customer: *stares blankly*
Me: “For instance, a particular time period, or the history of a certain country?”
Customer: “American history, obviously.”
Me: “We have some really great American history books, right over here.”
(I lead her to the proper section and pull a few titles to show her.)
Customer: “These are all about stuff that really happened. I want a story.”
Me: “Okay, so, historical fiction then? I’m sure we can find something for you.”
Customer: “No! I want something like this…”
(She gestures to a book she rejected, a non-fiction title about American history.)
Customer: “…only I want it to be made up.”
Me: “Right, historical fiction. Let’s start with a time frame within American history and I’m sure we can find something.”
Customer: *sighs melodramatically* “I don’t want FICTION, I want a book with a story that is MADE UP!”
