Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was Monday again. Jessie looked forward to every Monday night when the store closed early for the weekly unofficial book club that the store hosted. She was even excited because she had baked a some cookies for the meeting tonight, they weren't burnt or anything. But that would have to wait until six when the store closed early and Jessie could run upstairs for the snacks. She hoped that this time her cookies would be devoured unlike the last several times.... then again those ones were pretty burnt and disgusting. Mixing up baking powder and soda is not a great idea nor is forgetting the sugar. Jessie's bad cooking skills have even morphed into a kind of running joke with the book club crowed. Jessie would provide some sort of snack, slip it in with the rest of the club snacks and the group would have to determine which one Jessie made. She has done her best to stump them but had only succeeded twice, she hoped this time would be the third.

Jessie was just straightening up the last of the books when the bell over the door tinkled merrily. She glanced up and noticed a young lady walking over to the counter, she put back the book that she had pulled from the shelf and headed over to the counter. She didn't know if the young lady was for the meeting or looking for a book or even a mix or two. There has been a few regulars to the meetings that started as customers at the store and just stayed for the meetings.

"Hello. Welcome to The Bookwyrm." Jessie smiled in greeting when she got closer. Normally she would be shy and reserved but here in the store where talk of books and authors flowed like wine it was easy to be relaxed and happy. Here she knew what to say and how to say it, who to talk about and what she was talking about. She was on her home turf and was glad for it.

Jessie glanced around proudly. Taking in the odd markers for the sections, the stars hanging over astronomy, the giant paint brush over art, she could see a bit of the foliage that was found in the plants section, and Jessie spotted a stuffed cat that belonged in the pets section... one of the younger customers had to have moved it. It was not what you would call a conventional bookstore but it brought a smile to most faces and it pleased Jessie to no end to watch the kids squeal in joy when they see the various themed bookends and toys scattered throughout.

“Yes were open for the next half hour although if you wish to stay for the book club meeting you are welcome to. Any books that are chosen during the meeting are held for the owners until the next business day or longer if requested.” Jessie smiled brightly. She would be glad to see more people come to the meetings if only to continue browsing the books, half of the regulars at the meeting started that way. Seeing how often the meeting spawned the desire for books of that genre Jessie had tweaked the policy on holding book, now instead of holding for a day she would be willing to hold them for a week or figure out an alternate way of the patron’s to get their books. Doing this had actually extended her revenue since people were selecting more books when they came in to pick up ones they already put on hold. Then again so did Jessie when she was ordering new books.

“Well then welcome, just ask if you have any questions or if you’re looking for something in particular.” Normally Jessie was very much a wall flower but here in her store, she knew what she was doing and wasn’t afraid to show it. Books were her life and this store… her home. “Thank you, each section is themed as you can see. There are also tags on each section just in case. I’ve nearly lost a few people before they were put up.” She laughed softly at her joke as she pointed out to the small white sign at the end of the closest shelf.

Jessie tilted her head almost like an inquisitive bird before she realized that the young women had caught a wiff of the cookies Jessie had baked. “Oh… oh no, they are for the meeting. Garcon is in the cooking section with a cook book though. I believe it’s a cupcake decorating book this week.” The waist high butler statue always had some type of cook book open on his tray but this week Jessie had let Jackson pick the book so she wasn’t entirely sure.

“I’m Jessie by the way.” For the 26 year old introductions always came second when it came to talking of books. So with a shy smile Jessie stuck her hand out for the belated introduction.

Jessie smiled, "Ahhh that good old thing called work." The store was her 'work' but for her it was more like her life and her love so calling it work wasn't really accurate. "Its quite alright if you can't stay. We have the meetings every Monday night after we officially close so you are welcome to come by if you are able to. I do hope you will be able to at least stop in when you have more time to poke around." Even she found new things to be amused by in the store... or things she forgot that she had done.... or things that one of her employees or regulars had messed with. It was a bit like a game with quite a few of them. She had once found a small George Washington figurine riding one of the T-Rexs in the history section. The customer at the end of the aisle didn't quiet understand why she busted out laughing.

"Take your time. I'll announce a warning and the official closing closer to six. If you need help just give a shout." She laughed at the comment about the armful of books. "This store is my armful. There is something to be said about a bibliophile running a store where she can justify buying books when ever she wanted. As for directions go straight back with the stairs on your right, be careful of the books stacked on the treads, then turn left when you've passed the history section, Mount Rushmore is at the top of the case. If you see models of planes and cross sections of boats you've gone to far, you made it in to the engineering which shares the space with construction." She paused a moment and tried to think of a slightly simpler direction. "Its in the back left corner of the store. The taller shelves make a bit of a room so look for the dragon hanging from the ceiling, he is the gatekeeper for fiction." It use to be a rainbow but Jessie recently replaced it with the dragon in honor of The Hobbit and the subsequent movies that Hollywood made out of the book. I really should have maps made up.... her mind drifted off, the various materials that could be used, maybe making a game out of it for the kids one day... like a treasure map and they had to find the treasure chest.......