Archive for February 1st, 2009

In search of a photograph

February 1st, 2009

I decided to go into town yesterday.

I got some library books out last November and they were cluttering the place, so I thought I had better return them.

On the way, I called into the local shop to get the paper. 

I was greeted with a big grin – ‘We have got your tobacco at last, Grandad’ he said.  Five fucking weeks and he expects me to be grateful?  I thanked him anyway and told him his wife and children would be released unharmed.

This did cheer me up a bit so I sang quietly to myself as I drove into town.

I managed to get my usual spot right outside the library.  It’s one of those places with a sort of weird wheelchair thing painted on the road but it is always empty.

I returned my books and took a saunter around the stacks.  No sign of “Headrambles” anywhere, so I complained to the head librarian. 

‘It’s on order’ says he.  ‘There is a waiting list for it.  Do you want to be added?’

’Nah!’ I said.  ‘I have already read it.  It’s not much good anyway’ and I left.

I decided to take a stroll up to the bookshop for a laugh.

The first thing I saw when I entered was a big display.  They were flogging a book by Barack Obama.  Now, it would be nice to have a best seller on my hands, but I’ll be damned if I am going to get myself elected as President of America just to get one.  That is just too high a price to pay, and I don’t fancy living in The White House anyway.

I checked the best seller rack anyway, just in case.  No sign.

I checked the new releases rack.  No sign.

I checked the Irish releases rack.  No sign.

I checked under fiction, hobbies, gardening, science and children’s.  No sign, so I asked the assistant.

She brought me to the humour section for some reason, and there it was.  ‘You’re in luck’ says she.  ‘There is one left.’

Fuck that.  I came to photograph a nice block of books, not a single copy.  It looked sort of sad there stuck between “The Mega Book of Useless Information” and “Bad Cat”.

It wasn’t an entirely wasted journey though.  I was getting very tired of our shopkeeper’s wife and her constant bitching.

I’ll be glad to be rid of her.

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