Member-only story
Story Time and Springsteen at The Last Word Bookstore
A Last Word story
The bookstore is filled to capacity with moms and small children for story time in the children’s section. This weekly event was thrust upon Sal one day while all of the female staff were at a spa “bonding,” and while he was angry about it at first, he had quickly found himself enjoying it. He continued to do the readings himself, even when Julia and Heather had volunteered to take over. But today he is nowhere to be seen.
“Where is he?” Camden demands through clenched teeth. Julia can merely shrug; she has no clue.
The children are on the verge of rioting now, some crying, some wailing, all chanting “Uncle Sal!” at the top of their pint-sized lungs. Heather is looking for an exit out of the sea of miniature humanity, though whether she could reach the door without the frustrated moms beating her to death with sippy cups is uncertain. She had tried to step in and start the story, but the little monsters had shouted her down.
Just when it seems the entire scene is about to tip into the abyss, the front door flies open and a tall figure in a black cape and absurdly tall top hat charges into the scrum. The children part like the Red Sea and fall silent as the new arrival removes his hat and bows to the crowd.
