Bookshop Girl by Chloe Coles

Author:Chloe Coles [Coles, Chloe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471407109
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Published: 2018-06-14T04:00:00+00:00

Me, Holly and Maxine tiptoe inside the window display.

‘It’s so dusty in here!’ I say, brushing the layer of grey fluff from my black denim knees.

‘Be careful not to damage those as you take them down,’ Adam warns from his spot behind us on the shop floor.

I smile sweetly, but accidentally-on-purpose tear the NOT NECESSARILY CLOSING-DOWN SALE poster as I pull it out of the display. It feels amazing.

We decided to get rid of these dumb posters and make a new window display. Something that is bright and happy and pulls even more people into supporting the campaign.

I came up with an idea that I’m pretty chuffed with. We’ve moved the bookcase that was in the staffroom gathering dust into the window. Me and Holly painted big letters that spell out SAVE BENNETT’S onto old cardboard boxes and cut out each individual letter. They’re chunky and bright, and we’re arranging them on plastic stands and stacks of books on the shelves of the old bookcase. Then we made lots of paper flowers and hearts and stars cut out of old publisher catalogues and free review copies that were piled up in the corner of the staffroom. It’s looking even better than it did in my mind.

We also cut out bits of paper that are in the shape of an open book, blank for customers, and us lot, to write reasons for why we want to save Bennett’s. We’ll stick these to the glass so people passing by can read them. We’ve made an art installation really. This is hands down much better than any project I’ve done for Mr Parker at school.

Maxine exhales and pushes her grey fringe back off her lined forehead. ‘It’s hot in here. I’ll step outside to see how it looks.’ She’s lighting up a cigarette before she’s even through the front doors.

Behind a cloud of smoke and on the other side of the glass she nods and gives us a thumbs up, frowning and puffing on her fag.

Holly’s phone pings and she smiles, pulling it out of the pocket in the back of her jeans.

‘OooOOoooOOh! Is it Jamie again?’ I ask, dancing with excitement, careful not to destroy our bum-kicking window creation.

‘Yeah!’ I watch her read the screen and immediately tap a reply. Phone back in her pocket. ‘I really like him, Paige.’

‘And you’re so good at liking him, Holly! How can you be so cool about it? It’s like you have no problem functioning as a Normal Human Being around him, not like me …’

‘Are you kidding?! I was well nervous chatting to him the other night. I thought it was obvious!’

A group of spotty teenage lads walk past and start gawping at the two of us in the window. It really must be a slow day for entertainment in this town.

They shout all manner of politically un-correct insults at us and then one of them kicks an empty plastic Oasis bottle in the direction of the glass and it misses. They’re all ‘wheeeeeeeeey’s and tongues and not at all ready for Maxine who’s about to go for them.

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