Rain fell hard on the roof of the building, unmistakable in its severity. God I love it. It's why I moved here anyway. The rain. And yes I do rather like the distance away from my bizzare family who lives on the east coast of the United States.
I was born in Upper Manhattan, New York in 1995. That makes me only twenty but I'm already on my own and I have a store that is always having customers coming through to purchase music. Music is my real passion, but I am also quite fond of art and film. But enough of the life story.
It was raining hard, real fucking hard.
Thank god.
I mean if you believe in that kind of thing. Religion and shit made my head spin so I didn't mess with it. I believe in music and not much else. I don't even believe in love.
Love distracts us from the idea of being alone until we die.
It never fooled me.
My parents divorced when I was ten and I took it pretty bad. Like if they can't even be together happy then how could I be happy with anyone?
Pft. Whatever. Fuck it all.
Today wasn't going to be ruined with my realist values. It's record store day for fucks sake!
It happens only once a year, in the third Saturday of April. This year was the 8th year. Exciting am I right?
Not everyone shares my enthusiasm though. Sucks to be them.
I love seeing the truck pull in, carrying my shipment of record store day exclusives.
I had about thirty regulars who came in at least weekly, and then about twice as many people who come in at least monthly. Record Store Day was an exception, bringing in around a total of two to three hundred people I don't see ever again on this single day. It's great.
A man ran up to the door, electronic clipboard in hand. I walked on over to him, hopping off the stool I had previously occupied. I let him in. He was dripping wet but it was okay. Nothing will ruin today.
"Sign here miss!" He practically yelled even though we were inside,that rain was super loud. I read his name tag. Phil.
"Hey, Phil buddy ole pal. You can use your inside voice thanks." I reached for the pen he had extended to me, and quickly signed the order off.
"Thanks! Have a good one miss!" God, he was yelling again! He seemed like a decent dude though. Polite and respectful.
Another man held the door open and Phil ran back out into the maelstrom to retrieve the boxes in the back of the truck.
He ended up bringing in about ten boxes. It would take a bit of time to sort them but I had two hours until opening. I ran the store alone but it wasn't even an issue. I enjoyed my job immensely.
The two men drove off and left me to my duties, boy oh boy am I excited.
On top of one of the boxes was a list of the records I got.
(Actual 2015 record store day exclusives)
Brand New's Deja Entendu
Johnny Cash's Koncert V Praze
The Doors's Strange Days
Bob Dylan's The Basement Tapes
Brian Wilson's No Pier Pressure
Siouxsie And The Banshees's Join Hands
The Sex Pistols's Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
(Those are the ones by artists I recognize and by that I mean listen to or have listened to)
Excellent.
YOU ARE READING
Exclusivity
RomanceTara owns a record store in Seattle, WA, the rainiest in the continental United States. Record Store Day comes around once a year and she's ready to have a wonderful day as per usual. But this time it's not her usual.
