Bookstore & Chill

Derek

I had a little too much pep in my step when I walked back into the store. MY dad noticed immediately. He grinned as he walked around the counter. "Pop, you supposed to be resting." I fussed. He rolled his eyes. "Did you get my sammich?" He asked. I nodded and handed him his greasy bag. "You know you don't need to be eating that." I said. "Aaah that's a healthy fat, Charlie uses olive oil for my sammiches." I rolled my eyes. This man swears using olive oil on everything is healthier. I went behind the counter and sat on the mahogany stool I kept there for when I needed to rest. Thank God it wasn't too busy right now. "Why you walk in here with that little pep in your step?" He asked as he chewed on his Italian hoagie roll. I shook my head, trying to hide the smile that danced at the corner of my mouth. "Nothing Pop, just happy to finally eat today." I lied. He threw his head back and laughed. "You are something Derek." We both laughed.

    Moments like this with my dad, being able to laugh with him, lying to him even when he could see right through me, were the kind of moments I'm not ready to turn into memories. Last year when my mom passed, I knew immediately I should move back home. I couldn't let Pop live out here alone. I knew his stubborn ass wouldn't move to the city so it was only right I moved back home. I tried to convince my Ex but clearly, she had other plans. other plans as in a plan B if our engagement didn't work out. We broke up and she moved on before I could get the last box from my Condo onto the U-haul. Leaving my job was probably the toughest decision I had to make. It definitely came in above breaking up with Ashley. I worked hard for that shit.  I was finally feeling like I found my place in this crazy world. When Pop told me he had been diagnosed with Cancer a few months before Mom passed, It was a done deal. I had to move home.

    I don't regret it now. Living here made me realize some things. I was forcing that engagement. Ashley wasn't shit. She was disrespectful, bougie as hell, and was really only with me because my job title sounded good when she would tell her girls what I did for a living. Opening this bookstore and having Pop right by side while he battled to stay alive was what was important. Until fine ass Zora dropped from the sky. She really had no business being that beautiful or looking at me the way she looked at me. I mean I've been out of the dating pool for a good five years but I know for sure when a woman is attracted to me. And Zora is definitely feeling me. She thinks she slick by popping in here three times a week for the same damn breakfast. I mean I appreciate the business for sure, I mostly appreciate noticing something about her every visit.

    I finished up my sandwich with a big gulp of water. Wiping down the counter, spraying some Lysol in the air to get rid of the vinegar smell from those good ass chips. "Pop, we need to set up for tonight." I announced as I started on my way to the storage closet, to pull out some tables and chairs. I pride myself on bringing some Millennial flare to this town. When I came back home everything looked about the same. Nothing really had changed besides the tall buildings they were putting up. Bradwood still lacked events for it's younger crowd. I knew for sure that when I opened up this store, that I would cater to the crowd that was in their 20s and 30s. Putting on events that could support networking and just the right amount of ratchet. I loved it. We were recognized by plenty of Black-owned business magazines a few months into servicing the community. Tonight I have my first Open Mic event, crazy enough, we have a good amount of talent.

    I grabbed the few chairs I could and worked my way back to the front. Pop stood behind the register, talking to an older woman that came in here just about every day. She used to be my English teacher in high school. She came here to pick up a new book for her students all the time but I think she's really here because she likes my Pop. I tried my best to go unnoticed as I planned out my layout for tonight. I busied myself with moving the chairs around and setting up the stage. We only had a few more hours before the crowd started to pour in and I had too much on my to-do list to complete. I put my AirPods in my ears and went right to work.