Learning to Love Reading

The bell over the door made John look up from the book he was reading. He put a bookmark between the pages and tucked it back under the table. He pasted a smile on his face and stepped out from behind the counter.

“Welcome in, can I help you find your next adventure?”

The young man who had entered chuckled. “Not really looking for an adventure. Just need to find this book my girlfriend said I have to read. It’s about a guy called Martin and he owns a ranch. I don’t remember what it’s called. She said it was real popular like five years ago. Does that ring any bells?”

John smiled. “It does. It’s a great read. Walking in Woodhaven by Joseph Jackson. Your girlfriend’s got good taste. I have a couple copies over here.” John guided the boy to the right section and pulled down a paperback from the top shelf. “I don’t think we have it in hardback right now, so this is your best bet… unless you want the eBook. We don’t have it but I can check with one of the bigger stores in town.”

The young man took the book with a smile. “Thanks man. I don’t have one of those reader things so this is perfect. I’m not much of a reader but Jenny said I needed to read the book that turned her life around.” He used his fingers to make quotation marks. “So it’s worth reading? And I won’t fall asleep like I did with every book my teachers made me read?”

John laughed. “I doubt it. It kept my attention when I read it. But then again, I own a used bookstore so most books hold my attention.”

“Wow. You own this place? You’re like my age! How did that happen, bro?”

John Baker looked younger than he really was. At the age of 30 he was often mistaken for a high school student thanks to his inability to grow a decent beard and his battle with acne even as an adult. His dad was the manager at a coffee shop and his mom worked at the library. He learned how to run a business at dad’s place and to appreciate books at his mom’s side since he was young. Thanks to the inheritance from mom’s dad, John put his loves together and bought the old corner shop when the hardware store went out of business. On the shelves that were home to nails, screws and paintbrushes in the past now held books of all kinds that John had found at garage sales or online. The place wasn’t huge but he did enough business to pay his rent and car payment and still had enough to hire a part-time salesperson. Living in a college town meant he was constantly seeing new customers.

“I bought this place just after I graduated from university a few years ago. When I was just about your age probably. You’re a college boy right?”

The boy smiled. “Almost. I’m starting at State in the fall. I’m only seventeen. I’m Emilio Cortes.”

“Good to meet you Emilio. I’m John Baker. I hope you enjoy this one. If you do and you want something else to read, he wrote another one with the same characters. Oh, but if you’re not much of a reader, you might not want more.”

Emilio shrugged. “Who knows? If it’s as good as Jenny says I might be back. Thanks, John.”

John didn’t think about the interaction again until a week later when the bell rang again. He was shelving a new set of books he’d purchased at an auction in the nearby city when he walked to the front of the shop. The girl he’d hired to work the register was greeting the customer when he walked up.

“Oh, that would be John. He’s in the back. Want me to go get him?”

“No need, Erin. I’m right here? What can I do for you… Emilio?!”

Emilio looked up and smiled. “Hey John. I’m back. I finished the book. You were right… and so was Jenny. It was great. And I actually enjoyed reading a book for the first time since Dr. Seuss!”

“That’s awesome, man. I love when I find a new reader! You know this isn’t a library. You didn’t have to bring it back when you finished it.”

Emilio laughed. “I know. I just remembered that you said there was another book about Martin that this guy wrote. I want to read it too now.”

John smiled and led Emilio back to the section where they’d picked up the first book. He pulled a book from the same shelf down and held it out to the younger man. “This is it. I’m sorry there aren’t any more in the series. But I love that you want to read more.”

Emilio took the book and looked at the other books on the shelf where John had pulled this one. “Can you maybe recommend something else I might like too? I really liked the western feel that wasn’t all about cowboys. Maybe you know of more like these?”

John turned to another shelf and pulled down a couple other books. “This one is also about a ranch but it’s not the shoot-em-up Wild West type. And this one is more history based… about how settlers learned to live in the harsh winters when the railroads were built. That second one is one of my favorites because it’s where my grandpa grew up in Montana.”

Emilio took the second book. “No way. My family is from Montana too! We’ve only been in Virginia for about ten years. Mom’s great grandpa or whatever actually worked for the railroads back then. This should be good!”

The two walked back to the counter to find Erin talking to another customer. “Jenny!” Emilio shouted excitedly. “What are you doing here?”

The short dark-haired girl turned and smiled. “This is where I get all my books. I didn’t know you even knew about this place, Em. I should be asking you why you’re in here.”

John reached out and pulled the girl into an embrace. “Jennifer! I never would have guessed the Jenny my new favorite customer was dating was you.” He stepped back out of the hug and grinned at her. “Your boyfriend is getting the second book by Jackson. You’ve turned him into a reader, sweetheart!”

Emilio looked back and forth between his girlfriend and the man who owned the bookshop. “Wait a minute. How do you know Jenny? And why is he calling you sweetheart?”

Jenny giggled. “John’s my cousin. Twice removed or second cousin I think. Something like that. His mom’s my dad’s cousin. We grew up playing together, when he had time for his younger relations and wasn’t being too cool for us kids.”

John rolled his eyes. “One time! I left family time and went to my friend’s birthday party! You never let me forget it!” He elbowed Jenny with a chuckle. “Emilio, I’m ten years older than my cousins and most of the time I played with them without a problem. Then I missed one game night and this one acts like I was never around.”

Emilio shook his head. “Jenny, you should be glad he was there at all. I have cousins that are older and they never hung out with me when I was growing up. At least John obviously cares about you. Family is what you’ll have forever.”

Jenny kissed Emilio on the cheek. “Oh, don’t worry babe. He knows I’m just teasing him. I agree that family is the best. And I’m lucky to have him so close even now that we’re grown up!” She took the book from her boyfriend’s hand. “Ooh! This is a good one. He recommended it didn’t he? He loves it as much as you will, I’m sure.”

“He did. I think I’m gonna like it… and whatever else he tells me I should read.” Emilio paid for his two new books and left the store hand-in-hand with his girlfriend.

Over the next few months, Emilio was in John’s store every weekend finding his next book. He started taking classes at the college in his newly chosen major of Modern Literature. He accepted a part-time position at the bookstore to help him pay for school and to start saving for the engagement ring he planned to purchase for Jenny. And all of that happened because a girl told her boyfriend he needed to read a certain book. It led him to a little bookstore where he found a new friend and his love of reading.