The the bookstore is a large single room consisting of seperate aisled sections. These aisles contain items for purchase that the human "student"(person enrolled in an institute of education) could need to get through their day. Some of these items are educational(books), some the implements of art or trade(various papers, pens, paints etc.), while others seem to be offered as comfort and support to weary minded students(candy, candy, candy) or proof that someone actually attends the learning institution itself(who really needs geoduck socks?).
As this space is so packed full of so many different objects, our observations were too many to list in this blog space. Here are a few of the ones that I found the most interesting:
- Although the aisles were far enough apart to allow plenty of room for two people to pass without any contact, anytime the situation arose one or both parties would stand still long enough for the other to pass with the latter invariably muttering "s'cuse me"
- Among the candy located at the front of the store were some "Endangered Species" chocolate bars, with wrappers depicting varios animals. Of these bars, the ones with the most widely renowned "super cute" animals on the wrapper were in shortest supply, while the more fierce or ferocious beasts were well stocked
- By the writing utencils were pads of paper for testing said utencils. Some were covered in seemingly random scribbles, others with one word over and over(most notably the word pen as if the writer was in need of a reminder of what they were trying out), others predominately signatures. One had the statement "this pen works", followed by the question "but does it really work well?" in a different hand. Did this questioner think that the statement giver would at some point come back and give the reassurance that indeed the pen does work well, and therefore should be bought, or maybe that while it did work, it was only a servicable model, not on the level of other superior pens. I am going to the bookstore again today to maybe see if the original pen tester has indeed returned to respond, and will update this story if needed.
- Of the 8 people that I noticed in the bookstore that did not seem to be employees, 5 were walking around with folders and pens observing things carefully with it seemed no clear shopping agenda. The employees eyed these people confusedly.
- There was very little said by anyone as if there was some unspoken rule of conduct that noise is not allowed in a place where books are displayed.
