Titles, Inc.: The Chrysler Building

He asked, on the phone, whether I still had the book on the Chrysler Building. He saw it listed on the Internet. "Beautiful building," I murmured to him, scrambling through my mind for such a book in the store. A quick look at my data base did not show the Chrysler Building. But if he saw it listed, it was sitting somewhere. I asked for his phone number so I could call back after I checked the shelves. I explained that it might be either with Architecture or in Americana with New York.

He said, "No, no, I will hold." I was faking when I said it might be under New York. I keep trying to organize the Americana. First we tried alphabetizing the states, and when that didn't work, tried larger sections, The West, The South. Of course that wouldn't work either. What if you were holding a book about California but the only space on the wall was on the lower shelf towards the end. Expediency says you put it in that slot, that of course you will remember it. So the states slid away. Memory does too.

We have taken to describing the book in its data base entry. Short, fat, black, no dust jacket. Shiny silver dust jacket, chartreuse print. I like Ann's entries for skinny books or pamphlets. In private notes she will add, Lots of Luck! We spent some time looking for a book Ann described as having no print on the spine, poop color. Not your typical cataloguer.

No, the Chrysler Building was not there. Neither was it in Architecture. Back on the phone, I had to admit defeat, I do not have a book called The Chrysler Building.

He said, "You have to have it. I have been looking for this for 20 years, and it says you have it. I printed out the listing. It says, Build Your Own Chrysler Building. A construction book, heavy cardboard, 9X12."

"Oh, that Chrysler Building." I turn to see it propped upright on the floor in front of the books. "There it is." He could have wept for joy. "Put my name on it, I'll be right in." That was a bit startling because the orders come in from around the country and around the world. "Where are you?" And he mentions a neighboring suburb. "Isn't that remarkable?" he says, "You are the only one who has it and you are right next door!"

I look at it while I wait for him. It was published in 1980, one of a series of famous world buildings, and is described as an exact, reduced-scale reproduction. It gives the history of the building, its special features. It is on sturdy card stock. To construct this cardboard building, it says, you must have scissors, glue, X-acto knife. It would also be helpful, they advise, to have a metal edges ruler, a toothpick, and a rubber band. To this day, I am trying to figure out the use of the rubber band.

He came in, caressed the book. "20 years. I had them all, the others are all standing. My dog ate the Chrysler Building. He's gone too."

Before he left, he came up to me, and said, "May I?" and embraced me and kissed my cheek.

All this happiness for $30. I just love this bookstore!

---Florence

Comments

Oh FLORENCE ...

Joy unbounded.

:-)

Posted by: Ellen | April 23, 2009 at 05:33 PM

Of course you love your bookstore! Where else can you enjoy the adulation of grateful younger men who kiss you at the slightest
provocation- then give you money to boot.
Governors, rock musicians, pro basketball players all somehow beat a path to your door presumably to buy this book or that book- but the reason they all come is to have you flirt with them as you go through the charade of looking for, then finding books. Maybe you should run for political office? Your understanding husband-Art

Posted by: artshay | April 23, 2009 at 05:49 PM