Itemizing her time, Catherine knew she still needed to stop home to pick up her curling iron, make-up, and such, and deduced her leisure time was slowly dwindling away.
But there was one luxury Catherine was definitely going to allow herself, and that was to stop at her favorite second hand Bookstore.
So as Catherine entered the little shop, the bell above the door jingled, which alerted the book shop owner that a customer had come in.
And so as the owner came around the corner to check out the patron, the pixilated gentleman peered up over the top of his bifocals, and with a wry look pretended not to know Catherine as he said, "Hello, may I help you?"
To which Catherine smiled at this eccentric older fella, whom she had a genuine fondness for, and cheerfully said, “Hi Mr. Smythe, its me, Catherine.”
Teasingly Mr. Smythe dryly responded, “Catherine? Catherine you say? I haven’t seen you in so long, I barely recognized you!”
To which Catherine argued, “Oh Mr. Smythe. It hasn’t been that long, it has been 5 maybe 6 weeks at the most.”
In reply, Mr. Smythe argued, “Still too long for me. Tell me, why is it the dowdy types seem to find time to frequent my shop, sometimes once, twice maybe even thrice times per week?”
Catherine laughed at his question, and just shook her head speechless for an answer.
Mr. Smythe then raised his head to look down through his glasses at her, and kindly asked, “What can I help you with today my Dear?”
To which Catherine eagerly answered, “Well I would love to find a first edition book that has a particular poem by William Wordsworth. The poem was recited at a memorial service for a family friend of mine, and there is a line that has stayed with me, and it haunts me still.”
Wanting to help, Mr. Smythe curiously inquired, “What is the name of the poem Catherine?”
Apologetically, Catherine said, “That's a problem, because I’m not sure...”
Scratching his chin, Mr. Smythe then suggested, “Well, recite the line...the line you say touched you so. Perhaps that would be helpful.”
Catherine winced, as she thought, and then recalled, “Well I will do my best, the line I liked so much, went something like, “the worst pang that sorrow…”
Happy he knew the poem, Mr. Smythe confidently said, “Ah yes… let’s see… it goes…“That thought’s return was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore”
Mr. Smythe then informed Catherine, rather matter-of-factly, “The poem is “Surprised by Joy—Impatient as the wind.”
Surprised he figured it out with so little to go on, Catherine looked at him in amazement and excitedly said, "That's it!"
And then Catherine with hope, asked, “Do you have it on hand Mr. Smythe?”
To which he mysteriously replied, “Yes, and No!”
With a furrowed brow, Catherine asked, “How can that be Mr. Smythe?”
With a gentile tone, he explained, “Well, you see Catherine, I do have the “First Edition” right here.”
Mr. Smythe then held up the book, as if he were giving a demonstration, and regretfully continued, “But I am holding it for a very loyal, but elusive patron, who is due to pick it up this very day.”
Sorrowfully, Catherine fatefully asked, “What are the odds of someone else requesting the same book I wanted?”
Mr. Smythe whole-heartedly agreed with Catherine. The odds were great. He then, with a faraway look thought aloud, “Yes, it is strange really. This book has been here for quite some time, and now, I have two people in the same day requesting it. But yet, though the odds are staggering, it is not surprising.”
Upon hearing Mr. Smythe's synopsis, Catherine stood spell bound by Mr. Smythe’s eerie demeanor. And so hesitantly she inquired, “How do you mean, it is not surprising?”
Because of Catherine's query, Mr. Smythe's eyes came back into focus as he looked back at Catherine, and with a hushed voice, revealed, “Every Halloween something, shall I say, magically peculiar happens surrounding one of the old masters works!”
Meanwhile, a wide-eyed Catherine, tried to realistically reconcile this coincidence by suggesting, “...maybe Mr. Wordsworth’s “Surprised by Joy” has merely touched someone else like it did me.”
Mr. Smythe widened his eyes too, but it was to enforce the point he was just about to make, by saying, “That could have been a reasonable explanation, however Catherine, it was a different poem the other patron was struck by, and it was, “A Night-Piece.”
Feeling astonished, Catherine took in a gulp of air, and softly said, “I see…”
It was then Mr. Smythe thought to suggest a slightly inferior option, and so he kindly offered, “You know dear child...I do have a “First Traded Edition" on hand if you like..."
To which Catherine happily said, “First Traded Edition”? Oh yes Mr. Smythe. It isn’t a gift or anything, its just for me, so that would be fine.”
With a nod, Mr. Smythe replied, “May I ask you to hold down the shop for me? It will take a moment to find it...however I shall return as quickly as I can.”
Happy to help, Catherine answered she would love to, and so she slipped off her coat, and began to browse about the little counter, checking out the vintage methods of shopkeeping Mr. Smythe still used. Smiling to herself, as she thought yes, this old ink pad and stamper suits this shop perfectly.
Just then the bell above the door jingled as another patron entered the shop!
Meantime Catherine, who was standing at the desk, thought, "Oh good, I have a customer."
But before she looked up, the shopper saw her first, and as the man looked again, he squinted for a moment, thinking the clerk looked like Catherine! And so with surprise, he questionably spoke her name, saying, “Cathy?”
As Catherine looked up, the man declared, “It IS you!! What are you doing? Moonlighting? And more importantly, does your Dad know?”
Catherine laughed as she saw it was not only a close family friend, but her family's doctor as well!Yes, and how he loves to boast he was the doctor who delivered Catherine into the world!
And so Catherine warmly said, “Hello Peter!”
Catherine then came around the counter to give him a hug, and continued, “I’m not actually working, I'm just watching the counter while Mr. Smythe finds a book for me. Although I have to say, a job here would be more stimulating then my day job at the firm. I think it would be heaven working here amongst all these treasures!”
Upon hearing Catherine speak of her love of books, Peter smiled to himself as he thought about his book-loving, secretive secluded friend, Vincent Wells, and thought how he would love it there too!
And so under his breath, Peter replied, "For you, and for someone else I know.”
To which Catherine asked, "What was that?"
Not wanting to elaborate any further about his secret acquaintance, Peter cleared his voice and said, "Awe nothing kiddo...err you say you are picking up a book uh?"
To which Catherine then explained, “Yes I am, and Mr. Smythe is finding it in back room, but what about you? Are you needing to pick up a medical reference journal?”
Humorously, Peter then stated with a note of astonishment, “A medical journal? From here? I am afraid the only journal of medicine I could find here, would be a module on blood-letting from the medieval era!”
Catherine laughed at Peter, whom she loved dearly, and agreeably said, “I suppose you are right!”
And then with curiosity, Catherine asked, "So if not a medical journal..."
To which Peter went on to explain, “I am actually here to pick up a book that is being held...”
When just then, Mr. Smythe came rushing up to show Catherine his find! And so unknowingly he interrupted, saying, “Here we are Catherine, and I believe you will be pleased…”
Upon seeing Peter, Mr. Smythe politely asked, “Oh my...we have a live one! May I help you?”
In reply, Peter said, “Yes. I am here to pick up a book order. You are holding “Wordsworth.”
To which Mr. Smythe efficiently responded, “Why yes, I have it right here.”
Mr. Smythe then turned to Catherine and urged, “Catherine if you want to plead your case for the “First Edition” copy, here’s your chance.”
To which Catherine astonishingly asked, “Peter! YOU…you are the one picking up “William Wordsworth’s Complete Poetical Works”?”
Peter then asked for clarification as he inquired, “Yes, why? You don’t mean you wanted this book too?”
Still surprised, Catherine said, “Why yes I did! I wanted to find a copy of the beautiful poem that was read at Jerry’s Fathers Memorial service. Do you remember how moving it was? Anyway it was so beautiful, and all I knew was it was by Wordsworth!”
Then Catherine complimented Mr. Smythe by telling Peter, “I didn’t know the name of the poem, I could only remember part of a verse. However Mr. Smythe was not only able to tell me the name, but recite it as well!”
To which Mr. Smythe blushed as he said, “Yes the poem was “Surprised by Joy.”
Recognizing the name, Peter nodded his head as he remembered the poem, and said, “Surprised by Joy”…yes that was quite moving.”
Catherine was still so amazed by the coincidences surrounding this book, continued. “When Mr. Smythe told me someone else ordered this very same book, well, I couldn’t believe the coincidence. But now it is even more unbelievable the other person who asked for this book, is you!”
Meanwhile, Mr. Smythe looked on being quite entertained by all of this, and then in an amused fashion said, “Well…Here you are Mr. Wells, and may I say it is a pleasure to finally meet you!”
Mr. Smythe continued onward, informing Catherine, “You see Catherine, Mr. Wells has placed several orders with me! However I have yet to meet him. It is always a different contact of sorts picking up. So this is indeed a treat to meet the man behind the many cultural minded requests!”
A very perplexed Peter repeated, “WELLS? Oh no I am not Mr. Wells. I am merely picking this up for him. Otherwise Cathy if it were up to me, the book would be yours, but I am afraid Mr. Wells is counting on this book very much!”
Catherine then said to both the men, “The “First traded” edition is really just fine for me, I am just so thrilled I will be able to own a copy at all.”
Suspiciously, Catherine turned to Peter with an accusing look and asked, “So, who is this Mr. Wells? Do I know him?”
Guiltily, Peter looked away from Catherine, while paying Mr. Smythe, and mysteriously said, “Uh NO Cathy. I am sure you have never met him.”
Catherine, then hopefully asked, “Is he single?”
To which Peter repeated, “Single, why yes he is, but I…”
In trying to get some info, Catherine then teased, “Peter, you mean to tell me, you know a single cultural guy, and you haven’t introduced me to him yet? Honestly!"
Peter broke into a sweat realizing he somehow managed to pique Catherine’s interest in this mysterious Mr. Wells!
Desperately, he back-peddled a little as he casually tossed out, “I just never thought...you see I… I thought you were seeing Tom!”
To which Catherine informatively said, “We broke up months ago!”
Then letting him off the hook, she laughed as she said, “But don’t worry. I happen to have a serious aversion to Blind Dates.”
Looking at her watch, Catherine then anxiously said, “In fact speaking of dates, I better get going! I have a date with Dad tonight. We are going to the Masquerade Party that is being given in honor of THE Brigit O’Donnell, and I promised I would not be late.”
Peter heaved a sigh of relief, as the subject of this cultural bachelor he knows, was dropped, and hopefully will be forgotten. Yes! Crisis averted!
Peter then also realized he must be more careful! He did not want to betray his oath of secrecy to Mr. Wells, or rather Vincent, and to all the others below in the tunnels, not even to his dear sweet little Cathy.
So, with the angst set aside for now, Peter also looked at his watch, and urgently said, "Yes, look at the time, I have ta go too!"
And so he thanked Mr. Smythe again, and with a fatherly hug, said he hoped she will have a good time tonight, and to tell her Dad hello for him.
To which Catherine affectionately hugged back, and promised, "I will Peter..."
And then with a giggle, Catherine added, "...and please tell Mr. Wells, your single cultural FEMALE friend, hopes he enjoys his book."
And because Catherine brought up Mr. Wells again, this caused Peter to stammer as he feigned a laugh, and said he would tell him! Peter then waved as he told them both goodbye.
Catherine then turned her attention back to Mr. Smythe and as she paid her bill, she said, "Well that was sure a coincidence!"
To which Mr. Smythe cryptically responded, "Was it now?"
Catherine looked back at the once again day-dreaming fella, and decided not to ask anything more! And so she instead, simply thanked Mr. Smythe for all his help.
To which Mr. Smythe responded, "You are most welcome Dear Girl, and my wish to you is that your book may bring some joy to your life, and I predict, it will bring a little magic to your life as well..."
Upon hearing Mr. Smythe's prediction, Catherine who already had her hand on the doorknob to leave, stopped in her tracks, and turned around as she felt something come over her, a feeling, a kind of a “Deja-Vu-ish” feeling.
And so with a look of wonder, she looked back at the Dear man, and after shaking off the funny feeling, she answered, “Thank you Mr. Smythe, see you soon. Oh and Happy Halloween."
Catherine then passed through the opened door, and had to smile as the tingling bells sounded.
Stepping out now into the swift October wind, with coveted book in hand, Catherine continued on with her errands.
Next stop was the Costume shop, then onto her apartment to pickup some things, and to drop off her new Wordsworth treasure!
And then Catherine thought, "I may have to take a moment to check out the poem Peter's Mr. Wells likes so much."