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I just remembered this story. It happened several years ago but the details have stuck in my mind.
So after checking in, I head over to my shift in the Children’s Department. It was fairly busy with lots of kids and parents. I noticed two “ladies” standing in front of juvenile fiction with sour expressions on their faces. With them was a boy about 9-10 years old. As I came in, the coworker I was relieving whispered to me “Don’t sell them any book reports.” Making good his escape, I barely had time to ponder his words before the women approached me.
Me: should be obvious
L: apparently the mother of the boy
OL: the boy’s grandmother
B: boy who looked like he couldn’t care less
L: “Where are your book reports?”
Me: (Not quite understanding) “Do you mean book synopses? We have Sparknotes…”
L: (interrupting) “No, I mean book reports that can be turned in for school.”
Me: (Aha! So that’s what he meant.) “…We…don’t sell those…”
OL: “What?! You mean he has to read a book himself?
Me:
L: “What store around here sells book reports?”
Me: “No store that I know of has book reports for sale.”
OL: (To B)“I’m sorry honey, the mean book lady says you have to actually read the book yourself.”
B: (Appears to ignore them both)
L: (Sighing with aggravation) “Alright then, what’s a historical fiction book set in (obscure time period) that’s less than a 100 pages?”
Me:
“I’m sorry ma’am, the fiction section is organized by author’s last name and not by genre. Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything; I’m afraid you’re going to have to browse.” (edges away)
OL: (overheard as I fled) “We should complain to a manager. It’s ridiculous that people can’t buy book reports here – he actually has to read them himself!”
I could have helped them look but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
What type of ignorant irresponsible cretin would waltz into a bookstore and get upset that the company will not knowingly help someone cheat? If I had the phone number of that boy’s teacher I would have given him/her a call. Just thinking about this still makes me mad. 
So after checking in, I head over to my shift in the Children’s Department. It was fairly busy with lots of kids and parents. I noticed two “ladies” standing in front of juvenile fiction with sour expressions on their faces. With them was a boy about 9-10 years old. As I came in, the coworker I was relieving whispered to me “Don’t sell them any book reports.” Making good his escape, I barely had time to ponder his words before the women approached me.
Me: should be obvious
L: apparently the mother of the boy
OL: the boy’s grandmother
B: boy who looked like he couldn’t care less
L: “Where are your book reports?”
Me: (Not quite understanding) “Do you mean book synopses? We have Sparknotes…”
L: (interrupting) “No, I mean book reports that can be turned in for school.”
Me: (Aha! So that’s what he meant.) “…We…don’t sell those…”
OL: “What?! You mean he has to read a book himself?
Me:
L: “What store around here sells book reports?”
Me: “No store that I know of has book reports for sale.”
OL: (To B)“I’m sorry honey, the mean book lady says you have to actually read the book yourself.”
B: (Appears to ignore them both)
L: (Sighing with aggravation) “Alright then, what’s a historical fiction book set in (obscure time period) that’s less than a 100 pages?”
Me:
“I’m sorry ma’am, the fiction section is organized by author’s last name and not by genre. Off the top of my head I can’t think of anything; I’m afraid you’re going to have to browse.” (edges away)OL: (overheard as I fled) “We should complain to a manager. It’s ridiculous that people can’t buy book reports here – he actually has to read them himself!”
I could have helped them look but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
What type of ignorant irresponsible cretin would waltz into a bookstore and get upset that the company will not knowingly help someone cheat? If I had the phone number of that boy’s teacher I would have given him/her a call. Just thinking about this still makes me mad.
that is beyond words.
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