Stocking the Library

Borders is going out of business. I feel bad for Borders.

I do.

But today it was good for me.

I went to a Borders outside of Philly, looking for three books: Light in August, Twelfth Night and Othello. These are three books that I want to reread for the play I am working on. These are three books I was going to get when I went to my dad's house last week.

Irene, I am still bitter.

Anyway, I found a Borders with a huge "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sign. I pulled in hoping people wouldn't want to stock up on Shakespeare and Faulkner.

Within five minutes it became obvious to me that Faulkner was a hot item, which makes sense. How many high schoolers may have to read Faulkner? If I were a parent, I would hit up Borders like nobody's business.

After 20 minutes, I finally found the four small shelves of plays. Twelfth Night was there. Othello was not.

I stood in front of the shelves and my eyes were drawn to several books. Pinter's Betrayal. It is one of my favorite plays (may even be my favorite play) and has had a huge influence on me as a playwright. I smiled when I saw it and a little voice went off in the back of my head.

You already have this play.

And then another voice entered. No, actually, you don't.

So I threw it in my basket.

Then there was Waiting for Godot.

Which I still haven't read. Seen but never read. Yes, I somehow graduated with a degree in theater without reading this play. Don't judge me. I'll read it tomorrow. Promise.

Then Stoppard, Ibsen, Churchill, Shepard, Miller, Chekov, Mamet and more Shakespeare.

All in my basket.

I found All the King's Men, one of my favorite books. I will miss my copy though--with the notes in the margins.

And a book of essays by Kundera. Something new.

In my basket.

I felt like an extreme couponer adding to my stockpile. Like someone stocking a library. A new library. My new library. I felt all powerful! I turned my fist towards the heavens to show Mother Nature that I wouldn't let her get me down! Five minutes later I was done. 19 items. Less than $100. The receipt says I saved $184.70. Take that extreme couponers! Take it!

I still have a long way to go. (Female playwrights, I will be paying full price for you). I still need Light in August and Othello. Perhaps I should get on getting a library membership. To, like, a real library...