Chapter 60 Owen
P er usual, Grace has the new young adult releases I ordered waiting in a bag behind the counter for me.
“I’m assuming you’ll browse the other new titles, but I wanted to let you know that I was able to request an extra signed copy from a couple of authors and made sure to get those in your order.” She points to the “Local Authors” display. “We also have copies left from last night’s signing. Several of your students said how much you talked about the event beforehand, so the author and I thank you for the turnout.”
“That’s fantastic they made it,” I tell her, feeling warm inside that my students are connecting with authors and their stories. “And thank you, as always, for tossing in the signed copies when you can. Sometimes that’s what gets them to try a new genre.”
The “Local Authors” section now takes over an entire bookshelf instead of just the top half. I grab a couple of the adult titles for myself and two more for the classroom.
My phone chimes while I’m reading the back of a horror story a couple of students mentioned the other day. I set the small stack of books I’ve accumulated already down and fish my phone out of my pocket.
Brandon: I won’t tell you the details of their conversation, don’t worry, but Andi told me about the job. I hope it’s okay that I said you talked to me about it.
It feels more real now that Andi also told Brandon. I appreciate that he remembered my request to not know any details Andi got. I want to make sure that Poppy and Andi have their confidentiality while not having him feel like he’s in any way obligated to fill me in about what his wife then tells him. He’s always wanting everyone to be happy. But Poppy and I will, hopefully, talk some more soon.
Owen: Thanks. It’s totally fine that you told her we talked about it.
Brandon: We’re hoping you two can figure this out. You’ve both been so much more smiley since you got together.
A quiet snort escapes me. No one calls me a gump or anything, but I didn’t know someone would describe me as “smiley” at any point.
Owen: I hope we can too.
Owen: As much as I want to be here, I can’t ask her to give up this opportunity.
Brandon: And you need to be honest with yourself if moving to another big city is really what you want.
Owen: Exactly. Especially one that’s so far away from you guys and my parents.
Brandon: And we are pretty phenomenal to live near.
Owen: No question.
Brandon: Just let me know if you want to get a drink or something, okay?
Owen: Probably soon.
Brandon: Deal. Just say the word and we can have James and Graham there too.
Poppy doesn’t seem to have been given any sort of timeline for telling Sally her decision, but that doesn’t mean we have months to talk this through. My gut twists a little because I just don’t see how this would work well. At some point, it seems like I’ll have to choose between this little life in Honey Cove near my extended family I’m growing closer to while not being too far from my parents and going to Toronto with Poppy. I quickly set a reminder in my phone to look up requirements for teachers in Canada and if any pieces of my license might transfer over because I assume I’ll need to take at least some coursework to teach there. It feels wrong to not have my options researched.
She hasn’t explicitly asked me to move with her if she takes the job though. But maybe she hasn’t asked because she’s afraid I’d need to say no? That I don’t want to be in another big city.
Realizing I’ve been standing here, staring at my phone, I like Brandon’s last message, shove my phone back into my pocket, and take my books to the counter. All I want to do right now is to hang out with Samson while learning about requirements for being a licensed teacher in Toronto. Honestly, it’s already stressing me out to think about going through the process for another license and now I’m worrying about how long it would take to get a license just so I could be qualified for a potential job there.
“I wanted to mention that young adult audiobook purchases have increased dramatically recently and I have even gotten phone calls from parents requesting titles for their kids. A few have mentioned your name, so that’s just another thing I have to thank you for.” Grace puts the additional books into the bags she set aside for me as I pay.
“Can I share that with the school admin team?”
She gives me a confused look.
“I was able to pilot an audiobook program this year,” I explain. “I know that we can’t lend those through you, but I would love to be able to include how there might be a direct correlation between the school providing access to the required reading on audio and continued enjoyment.”
“Oh, absolutely,” she says. “If it might help in any way to keep the program going, I can send you sales data, no customer information of course.”
“That would be really fascinating, actually. I could definitely use it in my write-up at the end of the school year discussing the impact it’s having.” My thoughts are already churning for making the case to expand the program to the district sooner than planned if the data is compelling enough. “Are you finding that narrators are playing a role in what people are purchasing, or is it more about a specific genre within young adult?”
“A mix, really, within young adult fiction. I can get some of that data broken down easily for you. I already do that for reporting for best seller lists. But, there has been an increase in non-fiction, too, particularly audiobooks on mindfulness, and a few related to the college admissions process written for teens.”
“I’ll have to let Noah know about that.”
Grace blushes. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned him before and now I’m wondering if I’ve missed something with my good friend. He hasn’t mentioned anyone lately and he’s been more open about trying to date a little more. I don’t know Grace well enough to try to arrange something like Noah did with Poppy and me, but I’m definitely curious how that might go.