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My oddest visit to a used bookstore
A little creepy but worth the story
I remember that summer well. It was 2020, a time when nothing was normal and doing anything outside your house felt rebellious. The masks shoved into pockets, ready to be put on at a moment’s notice. The odd respect for personal space that everyone had, which is literally the only thing I miss about that time, and the atmosphere of discord, isolation, and fear.
But some things were still the same. I still had friends, and one in particular who was ready to go on adventures involving coffee and books. Sarah and I have managed to maintain our friendship for over twenty years.
The hour drive between us made it difficult for us to see each other regularly, which made our get-together that summer even more significant. We contemplated going to Barnes and Noble, which was one of our favorite spots. But Sarah had heard of this used bookstore that wasn’t too far of a drive. It seemed like an excellent opportunity. At the time, I was working on moving out of my parents’ house into an apartment. If I was going to be on my own, there were some books I needed to secure.
We opted in for the adventure, making sure to get coffee before we hit the road.
The place was called The Book Barn, and it was exactly what it sounded like. Well, to…
