The thing about fourth quarter in a bookstore

The thing about fourth quarter is it’s not just that it’s busy. It’s busy in a way that leaves no room for anything else. I had time. I came home after work and had hours ahead of me. I worked late some nights, sure, but mostly I closed at 5 or 6 and came home and collapsed on the couch and my husband fed me dinner and he did the dishes while I just sat there and read or watched TV. Maybe I went to a couple of my sons’ basketball games. But mostly I had nothing to do in the evenings. And I couldn’t really do anything. The days are a constant barrage of customers and phone calls and online orders and following up on orders and there’s no break and so when it’s finally over, all I can do is sit quietly and not talk or think or do.