Boo Hiss Read Online Free PDF

planned the move. She had ideas down to every last detail. Huge posters hung from the ceiling. Recessed lighting added a homey glow. And there was aisle after glorious aisle of every bookimaginable. Mrs. Downey was right. There was nothing on earth like it. Right here, in Skary, Indiana, was the most unique bookstore on the planet.
    There was even a computer that scanned the bar codes and rang up the price.
    But his favorite part of it all was the fact that this old grocery store, abandoned ever since the new Wal-Mart had arrived the next county over, was in use again. And it still looked like a grocery store, which was Mrs. Downey’s vision for it all. It was pure genius.
    Hardy looked at his watch. It was time for their grand opening! Outside he could see curious people milling about, trying to get a glimpse into one of the windows. “Dustin! It’s time! Open the doors!”
    Dustin didn’t have a lot of expressions, but even he looked excited as he trailed over to the door, the bottoms of his jeans dusting the floor. He stood just right so the automatic doors sensed his presence and slid quietly open. “Come on in,” Dustin said to the crowd of about forty. Some were Hardy’s usual customers, including Wolfe, who gave him a hearty wave. Some were new customers, and that delighted him even more.
    “Welcome, my friends,” Hardy said as they gathered around him. “Welcome to the new location of Booky’s, where we will now meet all your reading needs! Dustin, why don’t you start passing out the maps.”
    While Dustin passed them out, Hardy continued to explain the layout of the store. “Folks, grab a buggy and get ready to read. Over here”—he gestured—”is the vegetable section. Here you will find all our books on nutrition, as well as some healthy cookbooks. At the dairy section, you’ll see a nice assortment of books such as
How to Milk Life for All It’s Worth
and other popular books like
Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk.
Over where the cheese used to be you’ll find the bodice rippers. Butsome of the more serious romances you will find where the flowers used to be stocked.
    “In the meats section, you’ll find the philosophy and Christian living books. The Bibles are where the breads were. And in the old pet supply section, you’ll find a great variety of books on animals. The gift books are where the condiments used to be. All thrillers, suspense, and horror are back in the butcher’s corner. However, you’ll find the mysteries on the foreign food aisle. And for those of you looking for the classics or literary fiction, a fine selection awaits you in gourmet foods. Pop fiction is on the soda aisle.
    “And,” Hardy said with a final grin, “if you’d like some coffee, we have some fresh and hot over on the coffee aisle!” Everyone looked enthusiastic, so he said, “Go shop and enjoy yourself. We have some couches and reading chairs at the back of the store too.”
    Everyone dispersed except Wolfe, who walked toward him and shook his hand. “Hardy, this is terrific. What an idea!”
    “Thanks, Wolfe. Glad you could make it.”
    “I was wondering if you could help me out with something.”
    “Sure. Anything.” Hardy tried to ignore the way Wolfe apparently felt the need to bounce on the balls of his feet at this moment. Maybe it was a writer thing.
    “Have you heard of religious fiction?”
    “Sure. Curiously, I’ve been having a hard time placing these in my store.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, I don’t know. I had them over by the breads, and then moved them over to the meats. You won’t find any by the cheeses. The butcher block seemed kind of extreme. The freezer might send out the wrong signal. I don’t know. Do you have any suggestions?”
    “Not really. I’m just familiarizing myself with it now. So where’d you put them?”
    Hardy grimaced. “Well, in the cereal aisle.” “The cereal? Why?”
    “Because it’s fortified with good stuff. Dustin suggested the canned foods, but