The Bookshop on the Corner Read Online Free PDF Page A

folded out. It looked retro and rather lovely, and best of all, there was plenty of space for shelving inside, a leftover from the bread van it had once been. It was gorgeous.
    â€œWell, good luck,” said Griffin, pointing at the small print. “Look! It’s in Scotland.”

Chapter Three
    C athy Neeson had everyone in individually to look at “core skills development.” It wasn’t an interview. Of course it wasn’t. What it was, truly, was cold-blooded torture, but of course nobody could say that. Nina was quivering with nerves by the time she got into the room.
    Cathy looked up as if she didn’t recognize her (which she didn’t, as she had a child with whooping cough whom she’d settled at 3 A.M. ), which didn’t fill Nina with confidence. She glanced quickly at her notes.
    â€œAh, Nina,” she said. “Nice to see you.”
    She looked again at her paperwork and frowned slightly.
    â€œSo, you’ve enjoyed working at the library, yes?”
    Nina nodded. “Yes, very much.”
    â€œBut you must be excited by our new direction, no?”
    â€œI found the team-building course really helpful,” Nina said. To be honest, she had thought of little else since. Of how the van might look, parked, inviting and sparkling, and what she might put inside, and how big a collection she would need to have agood chance of stocking the kinds of things people might like, and where she could source other secondhand books when the library had been totally cleared, and . . .
    She realized she’d drifted off and that Cathy Neeson was staring at her intently.
    (Cathy Neeson hated this part of her job so much she wanted to stab it. The idea was to gently dissuade unsuitable candidates from applying and save the interview process some time. But the truth was, Cathy wasn’t sure the noisy
Apprentice
-style kids who seemed to get all the jobs these days were what they really needed. A nice manner and a level head would surely get you much farther. But that didn’t cut much ice with the big cheeses, who liked flashy mission statements and loud, confident remarks.)
    â€œSo are you still thinking of applying?”
    â€œWhy?” said Nina, a look of panic crossing her face. “Shouldn’t I?”
    Cathy Neeson sighed. “Just think about how your core skill set would fit in,” she said blandly. “And . . . good luck.”
    What the hell does that mean? thought Nina, stumbling up to go.

    Nina was still obsessing over the small ads for vans when she ought to have been preparing for the interview, but couldn’t find anything even vaguely as nice as this one elsewhere. It just felt right, with its funny little nose and its curved roof. There was nothing for it. She was going to have to go to Scotland.
    Griffin came up behind her, squinting.
    â€œYou cannot be serious,” he said.
    â€œI just want to have a look,” she protested. “It’s just a thought.”
    â€œTime’s running a bit short for thoughts,” said Griffin. “Uh, could I ask you something?”
    â€œWhat?” said Nina, instantly wary.
    â€œCould you look over this application for me?” He looked shamefaced.
    â€œGriffin, you know I’m going for the same job!”
    â€œUh-huh. But you’re so much better at this stuff than me.”
    â€œWell, why wouldn’t I totally just tell you all the wrong things to write and make you put in a really terrible application?”
    â€œBecause you’re too nice to do that.”
    â€œMaybe I’ve just been lulling you into a false sense of security.”
    â€œFor four years?”
    â€œMaybe!”
    â€œNah,” said Griffin, with a complacent look that made Nina want to spill her coffee on him. “You’re too sweet. Too sweet not to help me, and too sweet to drive a truck.”
    â€œYou reckon?” said Nina.
    â€œYup.”
    He pushed over the forms.