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ravenOhmygodohmygod.
I got to Pritchards about a quarter to twelve, and the queue was already stretching halfway round the shop and to the door. Paddy let me in, gave me a wink and dragged me along to the counter. I had the job of crossing off names, stacking books and putting them into the special Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix bags they'd got from the publishers. The girls at the front of the queue were in Gryffindor robes, and this guy from the Southport Visitor snapped pictures of them and of Tony, Paddy, James and me. I doubt we'll be in the newspaper but we just might be!
James rang up the speaking clock at a minute to twelve. We all counted down from ten together, gave a cheer and started handing out books. I took in so many names I lost count, and by this time the queue was stretching out into the street and down towards the post office. Pritchards was the only place lit up in the entire village. We just kept on handing out books and commenting on costumes, although Tony did get up on a chair and shout, "Who do you think will finish it first?"
Universal consensus - me.
The bags ran out after about a hundred customers, so they put aside the last one for me, and after about half an hour, the queue slowed down to a trickle of slower people and people panicking because they hadn't registered in advance - that wasn't a problem in the event, they just paid up their money and got their books. They ran out of adult copies - that was the only thing that went wrong, despite the fact we had an actual police presence. At half twelve, the flood of people had just about stopped. Tony picked up the last bag, with book inside, and presented it to me with a flourish. He wouldn't let me pay for it, said it was for all my help, and then Pedar arrived, so I bid goodbye and started babbling to him like an idiot.
When I got home, I looked in the bag, pulled out the book and found one of the shop's promotional posters in it as well. It's been written on:
"To Iona,
Thanks for your help,
love,
Tony and all."
I'm walking on air.
I got to Pritchards about a quarter to twelve, and the queue was already stretching halfway round the shop and to the door. Paddy let me in, gave me a wink and dragged me along to the counter. I had the job of crossing off names, stacking books and putting them into the special Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix bags they'd got from the publishers. The girls at the front of the queue were in Gryffindor robes, and this guy from the Southport Visitor snapped pictures of them and of Tony, Paddy, James and me. I doubt we'll be in the newspaper but we just might be!
James rang up the speaking clock at a minute to twelve. We all counted down from ten together, gave a cheer and started handing out books. I took in so many names I lost count, and by this time the queue was stretching out into the street and down towards the post office. Pritchards was the only place lit up in the entire village. We just kept on handing out books and commenting on costumes, although Tony did get up on a chair and shout, "Who do you think will finish it first?"
Universal consensus - me.
The bags ran out after about a hundred customers, so they put aside the last one for me, and after about half an hour, the queue slowed down to a trickle of slower people and people panicking because they hadn't registered in advance - that wasn't a problem in the event, they just paid up their money and got their books. They ran out of adult copies - that was the only thing that went wrong, despite the fact we had an actual police presence. At half twelve, the flood of people had just about stopped. Tony picked up the last bag, with book inside, and presented it to me with a flourish. He wouldn't let me pay for it, said it was for all my help, and then Pedar arrived, so I bid goodbye and started babbling to him like an idiot.
When I got home, I looked in the bag, pulled out the book and found one of the shop's promotional posters in it as well. It's been written on:
"To Iona,
Thanks for your help,
love,
Tony and all."
I'm walking on air.
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no subject
on 2003-06-20 04:57 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2003-06-20 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2003-06-20 06:42 pm (UTC)I'm on P140, but it's just not as interesting a read as the others were, so far. I'm actually thinking of going to bed. *gasps*
no subject
on 2003-06-20 07:21 pm (UTC)It's still not out over here... I have a friend who's going to some release party at Barnes and Noble at midnight... she pre-ordered it the first day you could, I think... it was a long time ago, anyway! Me, I'm just borrowing it from her when she's done... I can't wait to read it though!
no subject
on 2003-06-20 10:19 pm (UTC)