Pop: Chapter 12b

     I can't believe that Pulse is closing.  I muddle through helping the staff finish setting up everything.  I insist that I help out, just like I used to years ago back when I was in college.  And after.  There's really not  much to do, but it helps keep my mind off of things.

    The first fan comes in just before twelve, and we chat for a little bit before he goes off to look for anything else before he pays for his book.  For the next hour, a slow but steady line of customers come in.  Just enough that I get to talk to each one before moving on to the next.  Most get their book and leave, but some stay to search the store for that one special thing.  Todd had mentioned that there wasn't any 'going out of business' sales planned.  Anything that is still here after the last orders come in will just be moved to Downtown Comics.  Only then will the merchandise be put on discount.  Why give longtime customers a deal at the old location, when they can find the same things just a few miles away a little later on?

    By 1:30. the line has pretty much ended.  The few customers who come in, flock to other parts of the store.  Most are just picking up their pull-lists, ignoring me and the book display.  In all, about two dozen people had shown up.  While that doesn't sound that big, it is more than I had at some of the early dates out west.  One stop in Seattle barely had eleven people show up, so this turnout is actually pretty good, especially since I'll have the big event this Saturday with the hardcover edition.

    Carrie walks over from the counter after the last of the book signees leave.

    "Mr. Burton, if you would like to leave early, you probably could.  I doubt anyone else will be coming.  Only fifteen people had expressed interest, and that guy was the last of them that I know about."

    "No.  I'll stay, at least for a few more minutes, just to be sure.  I'll sign a few extra copies in the meantime.  Just in case someone comes in after I go."

    "No more than a few.  Anything we don't sell will just have to be moved."  Todd had come out from the office to join Carrie.  "A few less pounds to heave."

    I continue signing, nonetheless.

    "It looks like there's not that much less, especially if you don't take the fixtures."

    Todd just laughs.

    "Heck, Chris.  That's just the downstairs.  Much of the second floor still needs to be moved."

    "Wait.  There's a second story?  I've been coming here for over eight years, and I never even heard about a second floor."

    "Yeah.  it's where we keep, kept, most of the older books and overstock."

    "I thought that most of the backlist was off-site.  At least it was when I started coming here.'

    "It was.  But it was moved here once the renters left.  About ten years ago.  Mitch bought our the building then.  Thought he could expand into bigger things, but it was ever only used for storage."

    "Could I get a look at it?  Just for old time's sake.  If it's against regulations or anything ..."

    "Well, for you, I guess we can make an exception.  Carrie, watch things down here and call us if anyone shows up."

    Carrie nods her head and goes back to the counter. Todd then waves his hand, asking me to follow her behind the counter and into the office.

    I had only been able to look into the room a few times over the years.  The door was usually kept closed, but I had known that there were two doors in the rear from those few glances.  Todd leads me to the one on the left, which opens up to a staircase.

    "How was that floor ever rented if the stairs a here?" I ask as we start climbing.

    "There's a second set in the rear, on the other side.  That one's more of a fire exit, but the renters used it for their main access."

    Todd takes the turn at the landing and starts climbing up the second set of stairs to an open hall at the top.  There's only one door, wide open and Todd gestures me through.

    "The really valuable stuff had already. been moved, but there's still plenty left. "

    The hall ran along the right side of the building, so the door had opened up to the other side of the store.  The room was wide open, with rows of boxes starting from the rear wall, gaps every few feet. I guess those were the comics already taken.  The room was fairly dim, until Todd flicked the lights on.  That's when I saw the posters covering the windows.

    "We put up the posters to keep the light off the books as much as possible.  That's why we also have them mostly towards the rear. There used to be some dividing walls, but Mitch had most of them taken out when the renters left.  The only ones left are the far one, where the outside entrance is, and this one for the bathroom."  Todd pointed to the left.

    "I never guessed this was up here. I mean, I thought I heard things above, but I, I, well, I'm speechless."

    "Well, this is a pretty good place," Todd answers as we head to the far wall. "It wouldn't take much to put some new walls in, as none of them were load-bearing in the first place."

    Todd opens the door in the far wall as we reach it.  "In here are the rest of the supplies, decorations, and overstock.  That's the door to the outside stairs.  We changed the locks, so that it can't be opened from the outside anymore, but it still meets all the regulations."

    "This place is so great.  I wished I had known about it sooner.'

    "Well, at least you got to see it, before it goes."

    "How much?"

    "What?" Todd stares dumbfounded at me.

    "I want to buy the building, once Pulse closes.  I can't let this place go to waste.  I need some office space once I move back, and here will be perfect.  I know I have the money.  I just have to talk it over with my fiancé to make sure, but sh'e the one who wants me to move my junk somewhere else anyway.  I can't think of a better spot."