There are those who browse, touching the books as they go.
There are those who straighten the books as they pass over them, as if, like me, it bothers them to see a messy booth.
There are those who look down resolutely, in denial that there’s someone on the other side.
There are those who look up if you greet them with cheer and a smile.
There are those who ignore even that.
There are those who watch other people, who pick up a book someone has just bought, or snatch it up if they didn’t want it.
There are those who listen in to my conversations with customers and try to glean information from them so that they won’t need to talk to me themselves.
There are those who think they’re witty and who continue to badger on with their friends and block the booth with sheer volume and an annoying aura.
There are those who are excited to buy books.
There are those who buy books only because they’re on sale or even for free with their frequent-flier cards.
There are those who tell the stranger next to them that the book he or she is holding is good.
There are those who tell the stranger next to them that the book he or she is holding is bad, even though they’ve only read the reviews.
There are those who are so passionate that they almost have tears in their eyes, and they do my job for me, convincing people to buy this or that book.
There are those who are mean, for no reason at all.
There are those who are nice, maybe because I’m cheerful, but maybe for no reason at all.
There are those who are old.
There are those who are young.
There are those with their lovers.
There are those with their children.
There are those who don’t care a whit about books.
There are those who love them as much as I do.
Slightly Ignorant 
and there are those who are perceptive and love to people watch. I’m one of those too! 😉
I absolutely love this. It reminded me of myself today, wandering around a bookstore. I was a browser of books this time, lost in my own little world.
very well written my dear friend
hope you’ve been well x
Beautiful – I can just about *see* everyone you describe. And it inspires me to pay more attention today to those around me. To notice how the woman at the grocery store selects her produce. To make eye contact and share a small smile with the old man on the sidewalk, instead of avoiding connection. To watch the carefree jaunt of a child and the tired walk of his mother. And to wonder how each of them sees me…
The world would be a much sadder place without books.
Welcome to retail! LoL
There are those who hide inside books and let the time fly by while they live happily inside another world …:) Great post!
I love the people-watchery goodness. I hope you’re enjoying the book fair! I’m still super jealous. ❤
love this. observation with style, the hallmark of a writer.
I adore bookshops, you talk to people you don’t know just because you have a book in your hands. And the smell of books… hmmmm heaven!!