He took the trinket from her and, with the handheld scanner, scanned the barcode.
“Anything else I can get you today?” he asked with a friendly smile.
She smiled back. When he wanted to be, he really could be charming. “Just this, thanks.”
“If you’re paying by card, go ahead and tap there,” he said, pointing to the card reader on the counter.
She pulled out her card and tapped it. Daniel, still focused on the computer screen, said, “Looks like the transaction was authorized.”
“Always ask if the customer wants a printed receipt.”
He looked at her. “Would you like a printed receipt?”
“No need, thanks. Also, always ask if they want a shopping bag.”
“Got it.” He glanced again at the screen. “Is that it?”
“That’s the easy flow, yes. When Ben gets in, I’ll have him take you through less-common scenarios.” She pointed to the other computer on the counter. “I’ll also have him walk you through how to search for a book and place special orders.”
“Sounds good.”
Her eyes darted to the front door —no customers yet. “Before folks arrive, let’s get you started on unpacking and shelving.”
He smiled. “Excellent.”
She led to him to the back of the store and pushed opened a door marked “Staff Only,” revealing a small room stuffed with boxes and supplies. In a corner was a tiny desk with a computer and printer on it. “See the four boxes stacked next to the desk?” she said, pointing. “The books in those boxes need to be unpacked, labeled, and shelved. Inside each box is a shipping order with a barcode. When you scan the barcode, the book info will go to the computer and you’ll be able to print labels.” She turned on the computer and clicked over to the label printing screen. “After you print the labels, stick them on the books, lower right corner, back cover.”
“Okay,” he said, staring intently at the computer screen. “I think I got it.”
“It’s not the most intuitive interface. Don’t be shy about asking for help.”
“Will do.”
“After labeling the books, take them out and shelve them.”
“Any particular rules or guidelines or…?”
“The store’s organized by section and alphabetically by author last name. Before you shelve, familiarize yourself with where everything is, and also what’s up front on the fiction and nonfiction display tables.”
He took a deep breath, his nervousness showing. “I think I got it.”
“I just threw a lot of information at you. If you have questions, you know what to do, right?”
He nodded. “Ask for help.”
She smiled. “Exactly. And don’t worry if you mess something up. Goofs happen. They’re no big deal.”
From the front of the store came the gentle chime of the front door’s silver bell.
“I need to get to the front. You good?”
His warm brown eyes held hers. “Thank you for letting me help you.”
“Thank you for offering to do it.”
With a smile, she left him to his task and hurried up front to greet the day’s first customers. More customers soon followed and before Penny knew it, she was fully immersed in the hustle and bustle of a busy day.
About twenty minutes after she left the storeroom, Daniel emerged with a cart of newly labeled books.
