Cross Words

This afternoon, in order to complete a short book review, one needed to find out the publisher and Indian price of Sarah Waters' The Night Watch, a title one had seen at Crossword last week.

So one decided to call them, employing the numbers mentioned on their internet site. To begin with, one called their largest outlet, in Kemp's Corner.

Me: "Hello, do you have - "

CW: "Sorry, Sir, you'll have to call another number. Here it is."

One dialled again.

Me: "Hello, do you have a book called The Night Watch?"

CW: "The wha -?"

Me: "The Night Watch."

CW: "The Night?"

Me: "The Night Watch".

CW: "Hold on. (After a minute) Sorry, it's out of stock."

Somewhat wearily, one asked "Do you know how much it costs?"

CW: "Yes. Rs 290. It’s by Terry Pratchett* but we don't have it at present."

Me: "Okay, look, the book I need is by Sarah Waters, and..."

CW: "Who?"

Me: "Sarah Waters. I'd seen it at your shop a few days ago."

CW: "At our shop? Here? Hold on. (After a few minutes) No, we don't have it."

One tried their Bandra outlet. On both occasions, one was told that the number didn't exist. One tried yet again, this time dialling their outlet at Shivaji Park.

Me: "Hello, do you have The Night Watch?"

CW: "The wha-?"

Me: "The Night Watch."

CW: "Hold on. (After a few moments) Sorry, it's out of stock."

Prepared this time, one asked: "Would you know who it's by?"

CW: (agitated) "Icanlookitupbytitleorauthorandthescreenisn'tshowingtheauthor."

Me: "Well, do you have anything by Sarah Waters? S-A-R-A-H W-A-T-E-R-S?"

CW: "No."

And that was the end of an unproductive lunch hour.


* To be fair, there is a book by Terry Pratchett entitled Night Watch: Disc World 27.