Jackson

Customer [12 ish year old gentleman whose name turns out to be Jackson]: Can you make it be Tuesday at 5:00 so we can get the family discount?
Me: I dunno, I'd have to alter the Time-Space Continuum and I don't have security clearanc
Jackson: Ooh, where do you keep it?
Me [points]: in the back.
Jackson: Oh, ok. Bye! [leaves]
........
Jackson [comes back]: I'm going to leave a donation for you [puts a penny in the tip jar].
Me: Thank you so much!
Jackson: Yeah. Actually I'll leave a bit more [puts in another penny] 'cause you give good customer service.
Me: Aw, thank you!
Jackson: [leaves]
.......
Jackson [comes back]: Actually, you know what? your customer service touched me....so I'm leaving a quarter. Which part of the slot should I put it through.
Me: Thank you! you can put it here [points to infinitesimal crack in the jar]
Jackson: Ok! [tries and fails, puts it through normal slot]. Also, is your manager here?
Me: He is, but he's talking to someone right now, sorry!
Jackson: Well, could you just tell him that I said you're really great? or do you have comment papers I could write it on or something?
Me: aw thank you! you can write it on here if you like [hands him paper]
Jackson: Thanks. [writes "Beth was very good"]
Me: Thank you! tell your manager I said you were great, too.
Jackson: My manager's my mom.
Me: Ok, well tell your mom-manager that you're awesome.
Jackson: Thanks! I'm going to leave another donation [puts another penny in the tip jar].
Me: Thank you! You've got a special place in Heaven for that.
Jackson: Aw, thanks. God bless!
Me: You too!
Jackson [leaves].
........
Jackson: [comes back] is there a bathroom in the building?
Me: Sorry, there actually isn't, but there's one at Subway down there.
Jackson: Ok, thanks. I hope I can make it, it'll be quite a journey.
Me: Yeah, good luck and Godspeed!
Jackson [leaves].

Note: this is a condensed version of my encounter with Jackson. His two friends were giggling in the background the entire time.

To Kill A Muggleborn

Ok, don't hate me if this is irreverent, but wouldn't it be FREAKIN AWESOME if Harper Lee wrote another version of To Kill A Mockingbird that took place in the Harry Potter Universe?

Tom Robinson would be a muggle-born and the Ewells would be white-trash pure-bloods like Marvolo Gaunt and Co. and Atticus, Jem and Scout would be blood traitors. That would be just RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME and I would read that SO MANY TIMES.

"Atticus, do you defend mudbloods?"
"Don't say 'mudblood,' Scout, that's common."

And Boo Radley could be like Dumbledore's sister Arianna who never came out of the house except at night. Ok, for real that would make my day. This needs to happen so badly.

Poem #52: Letterbox

"No news is good news," you say,

but I'm feeling lonesome today

it would not hurt to write just to tell me 'Good night" 

ere my letterbox withers away.