Here I am at my first ever book festival
Many people are milling around, drinking shitty white wine from plastic tumblers.
But I'm not here to get drunk.
I'm heading straight to see >>>>>> >>>>>>>
I heard she was signing books here and, to be honest, that's the only reason I came.
I'm gonna ask her out on a date.
I push through the crowds of squawking culture-vultures. And suddenly I see her.
She is wearing very skintight, multi-coloured clothes and shines like a beacon. She is sitting at a desk signing books. There is a very long queue.
I grab a beer and join the line. There are about 20 people in front of me. They all have books just like me. This means that, potentially, 20 people might ask her out on a date before I get a chance. What if she hits it off with one of them? I can feel beads of sweat coalescing on my brow as anxiety sweeps over me. I glare at each of them in turn, shaking with anger, hoping that their tongues will suddenly swell from anaphylactic shock and they will drop to the ground, asphyxiating.. I picture >>>>>> >>>>>>> chatting to each of them, smiling, laughing, impressed by their wit and poise, looking away as she laughs and then furtively looking back through downturned lashes. Then being taken by the hand and gently led away, enraptured by her new suitor, while the rest of us look on in dismay. I stare hard at the back of each of their heads as they walk up to her, willing aneurysms to rupture in their brains before they reach the desk.
But then I notice that she is just signing books and saying hello. Smiling a gorgeous, plastic smile. A smile that says "I'm just waiting for this to be over. Please don't make it any more of a pain than it already is."
So I'm reassured; she's not interested in them.
Finally it's my turn.
I walk towards her, holding the book in front of me, but I don't give it to her to sign. Instead I hold it up like I'm a salesman demonstrating some product and say,
"This is a good book."
"Thanks"