The Jedi In The Bookstore

I would like to relay an incident that occurred--oh let's say--about two months ago. Now, I have had public encounters with so-called Jedi Knights before. If you cannot recall the Wal-Mart incident, you can read about it here.

However, nothing prepared me for what happened at the Zephyr bookstore. My wife was getting her haircut and I had a couple of hours to kill. I headed over to Zephyr to peruse their fine selection of used books. I browsed and browsed, flipped through numerous pages, and finally settled on three books.

I placed them under my arm and continued to meander through the store. I moved towards the back of the store; here, you'll find a small counter that the store owners converted into a quasi coffee shop. Round tables with uncomfortable wooden chairs pepper the store--a coffee shop indeed.

I digress.

Next to the coffee area is the Juvenile section. I began glancing through the titles to see if anything would be of interest for my wife. Not that she reads at the middle school level--she teaches middle school. My eyes darted from title to title and I was vaguely aware of my surroundings.

"We have coffee," a voice sounded behind me.

Not to be trifled with when I am looking at titles such as Dewey Duck's Journey and Where the Sidewalk Ends, I ignored the voice.

"You know, we have a coffee bar," the voice continued.

I turned my head and saw a disheveled young man reading a Star Wars encyclopedia. For the uninitiated, this encyclopedia has pictures and diagrams from the movies with explanations telling the reader everything about Star Wars. Want to know the name of the weapon a character carries? Want to know the name of Bobba Fett's ship? Want to know useless information about Yoda? Yup, this book is for you.

I didn't give the young man a second thought and returned to Dewey Duck.

"Don't you want a cup of coffee," he asked? At this point, I realized he wanted my attention.

I slowly gave him a moment's attention and responded, "No thank you, I don't drink coffee." Again, I returned to my books.

"You don't drink coffee?"

I shook my head a solid no and continued looking at the books.

"Who doesn't drink coffee?"

I turned to look at him. As I turned, he raised his hand and in a Jedi-like motion waved his hand as he said, "You want a cup of coffee."

Deciding that he was either A) crazy B) bored C) socially inept, I began to return to my books.

As I turned, he paused, narrowed his eyes, and with much concentration, raised his hand and gave me another Jedi-like wand movement and said, "You want a cup of coffee."

Exhausted with him, I started for the front of the store and the register. In the distance I heard him say, "I guess I need more practice."

I paid for my three books and headed for the car. I chuckled as I exited.

It's not every day that someone tries the Jedi-mind trick on me.