"In this sticky web that we're all in, behaving decently is no small task." -- Novelist Stacey D'Erasmo

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

No Accounting for Taste

     B and I are having a bit of a contretemps. She's being very unreasonable, in my opinion, so I thought I'd reach out to my friends in the blogosphere for some support. Because as you'll soon see, my position is obviously right, and B is just being ... impossible!

     It all started a few weeks ago when B and I were helping out at the used book sale at our local library. We were setting up, when what should come through the door as a donation but the coolest, neatest, bossest bookcase you've ever seen. It's custom made. It's homemade. By a master handyman, lovingly crafted for his child.

     Before the sale started, the ladies in charge of the book sale decided on a $50 price tag for the bookcase. But before the doors opened, they decided $50 was perhaps a bit too ambitious. They put a $40 sticker on it as the book sale began. They placed this piece of furniture in the back of the room, hoping it would draw people through the rows of books -- kind of like the way the supermarket places milk at the back of the store.

     Okay, the bookcase didn't sell for $40, so we moved it up next to the checkout counter and brought the price down to $30. Surely someone would grab it now.

     At 2 p.m. we dropped the price to $10, as a couple of the women started worrying about what we would do with this bookcase if it didn't sell at all. At 4 p.m. we marked the price at $5, but still it didn't sell, and the bookcase went into storage in the coat closet with the leftover boxes of books.

     We gave away the books -- some to the senior citizens home in town, and some to the prison up the highway. Our last disbursement occurred this past weekend when we went over to the library to help a woman load the last of the boxes into her SUV -- she is going to use the books in her literacy program and ESL classes.

     After all the boxes were gone, I spied the bookcase standing up against the back wall of the closet. "So I'll take the bookcase if no one else wants it," I ventured.

     The woman in charge of the book sale gave me a puzzled look. "Really?" she replied. "Well, go ahead, take it. We need to get rid of it."

     "Get rid of it?" I said. "It's a really cool bookcase. I can put it in my bedroom."

     That's when B came around the corner. "What's going on?" she challenged.
 
     "The bookcase," I explained. "I'm taking the bookcase."

My new bookcase, temporarily relegated to the basement.
     "No, you're not," she said, looking slightly panicked.

     "Yeah, we can put it in the corner of our bedroom."

     "No, we can't."

     "Well, alright, we can talk about that, but surely we can find someplace for it," I countered.

      "You're not serious."

     "Don't worry," I said, "it'll look good." I wedged the bookcase onto the dolly and carted it out the door. I wheeled it out to her minivan and slipped it into the back. B trailed after me, "You're really taking that?" she kept asking.

     And so, long story short, the bookcase is currently residing in our basement. I want to bring it upstairs to the bedroom. She wants me to bring it out to the curb for trash collection.

     Now, tell me the truth, don't you think it's pretty cool? One of a kind. Admit it . . .  wouldn't you like to have something like this in your bedroom? We're lucky to get it. So, come on, don't you agree it merits a special place?

20 comments:

Sally Wessely said...

I don't want to be in the middle do the argument, but I would not put that in my bedroom. It would be great in a classroom The kids would love it.

Mac n' Janet said...

I love bookcases, appreciate good craftsmanship, but that's a b*** ugly bookcase, I'm with your wife on this one.

stephen Hayes said...

I was with you all the way and determined to support you as a brother-in-arms, but I must reluctantly side with B in this case. Donate the shelf to a school where kids can enjoy it, and maybe it will help spur their interest in science.

schmidleysscribblins,wordpress.com said...

What B has is a 60-something year old boy on her hands. This bookcase obviously was in a child's room at some point. I wouldn't let it in my house either. Now you must constuct a really nice bookcase for B and take that thing to Goodwill where some child will see it and ask him mommy if he can bring it home.
Sorry, Tom I am on B's side in this one. Dianne

Anonymous said...

I'm with B 100% on this. Out it goes!

Terry said...

I am with B on this as well , no way in heck would I want that in my house, much less my bedroom ! Sorry :)

Retired Syd said...

Yeah, I have to side with B whole-heartedly. Sorry.

Kay Dennison said...

I love it!!!!! I'd put in the room I refer to as the library and put my collection of children's books on it!!!

Tom said...

Thank you Kay. Oh, maybe I didn't explain. You see, the bottom part lifts up so you can store all kinds of stuff in the bin (the hinges work perfectly.) Also, notice the dinosaur still has all his or her teeth. Remember, it's one of a kind!

Kay Dennison said...

Indeed and it would make great conversation piece!!!

Douglas said...

It is, of course, a work of art. I would take it off your hands in a heartbeat but I do not have a basement in which to put it.

Anne Holmes said...

Well, I can see B's point of view - easily. Were I her, I would not have a space for that bookcase in the bedroom - I believe bedrooms need to be spaces reserved for sleeping and - other bed-related activities. Cute as he is, that dino is not sleep inducing.

But if you have a room reserved for grandkids - or would like to donate the bookcase to a local church, school or shelter, I know a million kids who would be attracted to it. And hey, all of 'em need to be encouraged to read and keep their toys in a designated space.

Olga said...

Sorry, I would not even have allowed that in my classroom. I think B is winning here.

Don said...

You've got to be kidding. No way. I agree that some primary or elementary grade teacher would like to have this for a classroom. But get it out of your house ASAP!

Arkansas Patti said...

Yikes, I was not ready for that. This must appeal to your inner child. I'm with B and think you ought to check out a school. They would love it if the teacher would allow it.
B has won the primary and the election is hers. Sorry fellow:))

ksam said...

Umm yeah it was surprising alright!! But, it would be great for kids books...in a classroom...

Friko said...

I think it's a very handsome piece of furniture but it doesn't appear to be capable of holding many books. Could it be classified as a work of art? Then it would sell, I'm sure.

gabbygeezer said...

One of a kind? Yes. A thing of beauty? Well, one out of two ain't bad.

Anonymous said...

it would certainly remind you to brush your teeth in the morning,and stay away from sausage

Anonymous said...

Sorry but this is a bookcase for kids--I would put it in a grandkids bedroom--my 3yr old grandson would love it--I am with your wife on this one its a kid thing all the way!!!!