Book-of-the-week

A fellow called the store this morning, looking for this book. It's difficult to describe how he sounded -- not nervous, exactly, and not anxious. Needy. He needed this book and couldn't wait; when I told him we didn't stock it but could order it for him, he said, oh no, he had to get it right away and could I tell him who might carry it? I gave him a couple of numbers and wished him well in his pursuits. I hope he won't be punished if he shows up somewhere tonight empty-handed (although that is perhaps exactly what he wants).