Retainers, the all day book fair, Mumford & Sons, return denial and theft.

Retainers:  We had a 7:30 AM appointment to free K from her palate expander and to have a less mechanical retainer installed on top along with a crescent retainer for the bottom.  We left our house at 7:10 AM.  Ouch.  She's delighted to feel the roof of her mouth once again.

The All Day Book Fair:  The book fair started at 8:30 AM, but I knew how it would go.  I blew into the door at 8:05 AM with $400 in change and found a room full of kids.  We were backed up with kids since the registers weren't actually assembled yet.  So much for starting at 8:30 AM.  We went from 8:30 AM until 6:30 PM.  We had customers until the very last minute.  I ate a school breakfast (ack, but it was free) and packed myself a Garden burger and was able to eat an apple muffin that I packed.  I was so tired once I got home that I ate cereal for dinner.  K was there until 5:30 PM.  Bless her heart. Hubs came to pick her up.  It was a really long day for him, but for a variety of other reasons.

I've been at the book fair previews M-W at 7:30 AM each morning.  Because the new book fair rep sent me half of what she was supposed to send, Kay and I have been scrambling to get enough product sent to sell.  So far, we're down about $1200 in sales from what we typically sell.  She didn't do her job properly and was trying to blame me.  Finally, I very bluntly informed her that, "I don't get paid to do this.  Unfortunately, I'm not curing cancer or resolving world peace issues.  I'll sell what I have and won't what I don't, but I do have to go back to work."  I had to go back to my job that actually pays the bills.

Mumford & Sons:  Because I need to wash the day away and they seemed to be the perfect fit.  Fugazi worked for a while, but 13 songs ran through and I needed a change.  I'm playing Sigh No More for anyone interested.  Dust Bowl Dance has me swaying in my seat.  What wonderfully calming tunes.  :sigh:

Return denial:  Today was return day at the book fair.  I will accept no more returns unless a book is falling apart or a pen doesn't work.  A child bought a book, read it during school and came after to exchange it.  "Why?"  "Because I want the other one."  "Did you read this one?"  "Yeah.  I read it today, so now I want to return this one to get the other one."  It was only owned for a few hours, but looked owned for weeks.  I told him no.  I told him that it was read and used and I couldn't sell it.  I had a kid who had given me a hard time during his book fair visit.  He ran after me during the release bell to tell me, "I want to return this poster!"  "Why?"  "Because I don't like it anymore."  I picked it up and it was rumbled and limp.  I might add that Scholastic's posters are about the weight of the average cereal box.  I told him no.  I couldn't sell it and he would have to keep it.  I explained both of these to the principal and he backed me on it.  Tomorrow and now forever I will have a sign hanging on the register that says, "No returns, exchanges or refunds."

Theft:  We did run into one incident of theft.  A 4th grader stole a classmate's book from their locker.  He was showing it to everyone and acting as if it was his.  The teacher sent the student down to us.  There was nothing I could do other than to keep an eye out.  I sent her to the office to report it to them.  My super sleuth friend remembered that we give a receipt with each purchase.  The child couldn't produce a receipt and then kept changing his story.  He'll probably be suspended over a $6 Minecraft book.  I talked to his teacher later.  She was so upset.  I did confirm that I hadn't seen him at all in the book fair.  I told her that I'm aware of who he is and would definitely know if he had been there.  So very sad.

'Night!  Zzzzz.