In search of Planet of the Twisted

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My closest friends know that I read Jessica Zafra's stuff.  I even have one book signed by her ("To Rey, king of what?"). Not that I am a loyal fan, but I have all of her Twisted books.  I don't read her other books, though.  But I think, whatever it is she has written, it's good. Jessica is an acquired taste.  Like beer. 

But I digress. That's not the journey I'm talking about.  I'm talking about the journey I took more than ten  years ago, in search of Jessica Zafra's Planet of the Twisted, in one of National Bookstore's branches. 
When I read that her third book in the Twisted series was already out, I went to the nearest National Bookstore to see if it was really true.  At that time, I had no cash with me but the assurance that it was there on the shelf and that I would buy it as soon as payday comes is enough.  And yes, there it was, in the Filipiniana section of National Bookstore Cubao.  I leafed through the pages of the opened book and was delighted that the compilation did not contain stuff I have already read in her column which was regularly published by the broadsheet Daily Globe (which became Today and now, Manila Standard Today). 

I thought to myself, Great!  There's a nearby National Bookstore in our place.  I'm sure they have a copy of it. I was really looking forward to payday, visiting National Bookstore in Q Plaza (Cainta) and buying the book.  

It was a Saturday, if I remember correctly, when I dropped by National Bookstore, Q Plaza.  I got my salary on a Friday and thought that Saturday would just be perfect.  I already planned my day.  After buying the book, I'd go to Tropical Hut and have lunch while reading Planet of the Twisted.  So in I went to National Bookstore Q Plaza. 

I love books!  I was able to complete all of Agatha Christie's works.  I have almost all of Stephen King's books.  I even had a Sidney Sheldon phase.  I was into horror and mystery, although I read other stuff too.  Everytime I go to National Bookstore, I really check out each section, from their NEW ARRIVALS to GENERAL FICTION to JUVENILE to NON FICTION, etc. etc.  That was what I did when I entered National Bookstore Q Plaza.  After getting tired of going through the aisles, I decided to ask assistance from a saleslady.  

I give it to the administration of National Bookstore.  They always have nice people to help you around.  Although I have heard otherwise from some people, I have never encountered grouchy salesclerks in their store.  

"Can I help you, sir?"  She asked.

"Yes.  I'm looking for Jessica Zafra's latest book."

"Ano'ng title po?" (What's the title?)

"Planet of the Twisted." 

"Ay, wait lang po, sir. Hahanapin ko po."  (Wait here, sir, I will look for it.) 

And she sashayed away from me. I stayed a few paces behind, following her.  And we passed through the FICTION section, then the NON FICTION. She passed through the ROMANCE aisle and the RELIGION section.  I lingered for awhile in that section, checking out some interesting stuff about the end times.  Then I followed her.  She passed by the FILIPINIANA section.  And I wondered why the heck she just went through it.  So I followed her, passing through the MYSTIC AND OCCULT aisle.  And voila!  We're in the ASTRONOMY section of the store.

"Sir, Planet of the ano nga yun?"  (Sir, what Planet were you looking for?)

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I give her A for effort.  Hehehe.  I told her that it's not about space and astronomy.  It's a book written by a Filipino, so it should be in the Filipiniana section.  To which she readily apologized.  I guess she was embarrassed.  As for me, I was totally amused. Imagine, looking for Jessica Zafra's book Planet of the Twisted in the ASTRONOMY section?

I still patronize National Bookstore in Q Plaza.  I can order and reserve a book that's going to come out in a couple of months (and I thought only specialty bookstores do this kind of service).  They salesclerks are all amiable to their customers.  And best of all, they are not the crabby ones you find in some music stores I know.

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