Appearances – BEN FRANKLIN: Clarkstown, PA

BEN FRANKLIN

Location: Clarkstown, Pennsylvania

Time: 7:45PM – 8:00PM

Date: March 15, 2011

So yesterday after making an appearance at Target in Pennsdale, Pennsylvania, I packed the family in the car for a late night trip to Ben Franklin because the daughter needed some crafts for school the next day which she didn’t inform us about until after dinner. Nice. I was tired, but not one to disappoint, I decided to show up anyway. But first…I called ahead. The conversation went something like this:

THEM: “Ben Franklin.”

ME: “Hi this is James Melzer. I’m going to be stopping by there in about 20 minutes, I was wondering if you had the coffee and donuts set up.”

THEM: “James who?”

ME: “James Melzer. You know, the award-winning author of Escape, Hull’s Landing, Teenage Wasteland, and The Other Side.”

THEM: “…”

Undaunted by this sudden turn of events, I showed up at Ben Franklin exactly 20 minutes later as planned. Now, let me tell you something about this tiny, independent store. The best way I can describe it is like this: it’s what Target would look like if it was run by Billy Bob from Sling Blade. They got all kinds of shit there. Seriously. Take a look at that pic of me with the giant clothes pin. Who needs a giant clothes pin? Or how about that dude with a pumpkin on his head, throwing a pumpkin? What’s up with that? Let’s not forget about the beautiful mask I tried on, either. It was quite the delight. I almost walked out with a silver flask with a picture of a grizzly bear on it, but there are some things my wife just won’t stand for – and that’s bears!

We got the crafts though, and I wandered around the store, shaking hands with the locals (one guy was named Bob and he had drooping eyeballs which made it look like he was looking at you through his cheeks), drinking some refreshments (I got a 3 liter jug of orange soda for $1.14 – can’t beat that price!), and petting the livestock, which were made from plastic.

All-in-all, I enjoyed my time at Ben Franklin in Clarkstown, PA, and would definitely go back there. Maybe even to sign some books. The atmosphere was friendly, and although we got followed home by some guy who knew what I did last summer, it was a great place to make an appearance, hang out, and get some prescription medication (that’s hush-hush, by the way). Although they didn’t know who I was at first, trust me, they knew the name of James Melzer by the time I left – and that always makes for a good day!

Tomorrow I’ll be appearing at the Lycoming Mall around 12:30PM. I’ll either be in the Old Navy or FYE. I’ll see you there!

~JM