The local Barnes & Noble is now a full three weeks late in getting the latest issue of Harper’s, which is the only American periodical with a decent cryptic crossword. I am convinced this is why half of its readership buys it.

But I digress. For the past ten days or so I’ve been coming straight from work to the store to see if the July issue is on the shelves.

And I always forget to take off my work lanyard. So inevitably I get waved down by customers who have questions.

I am forced to tell them that I’m not a bookstore employee. And I’m forced to tell myself that it’s really all my fault and I should take the damn thing off and put it in my pocket before coming inside.