Booksellers has been a part of my life since I was incredibly young. Back when the story was Davis Kidd, my elementary school would hold book nights there to support the school. As I transitioned into middle school, however, the book nights became far less about sitting and reading in a corner until my parents could convince me to leave. They became a chance to showcase the best parts of my school with the community. As a bit of backstory, I am a performer. I have been since I was incredibly young and as my parents will be quick to tell you, it shows. But it wasn't until middle school that I did my first proper production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. I'm the little girl with the candle on her head, looking entirely clueless and terrified of being up on that stage. But, never one to shy away from a challenge, I was eager to perform part of the show at the book night with my cast before we actually opened. Before then, I had never been in front of a real audience. It had always been my parents and my friends parents, but this time, it was real people who weren't required by parental love and support to clap. People from all over Memphis were there and it was up to us to look amazing for them. I remember very little about the actual production that night. I'm positive I tripped over something, and more than positive I looked like an absolute mess the entire time. Yet still, at the end of our little showcase, the crowd that had crammed into the bleachers in the children's section erupted in applause. The rest of book night was a blur, masked entirely by the joy created by such an amazing reaction. Flash forward to today, still walking in the kids section brings a smile to my face. The bleachers look a lot shorter than they did back then, and I've since migrated my book preference from their to the more mature area of the shop, but I'll never forget the place I got my first standing ovation. Everyone has a story within the walls of Booksellers. Maybe it's something as magnificent as the time you met someone who would eventually change your life. Maybe it's as simple as the time you had the best hot chocolate you've ever tasted while reading your favorite book. Maybe it's as personal as your first standing ovation. It's stories like these that Booksellers has sold to readers for years, and as consumers, we can ensure that more Memphians are given the change to create their own Bookseller stories. Stay Lit Memphis Sydney Prather