A glimpse into my novel

I had the idea for this story for ages, and I finally decided to share it on my blog. This is just a part of the story, I might make it a prologue, or perhaps insert it somewhere in between. It isn't exactly a glimpse, since I don't think you'd call 700 words a glimpse. XD I plan to make it a novel.

Please comment and tell me what you think about it, and whether you'd like to read more or not. Feedback and constructive criticism will be appreciated.

“So you can now operate the machine, and I hope I can leave you to look after the shop when I’m gone.  Now we have to see how you deal with customers.” The stationary shop in-charge said. “And we can find that out quick enough, as I can see our first customers of the day coming.”

Two college students, about the boy’s age, were coming towards the shop, carrying heavy bags filled with books. He eyed them with a pang of envy, thinking that if his life hadn’t taken that unexpected turn, he might have been like one of them.

“So to test your skills, I’ll let you deal with those guys.” The shopkeeper went on, bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” The boy looked at him, confused for a second. “Yes, okay.”

The students had reached the shop by then. One of them placed a stack of books on the counter.

The shopkeeper started arranging some stationary items on the counter, pretending to be busy to allow the boy to handle the customers himself. The boy looked at them questioningly.

The tall black-haired guy picked a book from the stack and said: “I want chapters six, seven and nine of this photocopied.”

The boy nodded, and to keep them in mind, he wrote down on a piece of paper: Chp. 6, 7, 9 of Biology bk.

The guy looked at him incredulously. He had never seen a photocopier do that.

“Anything else?” Asked the boy politely.

“Yes.” He replied quickly. “Chapters three and four of this book.” He handed him a Chemistry book. The boy wrote that down too: Chp. 3 + 4 of Chemistry bk.

“And chapters nineteen and twenty of this book.” He handed a Physics book.

The boy added that to his list: Chp.19 + 20 of Physics bk.

“You’re sure that’s all we’ll need this term?” The black-haired one asked his companion.

“Promise.” He assured. “I heard the teachers say that.”

“So when will we get these photocopied?” The black-haired one asked, picking up his bag.

“By evening.” He replied, glancing at the shopkeeper to confirm, who gave a slight nod in return.

“OK. We’ll be back, and it should be done by then.” The one who hadn’t spoken to him by then said.

“Insha Allah. Why don’t you give me your cell number so I can call you when it’s done.” He suggested.

They both looked at him as if he had gone crazy.

“No need, no need.” Said the shopkeeper quickly, coming to save the day. “It’ll be done by then.”

They nodded and left the shop.

“What did you do that for? Look, if we call our customers to tell them that the book they asked for is now photocopied, it’ll take a lot of time and money. Just say it’ll be done by when you think it’ll be done!” The shopkeeper started lecturing the moment they were out of earshot. “And what the hell is this for?” He grabbed the paper on which the boy had noted down the parts to photocopy.

“I’ve noted down which chapters to photocopy.” He answered timidly.

The shopkeeper looked for a moment as if he didn’t know whether to be angry or satisfied. 

Then he said: “You could have simply folded the corners of the pages you have to copy.”

“That would ruin the paper of these books. They seem to be new.” He reasoned.

“Well, get started then.” The shopkeeper suddenly remembered that he had been lecturing the boy.  “It shouldn’t take that long. These books can be done in half an hour. You could’ve asked them to come back in an hour or so.”

“But-” began the boy.

“Now shut up and start your WORK!” The shopkeeper bellowed.

The boy picked up a Biology book and opened the first page. A paragraph in bold letters was standing out from the rest. His eyes automatically moved towards it:

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, photocopied, or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

The boy closed his eyes. What was he supposed to do?