Episode 33: The Invisible Ink Memoir

The door creaked open, and in walked a customer with an air of intense purpose. They were dressed in an oversized trench coat that could've doubled as a tent, and they wore dark sunglasses, even though it was perfectly sunny outside. They approached the counter with a sense of dramatic flair, as if expecting a spotlight to shine on them.

Felix looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

The customer leaned forward, their voice low and mysterious. "I need a gallon of your finest invisible ink."

Zira exchanged a confused glance with Felix. "Invisible ink? You know, that stuff's only useful if you've got a secret message or something."

The customer nodded sagely. "I'm going to write my memoirs. A bestseller."

Felix blinked. "Uh, okay, so... you want invisible ink to write your memoirs?"

The customer nodded dramatically. "Exactly. The book will be a sensation because it'll be unreadable. People will flock to it. They'll try to decode it. Everyone will want a copy!"

Zira raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're telling me you want a whole book that no one can read?"

"Precisely!" the customer said, a smug grin spreading across their face. "It's going to be brilliant. People will see the title, wonder about the content, and then they'll have to buy it to figure out what's in it. It'll be a mystery."

Felix scratched his head. "I mean, I've seen some weird marketing schemes, but this? This is… something else."

Zira snickered. "Yeah, sounds like a top secret recipe for confusion."

The customer waved them off. "Oh, you don't understand. This is going to revolutionize the literary world. A book that can't be read? A bestseller that no one can actually read? Genius!"

Felix sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll get you your gallon of invisible ink. But, you know, you might want to think about how you'll promote it. A book no one can read doesn't really sell itself. Unless you're planning to host a reading event where everyone just stares at the book in silence."

The customer leaned in, eyes wide behind the sunglasses. "Ah, but that's the beauty of it! The reading event will be the talk of the town. People will come just to try and figure out what's in it, and the mystery will drive them mad with curiosity!"

Zira raised an eyebrow. "You're really betting on that level of confusion, huh?"

The customer gave a self-assured nod. "People love a good mystery. They'll buy anything as long as it's mysterious enough."

Felix pulled a gallon of invisible ink from behind the counter and handed it over. "Alright, here's your ink. Just remember, you're essentially writing a book of nothing. It's a bold strategy, I'll give you that."

The customer took the gallon eagerly. "Thank you. This is the beginning of something great."

Zira grinned. "Well, I'll be waiting for the reviews that say, 'I don't know what I just read, but I loved it!'"

As the customer left, Felix shook his head. "Maybe he's onto something. Maybe the next big trend is invisible literature."

Zira laughed. "Or maybe the next big trend is a book full of confusion with a side of 'I told you so'."