If you’re like me, you’ve always had a love for books and you always feel warm and fuzzy in a book store, or library.
Mine began the first time Mama herded the six of us into the children's room of our public library for Saturday morning book readings with Miss Amy.
Anticipation mounted the moment Mama opened the big oak double doors to the library. In my imagination, they were the entrance to a castle filled with suspense and mystery. We held the only key to unlock the castle---our library card.
The most sacred part of the journey was when Mama finally uttered the magic words, "Shhh, remember, our quiet voices, please.”
Holding our breath, we tip-toed past the formidable librarian standing guard. Only then did I allow myself to wonder what adventure Miss Amy would carry us away on that morning.
Walking through the library, I marveled at the shelves that rose to the ceiling on either side, books visible in every direction. Stories and adventures were everywhere, and I wanted to experience them all.
In the children's room, Miss Amy sat waiting in her rocking chair. The chosen book was already in her lap, hands folded on top, the oval rug in front of her already beginning to fill with smiling eager faces.
Struggling to contain my excitement, I sat on the rug. What book had she chosen? Where would this adventure take me? Would it be sad, or funny, or maybe filled with … DANGER? But it didn't really matter, I reasoned. I would ride on the Author’s words anywhere Miss Amy’s reading took me, until the very last sentence.
Then it was time. Miss Amy welcomed us to Story Time, scanned our faces, and playing on our anticipation, she slowly opened the book to the first page.
I was captured. As the story unfolded, I was no longer sitting on an oval rug in the children's room of my hometown public library. I was on a magic carpet, floating on the author’s words as Miss Amy read them and transported me to another time and place, and sometimes, another world.
It was then I knew. Someday, I will write stories, too ...
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