Watch out! I’m coming down the street on my pogo stick!!
You want me to read a kid’s book? I don’t think so. Give me adult drama, the more messed up and angsty the better. Bad decisions, deceit, despair, sign me up. But I listened to Betsy, whom I thank profusely for letting me in on this secret collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors, Ian McEwan, and for suggesting I read it to the 9-year-old I sit for. I’ve never read anything aloud but picture books, and that was for the captive audience of my little kids, many moons ago. So I had my doubts.
I threw the idea out to the kid, half expecting her not to bite. I got a little nervous when she gave me an excited yes. Gulp. It’s happening. I told her, “Look, here’s the deal. If either of us hate the book, I’ll stop reading. Immediately.” I wanted to make it clear that this was extracurricular, optional. I wasn’t planning on torturing either of us. If she got antsy and started climbing the walls, I wasn’t going to sit there talking to myself. The kid reads a lot—she’s so cute walking around confidently holding the Kindle like she’s a college student—so I gambled that she’d understand and like the book. And she did.
Two pages in, and I was pretty much a goner. OMG is this a good book! Imaginative! Engrossing! Fun! It was strange hearing myself read. I had to try to slow down and speak clearly, things I never have to worry about when I read with my mouth shut. The weird thing is, I wasn’t distracted like I usually am. So if I talk to myself, I have better concentration? At least I know how to pay attention to myself, lol.
I read for an hour and a half straight, without even having to pee, and I saw that I was already halfway through this 200-page book of deliciousness. The kid, who at her age can still multi-task (the lucky dog), began weaving some sort of original pencil holder, and she listened intently, throwing out some good comments as she wove away.
The stories, oh the stories. McEwan is such a master! This is his only kid’s book and he wrote it back in the 1990s. He doesn’t dumb down, hallelujah. There are seven stories, all gems. I even love that they all have simple, two-word titles: The Dolls, The Cat, Vanishing Cream, The Bully, The Burglar, The Baby, and The Grown-Up. They are all about a boy named Peter who is a chronic daydreamer; he fantasizes some far-out situations, with himself as the star. Things are not what they appear to be. He turns things inside out, does some switching of beings, and explores different lives. I don’t want to say one more word about the stories because the surprise is part of the fun. My favorite is probably The Cat. The kid liked The Dolls the best. Not surprising; she’s a 9-year-old girl who knows all about having a room full of dolls.
The book took me back to being a child, the fun of imagining things. I used to have a ball with my imagination, though I’d get in trouble for too much daydreaming. Often I would write instead of read. In middle school we had to pick a book and then present a report on it in front of the class. I didn’t read a book, which horrified me. Miss goody-two-shoes here couldn’t let that be. I wanted an A, so a girl has to do what a girl has to do. I quickly made up a book with some kind of sci-fi plot, with characters who had bald heads. I made up an author name (way fun) and decided she was from England, thinking I was being pretty sly—surely the teacher doesn’t know of authors in a country as far away and exotic as England. Okay, it was my turn, so I proceeded to describe the imaginary book in front of the class. I had everything down on index cards so it looked official--and also so I could remember what I made up. After the report, there was a Q&A. I confidently answered everyone’s questions, making it up as I went along. I remember the teacher asking me about the author, and even though I was slightly terrorized that I’d somehow get busted, it was clear that even at a young age I could wing it. I did get an A, but I felt very guilty—though I admit I was a little smug that I’d pulled it off. I snowed my teacher and I also got to use my imagination, which was chomping at the bit.
But back to this book, which of course I did read (I swear it isn’t imaginary). There were a bunch of firsts for me: first time I read a book aloud, first time I read a book in two sittings, first time I got to share a book, to take it in at the exact same time that someone else is. I was a radio, except I got to listen to me, too.
This book had a profound effect on me. It told my imagination to just skip, baby, skip. It gave me permission to daydream again (and now that I’m retired, I have the time). Childhood memories and story ideas just raced through my head. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that stirred up my imagination so much. Without question, the book went right on to my precious Blew My Mind shelf.
Time to go home. I was totally high on the book. I had to trade my car for a pogo stick and I hopped all the way down the winding Novelty Hill Road. I was just too wired and exhilarated to do anything but bounce.
Check this book out; maybe you’ll have an experience like mine. Each story in this collection takes you someplace exciting, fantastical, comfy, and wise. Get ready.