Have you ever…
Have you ever had a book that had you at hello? One of those
stories where you read the title, saw the picture, or just read the back and you
were hooked. Caught yourself in the checkout line reading the inside folds,
about the author, New York Times comments, and maybe even the beginning of the
story? Stumbled with your purse after two people had to get your attention
because your nose was in the book trying to get to that next scene in the first
chapter?
After gathering your money, getting the receipt, and
thankfully not dropping anything else you shuttle off somehow avoiding the
display sign which you think, “when did that get there?”.
You have somehow made it to the car and set your new prized possession
in the passenger seat. Which as you take off down the road you realize that may
not have been a good idea since it is now in your peripheral vision and is taunting
you.
Thankfully you have made it home and survived only to get in
the front door and having people talking, animals wanting attention, things to
do, and nowhere for silence. How frustrating it is to be holding your little
treasure and not be able to enjoy it until in the evening when the house has
settled, people are going to bed, and the world has seemed to calm down.
Once you finally get some alone time with your book it
suddenly becomes a whole new world. Your room fills with nothing but the sound
of the characters talking or you are leaned forward waiting for the next part
to the most irritatingly drawn out scene ever, but it was worth it.
Page by page you follow the book from one calm moment to a
rush of excitement almost in the battle yourself or locked in the arms of a
lover. The only thing pulling you back to reality is the realization that you
can’t hold your bladder forever and eventually it will win. So you slowly crawl
your way to the bathroom holding onto your book. There’s a seat! You’ll take it
with you!
Time has flown by and you managed to make it back to your
quiet room where it is filled with heart felt emotion from the characters in
the book. The sun has long since gone to bed, but you have to keep reading. You
have to know if they will get together, if they will ever find out who’s behind
all the deadly attempts on your beloved characters’ lives, and how will it end?
Your spouse has given up talking you into bed. Soon the
words begin to blur a little and you find yourself rubbing them more and more
with the turn of each page. You have already succeeded in laughing at the book,
arguing with it, and may have even shed a tear.
Finally you are coming to the end. You don’t want it to, but
it has to come. Your heart is still pounding as you turn to the last page and
read the last few lines holding your breath a little and at the last words
releasing it was satisfaction. Nothing could beat that moment. That rush of
enjoyment--which you were held so close to for so long--finally finishing the
book.
You take another deep breath and close the book. Tap the
cover and place it worthily on your book shelf. You stand for a long needed stretch
and rub your back. It is only when going to bed do you realize that it is
almost morning and soon the house will again be alive and the world will
continue moving, but it was worth it.
By B. Franklin
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