The Write on Wednesday Spark: Small expectations
As I am thinking about education and learning, kindergarten and university, I have taken this week's writing exercise from one of my early childhood books. It is an activity I do with small children and one that always inspires so I thought it would be fun to see what the exercise inspires in adults. So, your prompt is: Imagine yourself as tiny as your thumb.Where would you live? What would you do?
When I saw this prompt, I was immediately reminded of one of my favorite books, The Borrowers. It is an adorable book about a family just about as large as your thumb who live under a clock in a big house. I recommend the book to anyone who loves children's literature just as much as I do.
My favorite time is dinner time. When the Big Ones sit at the table and chatter and laugh, I can watch from the bookcase without being seen. They all love each other so much, and I find a warm feeling creeping from my toes to my nose. Being all alone all the time makes me lonely, but seeing them passing around the mashed potatoes and telling jokes makes my life just a little better.
I sit quietly behind Shakespeare and Luisa May Alcott, not making a sound, and watch them be a family. I don't need to be quiet, because the Big Ones wouldn't hear me even if I was screaming, but I like to listen. I enjoy the quiet.
In the Big Family, there is Big Mother, Big Father, and three Big Children. The Big Children smile all the time, and the Big Mother and Big Father love each other very much. Sometimes I wish I could smile all the time, or have someone who loved me that much. I am all alone. The days are long, but I don't mind because I have the Books. Living inside a bookshelf has its advantages. I read almost all day, trying to lose myself in the pages that are twice as big as I am. The letters are the size of my head, but I have learned to read by walking up and down along the pages. Reading is a journey, and every book is a new discovery.
Sometimes I wish I were Big. Then I could write and smile and see others like me. I could dance in the sun and not worry about the Big One's cat. Sometimes I wish for a miracle. A miracle that will never come true.
very nice. i feel sad for her (or him) and proud, at the same time. She's (he's) lonely, yet intelligent. Maybe you can continue... have her (him) somehow mingle with the Bigs....
ReplyDeleteGreat! yes, I can see (or want) for there to be an interaction between the bigs and the little. thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and love the character! I felt really moved by this part:
ReplyDeleteI read almost all day, trying to lose myself in the pages that are twice as big as I am. The letters are the size of my head, but I have learned to read by walking up and down along the pages. Reading is a journey, and every book is a new discovery.
It's such a great premise and the imagery is awesome. I think as a book it would make a great metaphor for the challenge children face in gaining the power to read and their focussing on every little word as if it's huge. Well done! I hope you work on this further. :)
I loved this! Touching and moving and written with heart felt words!
ReplyDeleteI like it! I have also read a book kind of like that, The Tale of Despauraux, and I think I like this more! Nice job!
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