“Dad, are we going to the tennis club?” asked Joel
“Hmmm”
Joel was excited. He was glad when his school closed for the summer. He disliked studies and did not have the patience for books. He had already enrolled in the swimming class and looked forward to tennis. His father drove through suburbs and stopped in front of the public library.
“Dad, what is this?”
“I will return in 3 hours.”
“Wait. Don’t go” shouted Joel
This was so unfair. Joel neither knew the way home nor did he have money. He walked reluctantly to the library. He had heard that Harry Potter was reasonably tolerable, so he went to the children’s section. He struggled through the first page, but found himself engrossed as the plot unfurled. He was still absorbed in his novel, when his father returned.
“Dad, can you wait for a few more minutes?”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Why?” Joel asked, distractedly. “Can we get a library membership card?”
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and Claire for the photo
This is great! Every one should have a library card.
Thank you, Deana:)
I also agree with you, Deanabo
I love that 😀
Thanks, Alastair:) At least, his father is trying to inculcate the habit of reading in Joel. Whether he takes it forward from novel to studies remains to be seen:) Thank you!
It does. Sometimes doing that is the best way. I did something similar with my daughter. I took everything electronic off of her and she was left with one book. Two days later I said about giving the stuff back, and she said it didn’t bother her, she was reading 🙂
that’s a clever tactic:) lol. Well, it worked with your daughter. so you can relate to this particular story:) Thanks
Well, a great idea, Alastair. I’ll try with my toddler 🙂
Clever dad….! 🙂
yes, and in this story, Joel was responded well. Maybe it is the magic of Harry Potter..
Indeed, Padmini…. Harry whisked him away with a wave of his wand..! 😉
Oh we think alike! Lol
Clever Dad! 🙂
lol. Yes:) Thank you for visiting again
oh this is beautiful. i wish this could happen to kids everywhere. and yup that’s one awesome dad.
True. Joel was also quick to adapt. Thank you, kz:)
Swimming lessons – sometimes throwing them into the deep end helps them come up with a love for reading, I reckon.
lol:) Thank you:))
Ha! Ha! Ha! You make me laugh, Eric. Reminded of my own stupid action during my teens. During learning swimming lesson with my dad, he often commented on my butt. My butt was seen on the pool. I can’t stand of myself. So hard to stick out my head. Angrily, I left the children pool alone while my dad was guiding my sister, mother, and brother. Walked slowly to the middle of the adult pool and … JUMP! I did this twice. Fear sets in. My hands waved the water strongly with my legs to keep myself afloat. Thank God I was rescued twice. Then I stopped 😦
Thank God that now, I can swim 🙂
Yes, Yoshiko – sometimes it does help to learn plenty – besides swimming.
It is like this father who threw Joel into a “deep end” full of books – he came out with a love for reading 🙂
🙂
It happened to me with Harry potter I mean I got hooked… Though I must confess I was studying in my college by then 🙂
What does age matter:) Some books are really interesting:)) Thank you for reading this
Well done, Dad! You too, Harry Potter!
lol. Thanks for stopping by, Perry
Nicely done. Hopefully a habit of a lifetime has started here…
Hope so:) Thank you, Sandra:)
Glad the dad’s tactic worked.
yes:) Thanks for reading
Dear Nightlake,
That dad had his thinking cap on for sure. I have to wonder what would’ve happened if the boy hadn’t been interested in the books at all. The story might have had a very different ending.
Well done,
Shalom,
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle, You are right. I thought about that after writing this..Joel probably would have been sulking somewhere around the library when his father returned and the plan would have been a failure. but wanted to draft a positive story based on the library:) Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts
Big, big Harry Potter fans in our house, so I can fully understand this! Great story:-)
Thank you, Trudy
Glad that worked. I can’t imagine life without a library card! Tricky dads are the best.
janet
Yes – he is just tricky, no arguments, no tears:) Thank you for reading, Janet
At that age, me and the other boys in my class were always giggling over photos in National Geographic. No wonder I turned out warped.
To each his own interest. Well, you seem have turned quite normal:) Thanks for reading this
libraries are wonderful!
True..They are sources of knowledge and a good place to pass time as well.
I actually feel they are important to free societies too. Let us hope the youngster read deeply and widely.
agreed:)
Yeah, libraries are wonderful, Bill
He’s hooked now. Once you get a library card, they’ve got you for life. 🙂 Great story.
True, you get addicted:)) Thank you so much
Nice closure!
Thank you, LD:)
This is so wonderful. Yes, exactly the way things should be! A great story, very well written with a wonderful inspirational message. 🙂
Thank you so much, Penny. much appreciate your visit and glad you like it. Hope you have a lovely week ahead.
you’re most welcome, padmini, I hope you will also, my friend!
Sneaky approach, but sounds like it worked out 🙂 Great story.
It might just work out:) Thank you, Anne
Hard to imagine not liking being in a library! Glad that changed for him.
Some people are bored with books. Thank you for reading.
I really like the way we see Joel fall in love with books. Well done on the turnaround in your story.
Thank you kindly, Sarah
Finding the love of a story can change everything. Very good use of the prompt!
Yes, and you cannot put it down once you are engrossed. Thank you kindly for reading
i love your dad in this story because he allows his child to discover on his own the magical world of reading…the power of self discovery! great story, Nightlake ♥
You are right. and thankfully, it went as the dad expected. Thank you, Sunshine. Cheers:)
☺
Parents can be so mean and sneaky in getting us to learn and grow. Great story!
Yes, sneaky is the right word:)) But it helps in the end. Thank you for visiting:)
I nominate you Super Sweet Blogging Award, Padmini. Please check it out at http://daylighttune.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/super-sweet-blogger-award/ 🙂 Wish you have a nice day.
Thank you so much, Yoshiko, for this and also all the other awards:) and congrats to you on receiving them as well:)
Thank you and most welcome, Padmini 😀
good one!
so glad you liked this, Sharmishtha
Its kinda like throwing them in the pool to teach them how to swim. Just kidding, no its not.
lol. almost:)