The Power of Books

This is the first time I've joined in this bloghop.

The rules are simple:  there is a photo prompt five randomely generated words

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story

2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.

3) You have until next Tuesday to link up your post.
4) Link up with your blog hostess (Nicole, Carrie, Tena or Leanne) when you’re done via the inLinkz linky below.

5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow.

(Randomly generated) Mandatory Words:

mole

napkin

poison

concert

neck

The Power of Books

He had to stay with his Nan while his mum was at work.  They had to go in to town to the library to get a book his Nan wanted. He wandered down the aisles between the two huge book shelves towering above him.  His Nan always told him how reading was exciting and how you could get lost in a book.  He always told her reading was boring. 

His dad said he was dyslexic like he was.  He wanted to be like his dad.  His mum said his dad didn't study at school and was naughty and that’s why he didn't have a job now.  His dad was always busy though.  His dad had a car.  His dad had an X-box.  His dad had a big television.

His mum worked four days a week and was always tired.  His mum said they didn't have enough money.  So his dad didn't work and he had enough money and was going to a concert in London next week.  He didn't understand adults.

His Nan had left him to wander through the library while she went and chose her books.  She needed to find something on how to get rid of the mole hills on her lawn.  Granddad had asked her to find out.  He didn't know why she didn't just Google poison for moles.  That would sort them out.

He tilted his head back and felt the strain on his neck as he looked up at the shelves.  Who wrote all these books?  Where did all these words come from?  Why did people read books? 

There was a book just poking out, tantalising him.  He could just see the cover.  It had a picture of some dragons on it.  Perhaps it was to do with a computer game.  He reached out with his hand and took it down from the shelf.

His fingers trailed over the picture as he held it in his left hand, his right hand hovered over the fly leaf as he opened the cover and started to read.   He sat down cross legged on the floor and pulled the hood of his red jacket over his head. 

He reached in to his pocket and pulled out the napkin he’d saved from lunch and wiped his hands so they were clean as he turned the first page. 

He leaned back against the sturdy bookshelves as he became lost in another world of magic, myth and flying monsters.

‘There you are,’ whispered his Nan.  ‘Are you ready to go?’

He looked up with glazed eyes as he slowly came back to reality. 

‘Can I keep this book, Nan, please,’ he asked.

‘We’ll get you a membership card for the library,’ she said smiling, ‘and then you can borrow and read as many books as you like.’

Word count: 471

A - Z 2013 Reflection Post

REFLECTIONS A – Z 2013

 

My friends are resting

After 26 days of blogging

I miss them so much

I feel so out of touch

Some have come back and reflected

Full of wonder at how blogs were crafted

Some unfortunately fell by the wayside

With blistered fingers and scratchy eyes

The posts went up daily apart from Sundays

Some pre-written some last minute whimsies

Statistics are there for those who like those things

I was just happy to break 100 and shout and sing

My year two went well with pre-planning posts

All that remains is to thank the hosts and co-hosts,

Background helpers who managed the participants

With a quiet and unobtrusive presence

Congratulations to everybody who finished A – Z 2013

Now take a deep breath and get back into your routine.

A - Z APRIL 2013 - Z

ZINNIA

(Zumba instructor from nearby town)

Twice a week she drove for a quarter of an hour

Through the back lanes parallel to the River Stour

From the large market town with its railway station

Fast express trains that could take her, on a whim, to London

Traversing the narrow country lanes with hedges so high

She goes through the routine lunging from feet to thigh

Motivating everyone to move in time to Latin music

Arms and legs into some sort of style, frantic, rhythmic

As she parked the car, she saw Winston pack up his gear

She’d love to follow his ‘chi’ to the pub or elsewhere

Never mind, she’d heard he was married with a kid

So she won't go there, she knows he’s off the grid

Her biological clock was ticking fast and furious

She knew time was flying by in her thirties

She was fit, active and quite a pretty young woman

She would not end up a lonely spinster and barren.

A - Z APRIL 2013 - Y

YVONNE

(Neighbour on the other side of Bill and Ellen)

Yvonne was glad she decided to come out tonight

She needed a bit of laughter after such a fight

It wasn’t worth it some days she thought

She should know by now there was no comfort

Making friends isn't easy and she tries so hard

Sometimes it’s like wading through a lump of lard

What does it take to be accepted?

When you’re considered to be slightly eccentric

She wasn't different or strange

She was unique and too old to change

Her life was what it was and not that bad

She saw others all happy and felt sad

Then she picked herself up and dusted herself down

Next week she’d arranged a trip on the train to town

Perhaps Harrods or the Ritz for tea

Oh, dream on girl, dream on you silly-Billy.

    

A - Z APRIL 2013 - X

XAVIER

(Cousin of Amber on father’s side)

I don't see why I have to stay with my cousins

They’d better not treat me like one of their pet orphans

My dad left my mum and she can’t cope

All week she just sat and cried and moped

I’m supposed to play with Harry all nice and friendly

Then that Amber, so stuck up, wants to be all chummy

 But she won't let me on her laptop to play my games, it’s not fair

Harry is hogging the X-box although he’s been told to share

I’ll tell Aunty Carol and she’ll try to hug me

I can't let them see I’m upset so I try to be chatty

I just want to go home and be with my mum

I promise I won’t be a problem.

A - Z APRIL 2013 - W

WINSTON

(Tai Chi Instructor, new to the village)

He thought he was lucky to rent Rickyard Cottage

He wanted a fresh start, to leave behind any baggage

Winston wondered how long it would take

He hoped against hope he hadn't made a mistake

He wanted to be accepted as part of the community

He did his best with his instructor training in Tai Chi

He unlocked the door to the village hall

That old smell of must and many years of footfalls

Assailed his nostrils, evoking past memories

Of trying to push against social boundaries

Luckily this new group he was teaching were receptive

To a new way steeped in the old ways to become more active

Gentle, low impact exercises, improving flexibility

Alleviating stress, developing lung capacity

Hearing the laughter of his first students arriving

He started his MP3 with River of Qi playing.

A - Z APRIL 2013 - V

VINCE

(Graham’s friend)

Hey, mate, fancy coming out for a pint

I’ll meet you in the pub about eight.

Vince knew he wouldn’t get a text reply

Graham wouldn’t resist a pint and a pie

He might bring Carol with him if she wasn't busy

He wished he could find a woman just as classy

They compared notes on their respective jobs and work

They moaned and groaned some and said what irked

Then they thanked their blessings for being employed these days

The double dip recession made it hard for people in lots of ways

The conversation moved around to food and lunch on Sunday

Vince was pleased to be invited to spend the day

A home cooked roast lunch with all the trimmings

A bottle of red wine in his hand would be quite fitting.