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REFLECTIONS: For the love of books

Edith felt useless when she was laid off. “I have no skills other than for entry-level jobs,” she whined to her friend Jan. “What am I going to do?”
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(Metro Creative photo)

Edith felt useless when she was laid off. “I have no skills other than for entry-level jobs,” she whined to her friend Jan. “What am I going to do?”

“Start your job search, and perhaps do some volunteer work.”

“Are you kidding? I can’t work for nothing, Jan!”

“I understand,” her arm went around her friend’s shoulders. “What if you found something you love to do but never had the time for? Community service in the interim between jobs is rewarding. Wouldn’t that make you feel better about not earning a wage?”

“It could, since you put it that way. But, who’s buying my gas?”

“I have an idea. Thomson River Elementary School is near your place; let’s walk over and see if they could use any help.”

“Hey, I’m no teacher! What would I do at a school?”

“We’ll only know if we ask. How about tomorrow before lunch?” Edith was aggravated at Jan’s enthusiasm but agreed.

“Let’s find you a new avocation,” Jan blurted when she showed up the next day.

“Ugh, get off your soap-box, Jan! I only have an hour; I’ve promised to finish some posters for a church event.”

“So… you create posters?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty straight forward—print info, draw a little sketch, highlight with lots of colour and, voila, you have an attention grabber. It’s nothing, but I said I’d do it.”

At the school, they introduced themselves to the secretary who took them to meet the librarian. Mrs. Mae looked harried. “We just got a truck load of books, and I’ve got people erecting shelves, a few parents and retired folks painting the walls, cataloguing the shipment, and assisting me on the card systems. I’m sorry, but I’ve got all the help I need.”

On the way home, Edith sneered with satisfaction. “Well, that was a dead end. Got any more big ideas, Jan?”

Twisting her mouth, Jan just nodded… then, like a light bulb had come on, she stopped in her tracks. “Hey, we have to run back in for just a minute.”

“What now?” Edith lagged behind. What else could she possibly want to ask about?

Amidst the chaos, Mrs. Mae looked up, “You’re back.”

“Yes, um, would you consider having Edith create posters announcing those new books you’ve got? These fresh-painted walls are beautiful but they’re pretty bare.”

“Woe,” Edith elbowed Jan. “Wait just a minute!”

“Don’t cut me off, Edith. I’ve seen your sketches; I’m one person you haven’t hidden your creative side from!”

Mrs. Mae raised her brows with interest as Jan shared, “If the school can provide supplies like coloured felt-tip pens, India ink and poster board, Edith’s got the time and the talent to create posters!” Turning to her friend, she asked, “How ‘bout it, Edith?” They stared each other down.

Mrs. Mae didn’t hesitate and agreed to the proposal. Jan’s heart fluttered with nervous excitement. A mere two weeks later a journalist, keen on human-interest stories, responded to a call from the school to interview those involved in the project to bring awareness to their ‘Raise a Reader’ campaign.

Following the interview, Mrs. Mae and a student ceremoniously cut the bright ribbon with its phrase, ‘For the Love of Books’. Mulling around the attractive cubicles and displays, parents, teachers and kids admired the multi-dimensional posters identifying, in clever calligraphy, titles of new books. Eyes widened at the creative depictions—caricatures, animals, fantasy scenes, and story themes that were illustrated by Edith.

The community was abuzz over the campaign and the library’s new face-lift when the full-page lay-out, complete with photos, appeared in a special edition of the newspaper. In a lengthy column, Edith, Jan and scores of others like them, who donated many hours to the campaign in a volunteer capacity, were heralded.

Quoted in the article was Mrs. Mae’s heart-felt gratefulness. “We couldn’t have provided these services to our children without our wonderful volunteers! Thank you, everyone, for your hands-on generosity! You’ve made this a fine ‘raising a reader’ learning environment for our youngsters!”

Following the formalities, eager children clutched bundles of books in their arms and clustered in excitement to the check-out tables.

~ By Rita Joan Dozlaw

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news@starjournal.net

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