When I was little, my mom always used to read to me when I was struggling to fall asleep; so when I had learned every word in a book, I begged my dad to let me read it out loud to him. I will never forget the first time I read to him while he was laying in his recliner chair in our living room. Sitting on the floor excited to start, I began and page by page getting more into it. I remember feeling like a grown up because I was the one reading, not the one being read to. As I flipped to the last page of the book, which hadn’t taken very long since the first page, I said “The End,” and looked up for some sort of acknowledgement. Instead of a seeing my dad smiling and clapping for me, I looked up to find him sound asleep in his chair. I decided I would never read to him again, even though he apologized the next morning. The first time I read to him would also become the last time. My mom and I still make fun of him today about what had happened. Of course now I laugh about it, but when it happened I found it anything but humorous. I know better not to be surprised if he falls asleep when he’s in his chair while I am talking to him, and definitely if I’m reading to him.
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ReplyDeleteWell this is my second comment....but I just couldn't stay away from this amazing post. You use your literay voice in such a way that I feel like im in the room falling asleep listening to you read. This is a compliment. In all honesty you elaborate thouroughly on the ironic situation in which your dad fell asleep listening to the very thing that was designed to make you sleep.
ReplyDeleteHah, this is so funny. But, also so sad. I really like the descriptions you gave. I think that reading outloud for the first time is a really special time. And when you said "I had learned every word in a book..." I can totally imagine that. Like, before people actually can read and understand the words, we tend to memorize them in a certain book. And we memorize how those words look, and explore new books....ANYWAYS, what book was it? I also think your ending is very strong.
ReplyDeleteI find it quite amusing how typical this story is of your relationship with your dad. Having known you as a kid I can deffinitly picture ur dissapointment and defiance when you realized he had fallin asleep. Also its pretty funny because I have seen him do just that on multiple occasions( fall asleep in that chair).Do you think this event affected the reader you became as you grew up?
ReplyDeleteWow. I find this to be a powerful piece. I find myself smiling at a very disappointed little Lizzy. There is a feeing as if I am in the room with you. The irony of this little girl looking for some sort of approval only to be disappointed by her sleeping father. Really strong piece!
ReplyDeleteI love the flow in your writing. I feel like I can picture everything! Perhaps because I can remember watching shows "with my dad." He would come home after a long drive and 3 consecutive days of work, and instead of telling me off for wanting to hang out with him, he would sit on our old and Amazingly comfortable chaise lounge while I put on a show or played some game, and he would pass out with a snore. Reading your entry brought back warm memories (: Also, the sentence "I know better not to be surprised if he falls asleep when he’s in his chair while I am talking to him, and definitely if I’m reading to him" doesn't make sense towards the beginning. Otherwise, or still, flawless.
ReplyDeleteI really like your use of anecdote, and I can completely picture your dad doing just this. I think this was a really good memory to share as your early memory because it's both funny and a some what negative experience which sets your entry apart, I can relate to this, I'm pretty sure my first attempts to read allowed were overlooked and underappreciated by my family.
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