Sid Smiled

Sid Smiled

“We’ll be here a while,” said Tim, looking out the window.

“Well, plenty of food,” Sid replied, “still, no electricity, no TV, music...”

“Well, there’re lanterns, candles. Plus, there’s all those books,” he answered, pointing, “a wall of bookshelves!”

“Yeah, I don’t like to read...”

“There’s lots of different stuff, I bet you can find something. Let’s see... mysteries, novels, crime drama!” but getting no reaction he went on, “An entire encyclopedia, lots of non-fiction. You could learn something, a hobby maybe, find out why flies are annoying?”

“I don’t like to read” Sid said again, stubbornly.

“OK... suit yourself,” Tim plopped into a chair with a book.

Glancing up, he noticed his friend just sat at the window, seemingly deep in thought, not happy.

“Sid, are you upset about more than being stranded? Did I say something wrong?” he asked finally.

Sid looked at his friend, “Truth is, I don’t read very well. Hardly at all. I’ve never read a book on purpose in my life.”

“How did you get through school?” Tim asked, shocked.

“My sister. It was just us and Mom, Mom worked all the time. Susan read all the stuff to me, I just kept it in my head. I can read some, do the tests, write the answers, It’s just really hard.”

“You got through school by having Susan read everything to you? That’s amazing!”

“I’m better at remembering things than at reading. I always wished I could read though.”

“Maybe you can, just take it slow. There’s no pressure anymore, like back in school...”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start...”

“How about while snowed in a cabin, and in kindergarten... there’s a kid’s section here. What else have you got to do?”

His eyes lit up, “I could learn to read...” Sid smiled.