A Monday snapshot
Small child straddling two barstools, running toy cars up and down the high counter. Another child sprawled on floor, drawing a picture. A third hovering by the cedar chest at the far end of the sofa, at loose ends. A leggy teenager spidering sideways in the comfy armchair. A perfectly typical scene of mild morning chaos.
I curl up in my rocking chair with House at Pooh Corner. The younger set hasn’t heard it yet, in that way that shocks me. They are six, almost nine, and eleven, for Pete’s sake! How could such a thing have happened? Answer: SO. MANY. BOOKS. With no fanfare, I open it and start reading.
The child on the floor flashes a starry grin and scoots closer, her pencils rolling under my feet. The child at loose ends looks up, ears perked. The small one zooming his cars around seems not to notice, but all the engines appear to have undergone sudden tuneups: their roars diminish to silky purrs.
It takes me a minute to find Pooh’s voice. It’s been a few years, after all. Piglet is easy and Eeyore—this revelation would no doubt astonish him—is a delight. It’s snowing, tiddley pom, but at least there hasn’t been an earthquake.
The cars have abandoned the counter and are crossing a bridge of air toward the Hundred Acre Wood. The teenager’s limbs have been transferred to the sofa. The no-longer-hovering child has claimed ownership of the big brown armchair. Nobody knows, tiddley pom, how cold my toes are growing. The postman rattles the lid of the mailbox, delivering the day’s contingent of recyclables. Pooh’s voice has settled down, and the wind must have blown Eeyore’s house over the wood because there it is, just as good as ever, and better in places.
It’s a beautiful house, tiddley pom.
sarah says:
Oh so wonderful.
On April 8, 2015 at 11:53 am
Louise says:
It’s not the toes so much as the ears, I grumbled to myself as I trudged through yet more whirling snowflakes (in APRIL, and I agree with LM Montgomery that snow in April is abominable) on my way to the library this afternoon. And then laughed, because yes, at least we haven’t had an earthquake lately.
On April 8, 2015 at 1:00 pm
tanita says:
It’s a lovely scene, tiddly pom. Reading is magnetic…
On April 8, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Hanni says:
I would love to hear you reading pooh.
On April 8, 2015 at 5:18 pm
jep says:
We just read this story to our four year old granddaughter a few weeks ago. You are so right, so many books, but we must remember the really good ones….tiddly pom and “Tut-tut, it looks like rain.”
On April 9, 2015 at 6:24 am
maria says:
One question…..will you be my mummy? 🙂
A wonderful read-aloud transports me to childhood in an instant. *blistful sigh*
And once again Melissa, you make me feel normal. My kids were six to eleven when House at Pooh Corner was first pulled from the bookshelf and yes, I was a gasp…how had that happened. I too worked to get Pooh’s voice just so.(Eeyore, being my fave, was easy to find though) Such fond memories! Piled on the sofa giggling with glee as we read of Pooh’s adventures. *blistful sigh*
🙂
On April 9, 2015 at 7:52 am
maria says:
This is wonderful! —>”the day’s contingent of recyclables” heeheehee!!!!!
From this day forth junk-mail shall be referred to as “the day’s contingent of recyclables”. 😀
On April 9, 2015 at 7:57 am
lesley austin says:
Just beautiful! You and Milne are spell-weavers…
On April 9, 2015 at 7:58 am
Vicki says:
Before I had kids, I had no idea how often and randomly I would say, “tut-tut, it looks like rain” and “isn’t it funny how a bear likes honey? Buzz, buzz, buzz, I wonder why he does?”
On April 10, 2015 at 11:15 am
Melanie Bettinelli says:
Delightful. I feel a sudden itch to get down the Pooh again.
On April 10, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Lindsay says:
I just noticed Pooh in the bookcase again last night, and wondered if the “the Boy,” who is about to graduate from college, remembers. Wonderful to be able to go back and visit the Hundred Acre Wood with younger siblings, or failing that, kids you babysit for, or your own kids, or grandkids. May have to get those books out and re-read them for myself — “tiddly-pom.”
On April 10, 2015 at 7:46 pm