6th Grade Revisited - The Library Experience

WARNING MOM DO NOT READ THIS PARAGRAPH SKIP TO SECOND PARAGRAPH – My days in the library in sixth grade back in 1981 were spent hiding out from bullies during recess. They hated me and wanted to kick my butt just because I was not “black enough.” I did not read while I was there, just hid in between the stacks until the bell rang.

MOM YOU CAN BEGIN READING – Fast forward to now –My new opportunity to do sixth grade up right! Yea!! I went to our local library to get the same book my son is reading in school. I had to head downstairs to the “Kidz Zone” to get this particular book. As I am walking downstairs, I am thinking “Hmmmm I wonder if other 6th graders’ knees and ankles pop and crack as they walk down these stairs?” I guess I could have taken the elevator, but that would NOT be sixth-grade like.

Before I could leave with the book, I had to pay a 70 dollar library fine, (Ugh…don’t ask. I think I have bad library karma. Instead of using the books as a shield to hide me from the oblivious librarian back in the day, I should have picked up a couple books and read a few of them…I am sure that would have pleased the library gods.)

Anyway, my son and I started reading our book. It is called Swindle; it is about 6th graders, for 6th graders – SWEET! I am all excited, but then something happens. We are doing our “mandated” 20 minutes of reading and my son is flipping through those pages like nobody’s business, meanwhile my adult ADD kicks in. I am thinking about dinner, work the next day, spots on the carpet, etc…He read ten pages to my two in about 15 minutes. Now, tabloids I can read…go ahead ask me anything about Bennifer and Brangelina. But this stuff?…Actually having to like read and like learn and stuff…I hope I can make it, only 176 more days to go…STAY TUNED!