How to warm a librarian's soul

As I write this post, I am mindful of Auntie Christy, my sister-outlaw, who is a librarian in Southern Oregon.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and it was very exciting for Niranjana. Not only did Grandpa and Grandma arrive from Portland, but the neighbors came over for dinner. This wound up our little girl pretty tightly.

She didn't want to head to bed until very late because of all the activity. Finally, Grandma got her into her PJ's, and Grandpa read her two stories. After a bit of cajoling, Melissa got her to bed, where she read a story. Niranjana decided to "read" a book on her own, then the lights went out.

From our bedroom, where I was reading, I heard crying, then wailing. What was she screaming? It sounded like, "I want to read! I want to read!" Behind that was the desperate call of "Daddy!" from Melissa.

I went into Niranjana's room, where our little darling was, indeed, crying and demanding, "I want to read!" Apparently, Melissa had turned out the lights prematurely - at least according to Niranjana. I asked if she would like me to read a book.

"Yes!" she cried, then added, "Two!" What a manipulator. Or at least a negotiator.

I said I would read but only if she stopped wailing, which she promptly did. Three books and a goodnight prayer later, Niranjana was out.

As writers and lovers of literature, we could not have been happier to have our little girl crying out, "I want to read! I want to read!" The way she is starting to recognize her letters, perhaps it won't be too long before she actually can.