Carl, an employee of a bookstore that still hand delivers books, has some very loyal customers that he sees almost every evening, He enters their book orders into the computer, and when the books arrive he wraps them like gifts. Then he walks through the city and delivers each one. His customers look forward to his kind service.
Carl’s kindness extends beyond his deliveries. When the customer he refers to as “Hercules,” a former bodybuilder, asks Carl to tell him the entire story of the books he has ordered, spoilers and all, Carl obliges. Carl has surmised Hercules’ secret, but keeps it to himself-Hercules can’t read.
The reader may be wondering why a man who can’t read would order so many books. In the movie Driving Miss Daisy, the character named Hoke looks through the newspaper every day. He can’t read, but he can figure out what’s happening by looking at the pictures. Hercules orders books so he can hear the stories. Both of these characters have figured out a way to cope with the world of words.
As an adult literacy teacher, I have met many people who struggle with reading and have hidden it well. Carl treats Hercules with kindness, dignity, and respect. There may be people in your community with the same secret. Let’s do the same for them, and at the same time support our local libraries and adult literacy programs. Let’s share our love of reading!
Read with Cecile 