An Author’s Day (story)

Miss Silver stood in front of her grade three class, and smiled.

“I’m so pleased to introduce our visiting author,” she said. “Mr. Laurent is here to help us write story ideas.”

“Could we get published too?" asked Kathryn and Dustin.

“Be patient,” Miss Silver answered. “There will be time for questions later.”

Many children had stories to share. They squirmed in their seats waiting with a bucket full of questions.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Mr. Laurent said. “Now class, the first thing I want you to do, is look out the window. Then I’ll ask what you have seen.”

Miss Silver seemed confused, scratched her head then sat down.

"Everyone sees things differently, even writers," Mr. Laurent explained.

Brandon noticed four trees. Cindy saw floating clouds.

“If I close my eyes I can see a bird nest. With little babies waiting for dinner!“ Leah shouted.

“Aha,” Mr. Laurent said, pointing his finger in the air. “That’s the kind of imagination a writer needs. Now everyone get in a circle on the floor.”

As he walked around the room Mr. Laurent listened to each child.

Ryan said, “I can pretend that tree was planted by my granddad. “

Then Mr. Laurent told him about himself, his family and how as a young child he wanted to travel and meet people, then write about his adventures.

Each child’s ear opened wider than the ocean, not wishing to miss a word.

Suddenly Mr. Laurent stopped and asked different students speedy questions. "Do you write stories? What kind? Is it fun? How come? They came hurling like spears with huge question marks on the end.

Raised hands wagged like pussy willows blowing in the wind.

“Your drawings of animals and birds are well done,” he said.

“Miss Silver says it’s important to know about Nova Scotia," Paul spoke up.”

"That’s the subject I wish to speak about,” Mr. Laurent grinned. “I enjoy camping and hiking in the woods, as some of you do. Nature is full of stories that can help your imagination.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Tell me something about your favorite animal or bird,” Mr. Laurent asked.

“I have a story about my cat, Minou,” Andrea said, reading from her notepad.

Daniel spoke about his Goldfinch. Some children told stories of their dogs. Others read poems on horses, snakes and chickadees.

“I’m sure you heard limbs creak and poplar leaves rustle. In fact, the forest has a life of its own,” said their visitor.

“Yes…Yes” the children responded.

“Close your eyes and try to imitate Nature’s sounds,” Mr. Laurent asked.

Noises began shyly at first. Soon, more filled the room.

"The wind can stir up the land like a mighty trumpet,” said Mr. Laurent. “And a whistling hurries between the trees," he added.

“YES!!” Everyone shouted, eyes still closed. “We can hear it!”

"Think about your own outdoor memories. Pretend you’re there, right now," Mr. Laurent said. “Not only wind and sky, but animal friends too.”

As the children concentrated, images seemed to come alive.

Some remembered the wind with its "WHOOSHIE" sounds. Almost like a giant puffing mightily in the forest. Or was it more like a young child splashing through shallow water?

Mr. Laurent said, “Pretend you’re one of the animals or birds.”

And Jody jumped around like a deer, one hand behind acting like a tail.

Ryan and Anthony awkwardly hopped like two fluffy rabbits. Tyler howled after them like a chasing wolf. Marcie, Travis and Colin flapped arms as a family of eagles about to leave the nest.

And Cody bellowed like a moose.

Some children scampered like squirrels. And wiggled noses at each other.

Mr. Laurent imitated loons greeting an early morning mist. “Their high-pitched sounds climb like steps leading to the sky,” he said.

Then he made bubbling sounds with his lips. “It’s the call of a mother deer for her fawn. They use different sounds from your parents” he laughed.”

“And a raccoon’s "CHIRRR" is a greeting to a friend!” Sasha shouted.

Animal and bird noises came from every corner in the room.

The clap of a hand copied the sounds of a beaver. “They slap their tails warning of danger as they dive into Maple Lake,” Matthew said, nodding his head.

“He should know since his family lives in the country,” whispered Miss Silver. Her head twisted from side to side, as if she was watching a game of tennis. She looked as if her eyeballs would pop as she watched the classroom frenzy.

Children crawled like snakes. Others acted as a pack of coyotes. Sam and Margaret were hunched over raccoons, sniffing and pawing at the air.

Vida and Baxter wildly flapped their arms, "caw-cawing," like crows.

Chelsea and Courtney stood on desks as spruce trees.

Little Brendan wasn’t afraid of the confusion because he had already heard most of these sounds. His dad often took him hiking and canoeing.

Of all the noises, “Chick-a-Dee-Dee-Dee” sounded more real than the rest. Except for Tracey who banged her nose on the floor pretending to peck seed.

Children stood on chairs, sat on desks, even crept around on the floor. Some imagined they were rays of sunshine peeking between tree branches.

Others with fingers dripping from the aquarium, acted as clouds.

A few children pointed as moonbeams, creating a path like a flashlight in the silence of the night. Everything happening in the class was so awesome.

The classroom was no longer a place with neat rows of chairs and desks. It was messy from all the movement and excitement of active minds.

And exhausted children were scattered around the floor like pillow feathers.

Forgotten were schoolbooks, arithmetic, even tests and homework.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying this make-believe forest, surrounded by the memory of blue sky and windy lakes.

Someone drew a little creek on the blackboard with tadpoles and water spiders. Then scratched in outlines of white water lilies.

With both hands raised, Mr. Laurent walked into the center of the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing. And waited.

“Stories develop from memory and feelings,” Mr. Laurent said quietly. “And come alive through your imagination. Did you have fun?”

“YESSS!!” was a deafening answer.

Then he sat down.

Miss Silver’s face lit up, all teeth showing. “It’s finally over,” she mumbled.

As if a magic wand was waved, everything changed. The classroom was no longer a forest with moss, trees, animals or even bird sounds.

Once again it was a room filled with desks, books and blackboard notes. And it was Mr. Laurent’s turn to smile.

Everyone else did too.

“I’m going to write a story about your visit,” Melanie promised.

* * *

© Richard & Esther Provencher