06 April 2009

A Snippet from a Fun New Book

Having finally finished the last book in the Peter and the Starcatchers series, the children and I have really been enjoying a new book that we've only just begun: Framed, by Frank Cottrell Boyce (okay, so it's copyright 2005, but it's new to us). It really is quite a fun read.

Anyway, the following little snippet hit me just right this evening, as I was reading aloud to the youngins. It seemed not only cute but on the verge of profound, in a pop-philosophy sort of fashion. If nothing else, it made all of us laugh, and that's almost always a good thing.

Written from the first-person narrative perspective of Dylan, who's father owns a struggling gas station in a very small town:

"Tom's mam came to collect him in her little Copen. Tom wanted to say good night to Dad, but Minnie told him not to bother as he was in a bad mood.

"'Why's that then?' said Tom.

"Minnie said, 'You know you're not supposed to count your chickens before they've hatched? Well, imagine if you waited till they hatched, and then you fed the chicks and made sure they had water and antifreeze and oil checks, and then they grew up and flew away.'

"Tom said, 'I'm not sure you're supposed to give chickens antifreeze anyway.'

"'No, but . . .' said Minnie. 'Nothing. Good night." (Framed, 21)

1 comment:

Nicholai said...

Dad you have to explain what they are talking about. The dad owns a Car Garage and all his best customers are leaving