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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 11:29:21 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled and looked down at the boy. It was a good sign that he already seemed interested in books. His grey eyes twinkled with humor, and he started reading, loud enough for Gawain to listen, if he was interested.*
"The Once And Future King, by T.H. White. Book 1: The sword in the stone. Chapter one. In medieval England Sir Ector raises two young boys—his son, Kay, and an adopted orphan named Art, who has come to be known as the Wart. The boys are taught chivalry and mathematics, and although Kay makes mistakes in his lessons, he is rarely disciplined, since he will one day inherit his father’s lands and title...."
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 11:37:28 GMT -5
*Gawain listened quietly, his eyes shifting from the book to the old man, watching the way his face moved when he spoke.*
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 11:41:05 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled when he noticed Gawain listening, and he continued reading.*
"Drinking port one day, Sir Ector and his friend Sir Grummore Grummursum decide that they should go on a quest to find a new tutor for the boys, since their previous tutor has gone insane. It is July, however, and Sir Ector is busy supervising his tenants while they put the year’s hay out to dry.
One day after working in the fields, Kay and the Wart go hawking. They take the hawk Cully from the Mews—the room where the hawks are kept—and head into the fields. Even though the Wart is better at handling Cully, Kay insists on carrying the hawk, and he releases him prematurely in the hopes that the hawk will catch a nearby rabbit. Cully, who is in a temperamental mood, flies into a nearby tree instead and perches there, glaring evilly at the two boys."
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 11:46:39 GMT -5
*Gawain's brow lowered, his eyes confused, but he didn't say anything, instead staring at Merlin.*
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 11:54:09 GMT -5
*Merlin noticed the confused look in Gawain's eyes. He looked at him and spoke to him calmly.*
"Do you have any questions, Gawain?"
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 12:00:18 GMT -5
*Gawain looked to the ceiling, trying to sort out his thoughts.*
"Www....word. Word ha..."
*He frowned.*
"Word hard."
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 12:12:03 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled and stroke Gawain's hair gently.*
"Well, in the beginning everything is hard. But as soon as you get used to it, it's getting easier. Words can be hard too. Especially when you can't read.
But one day the scrabble you see on the page will turn to letters. Then the letters will turn to words. And the words will turn to - well, words can be used for many things.
Casting magic spells. Telling wonderful stories. Communicate with other creatures. Singing a beautiful song. Giving a nice lady a compliment. Be harsh to an enemy. The choices are many, and the effects varies with how you use the words.
Words can be your best friend - but if you don't use them carefully they can also be your worst enemy."
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 12:15:13 GMT -5
*Gawain still looked really confused by the whole thing.*
"Hard." *He repeated, with more confidence.*
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 12:24:11 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled and turned the book against Gawain, to show him the illustrations of the chapter he had just read.*
"The writers know that words can be hard to understand. So sometimes they have the artists paint lovely pictures, to give the stories more life."
*He pointed at the illustrations.*
"This is Sir Ector with Kay and Art. This is the Wart working on his studies. He looks just as focused as you do. This is Kay and the Wart going hawking, and there you see the hawk Cully in a tree."
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 12:27:33 GMT -5
*Gawain was fascinated by the pictures, touching them with his fingers. He traced the tree.*
"Tr...tree."
*He looked up at Merlin with a smile.*
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 12:43:34 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled warmly and ruffled Gawains curls gently.*
"That's a good boy. The pictures will make it easy for you to fill out the story when you read it. Completing it and making the story more alive for you. Then the words stop being only words, and they will make a story, opening up a whole new world for you. And the world behind the books, can only be stopped by your imagination. And with a good imagination, you can change the world."
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 12:55:01 GMT -5
*Gawain moved his fingers to a figure.*
"Bbb....boy."
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 12:58:30 GMT -5
*Merlin chuckled with laughter. There was nothing wrong with Gawain's intelligence.* "That is indeed a boy. And look, he has curls too. Just like you." ((Please feel free to describe what is on the other pictures in the book. ))
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Post by Gawain on Jul 30, 2008 13:15:55 GMT -5
*Gawain placed his hand flat on his chest.*
"Boy." *He repeated.*
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Post by Merlin on Jul 30, 2008 13:23:14 GMT -5
*Merlin smiled and stroke Gawain's curls gently.*
"That is correct, Gawain. You are a boy. And a very bright boy too. I doubt another child would have adapted to his surroundings as well as you do. That takes intelligence. And you are indeed intelligent. I can tell just by looking into your eyes."
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