By the Light....

I was curious. I took the book with me and started reading it before I got to my bike to ride home. Home was about three miles away. The book was instantly engaging. I got to the point where I was reading until I ran out of building’s back light.  Walking the bike beside me. Then I was stopping to read the next page as I came under a streetlight. I really wanted to read it, but having to ride home as well. Soon I was riding to the next streetlight and reading a page, before riding on to the next.  I probably should have just put it in my bag and ridden quickly home. But it really was so appealing. I wouldn’t be able to read it easily when I got home. Even though sharing a room with three brothers had by this time changed (and thanks to two sisters moving out of home…thank you, thank you). I shared a room with just one brother, who was old enough to appreciate things such as The Goons’ radio show and other interests.
However reading till late was not encouraged and my brother would be needing to sleep. And since it was close to 11pm by the time I got home with the book, my family was already retired for the evening. Any noises, and our mother would out to check, to see if any lights were on. I had tried reading by the torch under the blanket, but usually it became too stuffy, as the blankets were the old scratchy, heavy woollen kind with the red stitched edge. “Warmth by weight” we used to say. Those living in tropical climates should appreciate the difference of sleeping under a thin sheet. It would be so much easier to lie under a single layer with your favourite book. Mind you, the light from the torch would be far more obvious. At some time, I came up with the idea of going to the toilet, once everyone had gone to bed. Sitting and reading there, for as long as possible was much easier as I could just leave the light on.
I learnt very early on, when spending time sitting on a toilet and reading, it is always better to put the lid down and sit on that, than perching on just the seat, as it tended to kill the back of the legs, requiring me to stand and stretch the leg every so often (Early DVT issues? – Deep Vein Thrombosis or Did Value Text). Occasionally this reading space was interrupted, by one or other of the family needing the bathroom. Then I would have to stop reading and make my way back to the bedroom where my brother lay mouth open and usually face hanging part ways off the edge of the bed, occasionally snoring, snuffling and breathing noisily. Nowadays, I continue to be a light sleeper but have been told (previously) that when I snore, no one can sleep or read.
(Continued tomorrow)