Monday at the beach, The Skimmer and I were lying on our beach chairs, reading.
I said, "Are you skimming? Or are you reading?"
"I'm reading. Is it ok for me to dogear my pages?"
"Of course. What, are you afraid the book police are going to see you?"
"Well, I like to respect my books."
"Well, then, read the words and don't skim them! That's the best way to respect them."
"I am reading!"
"I love to put my mark on my books. Dig in to them. Dogear the pages, underline things. I like to eat my books up. Kowp, kowp, kowp!"
"You know, this guy is going into too much backstory here."
"You want to go in the water? What do you mean, too much backstory?"
We walked down to the water.
"I don't care about Amy's brother's son's problems. Or where Joe Blow went to college!"
"He's just trying to let you get to know the characters!"
"I don't care! Where's the monster who's going to kill them all!? That's all I care about."
"Oh my God. You are Hollywood Blockbuster Guy!"
"Listen Miss Subtitles, the monster better show up soon or I'm dumping out of this book."
Tuesday.
The Skimmer said, "Oh no. I broke the binding."
"That's ok! That's good. Means it's really your book!"
"You and I are so different. We have some things in common, but when it comes to stuff like this, we're just different."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're just weird, thinking it's ok to destroy a book like that."
"It's not destruction. It means it's yours. Kowp!"
By Wednesday, because of the salty, humid air, The Skimmer's book had broken into four different pieces. Then, finally the cover came off.
He was lying there reading each little section while the other pieces of his book were crammed into the beach bag. The book was truly his.
"I don't even think I could read a book like that."
"I have to. Can't stop now. The monster's killing everyone! From the inside out. It's disgusting."
"Well, I'm happy for you, Hollywood Blockbuster Guy."
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