The Email.

I went to my local library with a friend, I hadn't seen anything that interested me that day, so I wasn't taking anything out. At the check out, the assistant a young man said, “you not taking anything out” I replied, “No, haven't seen anything.” He then said to me, “This has just been returned, it is very, very funny,” I said, “really?” He said, “yes, it is laugh out loud funny.” I looked at him, and thought, he is a lot younger than me, different cultures, what could we have in common to laugh about, but I got nothing to lose, after all I didn't have to read it! My Husband likes people on TV that makes him laugh until he cries. I remember going with him to see the Mighty Boosh, as he wouldn't go on his own, and everyone was the same as him, totally in stitches!! I just looked around the room, amazed! I don't find them funny at all!! He also likes another man, very controversial, I bought him a ticket to see him last year, for his Birthday and he was annoyed with me as I'd only bought one ticket! But, 1. we couldn't afford two and 2. I don't like him. He refused to go on his own! So I tried to sell it on eBay but it didn't sell for my asking price. So we were stuck with the ticket. He said, “No one would buy, just one ticket,” he didn't want to go on his own. I said, to him, “Everyone in the room will be the same as you, laughing their socks off, you will be OK once you inside, no one will notice you on your own.” Then to make matters just that bit worse, I'd promised to take him, and then I was asked to work, so he had to go on the bus!!! He was not happy. Husband went to see the controversial man and he said, “It was the best event he had ever been to in his life!” He also said, he “Wet himself laughing!” He couldn't thank me enough, and when I found the man's email address and told him how much my Husband enjoyed his show, I said to Paul, “Do you want to add anything to my email, to him?” He did.

So when this young man behind the till at the library said, this book he was holding in his hand was very funny, I didn't quite believe him, but took it any way, I thought I may smile, but I didn't expect to even do that. For it would take a lot to make me laugh, as my sense of humour is not to everyone's liking.

The only time I read, is when I take one of the children to swimming lessons and to ballet lessons, no other time, each time its an hour. I started reading the book and I thought, if I don't get into it I am not bothering with it, life is too short, I'd rather read the newspapers on line on my mobile, which is what I do every day, read the papers on line, but not usually on my phone but on computer at home.

From the very first chapter I laughed. But because I was in a public place either at the baths or in a very quiet ballet waiting room, I couldn't laugh out loud! So instead my shoulders, were jigging up and down as I was trying my hardest to contain my giggles. Many times I had to hold my hand over my mouth, for what would all the other Parents think, me sat there, laughing out loud, it just wouldn't do, no does that, for although some near me would be able to see I had a book in my hands, but not those higher up at the baths and besides, no book is that funny!

I'm a slow reader, and each week I would bring my book, and I LOVED IT! I got to know the Writer, his family and friends etc. I had this book about month.
Then on Monday I saw, “Final Chapter” my heart sank. I didn't want it to end!! I then decided to write him an email to tell how much I'd enjoyed reading his book, for two years ago, Paul read a book and he enjoyed it SO much, that at the end, he emailed the Author, and told her what he'd thought of her moving, true story. So tonight after work, I came home and sat at my computer, first I Googled his image to see what he looked like, people never look like how you expect them to look, he didn't, but I liked his face, I'd never heard of him before and therefore didn't know anything at all about him. I looked at all his images and then looked on eBay for other books by him, I wanted to get a funny one, but I don't think anything could beat this one. I then went back to Google and typed in his name, Miles Kington, email address and an article said, “He is still missed after five years” so I assumed he had retired, but as I started reading, it became clear, five years ago January 2013 he had died of cancer!

I was gutted!

Truly gutted!

I won't read it again, his book “Someone Like Me” but I will tell the young man in the library, “You were right, it was very funny.” I'll thank him for telling me about it. What will I read at ballet and swimming now, next we? I'll have to go back to reading my newspapers on line.

R.I.P. To a Genius.