If anyone wants to know why Bowmanville, a historic town east of Toronto, is becoming so popular with young families, retirees and those in-between — many moving from big centres — the pictures below are one reason:
Would you believe we’re in a bank?
Yes, and it’s Storytime!
Author Viki McDonald (“Coach Tate and Team Triple 8”) and I were invited to read our stories at Bowmanville’s DUCA credit union.
Children and their parents sat comfortably on the blankets and comforters that the DUCA staff had spread on the floor.
Vikki and I sat in chairs made even more comfy with quilts that were made by the mother of DUCA manager Karen.
Are you feeling the small-town spirit yet?
We’d stop at times and ask the children questions about the storylines and they’d shout back answers, sometimes making everybody laugh.
Cupcakes and cookies were served.
The idea for a storytime came from staffer Meeghan, and was quickly accepted by Karen and the other staff. They approached me shortly after Myrtle the Purple Turtle was published. I was surprised, but also delighted.
And now I’m going to embarrass myself a little. When I first moved to this region a few years ago, I dropped into the DUCA branch. Taken aback by their kindness, I blurted out: “Are people here always THIS friendly?”
As you may know, I struggle with issues from a car accident, and one of them is that my brain doesn’t always co-operate with tasks that were once ridiculously easy. I also sometimes stutter and can’t get the words out clearly. But the DUCA staff took it all in stride, and when my book “An Honest House” (which describes my efforts to learn to live with those issues) was published, I went in to share the news.
Their reaction was such that you would have thought I was family.
So as I think about it, perhaps Storytime in a bank — authors reading their stories and young families seated happily on the floor, listening — makes perfect sense.
And we all loved it.
Thank you, DUCA staff! You’re wonderful.
Photos by Hamlin Grange.
Then Dolly (below) showed up in her purple wig and had me beat.
Cynthia Reyes 