THE SORCERESS AND HER APPRENTICE




          Most mornings Mother brewed herself a cauldron of thick, black coffee; poured herself a steaming cup; sat in her easy chair; opened her dictionary; and studied its pages in much the same way a sorceress studies a book of magical potions. “Words are things of beauty,” she said as I nestled up next to her. “Each is like a magical powder that can be combined to create powerful potions and spells.” But all I saw was a flat object full of flimsy pages on which were printed lots of funny dark squiggles.

          I suppose Mother wanted me to share her passion for words and to learn how to create my own powerful spells with them. So, on my eighth birthday she gave me my first dictionary, The Oxford Children’s Dictionary; and I became her rather reluctant apprentice. While most children my age listened to bedtime stories, my bedtime regime included listening to Mother read a page from the dictionary—a practice that continued well into my high school years.

          Before entering junior high school, Mother taught me to use a thesaurus; and I graduated to reading a more age-appropriate dictionary learning bigger, more complex words and the hidden nuances that lay within the words’ letters and etymology. Somewhere along the way, a strange thing happened—my reluctance turned to enthusiasm; and I fell in love with words—intrigued by their subtle magical power. But like any inexperienced sorceress I didn’t always know how to properly unleash my power.

          Such was the case the day I uttered these words to my seventh-grade nemesis: “Jimmy, you’re the most obtuse person I’ve ever met!” I felt powerful knowing I’d insulted Jimmy with him being none the wiser. But my English teacher witnessed my misguided use of the word “obtuse” and sent me packing to the principal’s office wherein Mother was summoned to appear.

          After learning of my impropriety, Mother offered these words of wisdom: “Words are more than simple sounds or blots of ink on paper. When carelessly used, they’re hurtful and vulgar; they can crush confidence and provoke anger; they can turn sorrow into joy; and they can bind hearts or separate them. Words are sacred. They deserve your respect. Use them wisely.”




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