Short Story: 'My Summer Voyage'

I was looking forward to summer, but then I wished it had never come.

Everyone kept telling me, “don’t worry dear, It will be fun to stay in bed all summer, watching movies and eating all you want.” But I believed it would be dreadful.

Until one of the warmest voices brightened my days. “Grandpa!! Oh Grandpa, I’m so glad you came! I’ve been so sad lately!”

“Why so sad, sweetie? The sun is shinning and the summer has just begun,”  he said.

“But don’t you see? I’m stuck in this bed! Can't go anywhere!” I said.

“Who said you can’t go anywhere? I’m here to show you can have one of the most precious and exciting summers yet!” said Grandpa.

“Books? How will books be any fun?” I was confused.

“Well, dear, a book is like an airplane: it takes you places. The only difference is that you don’t have to move in order for that to happen. You just have to READ,”  said Grandpa.

“Really? But how?” I asked

"You just have to use your imagination and let the words of the book do the job,” said Grandpa with a smile.

“Let’s see… I want to try it!” I was so excited. “What book should we read first?”

“Hmmm… Let’s begin by this one: “My name is Amina. I live in Portland, Oregon. Today, we are flying to Egypt to visit my father’s family in Cairo…,” Read Grandpa.

And so we started to go places that day.

“Now what about this one?” said Grandpa.

“YES! I’d love to walk through London for a change.” I was the happiest.

“We just got off the bus in Westminster in the heart of London...” Whenever Grandpa read, I felt as if I was right there seeing it all. 

“This is Paris…”  

Traveling from Egypt to London, to Paris seemed  impossible until Grandpa showed me the magic of reading.

My summer was beginning to get exciting. For a moment, I forgot about my broken leg.

“Oh Grandpa, I Love You! Thank you for making my summer worth the while!” I hugged him. “I can’t wait to tell my friends about my summer voyage.”

All too soon, summer was over...

“I went places, more than I can count. I started my voyage by going to Egypt first, then I went to London, Paris, Venice, Tokyo, Mexico, New York and even the The Caribbean!” They asked me how and I answered: "by READING!"