My next appearance at the Groton Public Library will be on November 30th. 6:30 pm. The talented Barbara Harvey will join us. She is a guitarist and singer. Norman, my gorilla friend, is already planning what he will wear. My three-year-old granddaughter, Ava, has requested to have a seat up front, next to me. When I asked her about this, she said, “Decuz, Norman needs me.”
“Why?”
“Grandma, you are so silly! You tagots Norman is berry shy,” Ava said, “He needs me to hold his hand.”
At his last library appearance, Norman danced with the kids, and Barbara let him use her guitar, while Ava watched from afar.
“Do you need to hold Norman’s hand?” I asked Ava.
“Yes, Grandma. I want to make friends with the other kids.”
During his years of working at the toy store, Norman helped many children who were shy. And even after retirement, I see that he continues to do this, wherever he goes.
“Ava, if you sit in the audience, you will be next to other children, and you can still be near Norman.”
She furrows her brow and walks over to Norman, who is sitting on our couch. Ava whispers into his ear, and then presses her nose to his. “Okay, Norman?”
“Grandma, he says if he gets scared, you can hold his hand.”
“I will,” I say, winking at Norman.
For more information on the Lullaby Concert, click on the links below:
http://www.town.groton.ct.us/library/childrens/programs.asp or http://www.americantowns.com/ct/groton/news/november-lullaby-concert-at-the-groton-public-library-231188