Chapter 1
Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the
act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.
In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that
they need for digestion."
I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. It looked
something like this:
I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them.
But they answered: "Frighten? Why should any one be frightened by a hat?"
My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another
drawing: I drew the inside of a boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups
could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. My
Drawing Number Two looked like this:
The grown-ups' response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of boa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myself instead to geography,
history, arithmetic, and grammar. That is why, at the age of six, I
gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter. I had
been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing
Number Two. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it
is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to
them.
So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me.
At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in
the night, such knowledge is valuable.
In the course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among
grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn't
much improved my opinion of them.
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find
out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it
was, he, or she, would always say:
"That is a hat."
Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and
golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly
pleased to have met such a sensible man.....
Replies
Dearest Sahar,
I'm very happy to be able to practice my speaking here, too. I hope you won't mind my extra recording:) I think it's a very good flat form for our speaking if we be able to discuss it through audio. I just wanna take this chance as I know you are a considerate person..Making mistakes is no big deal. :) ....(I'm shy really, cos I feel that my speaking is not that good yet. I made many mistakes and I'm not that confident speaker. But I heartily wish to be a good speaker someday so I just make my face thick here, hehhe..
Let's bring our group to the next level!..I hope you'll agree with me :)
Dear Mayumee
I've listened to it just now
It is a great job!
But unfortunately I couldn't download the second part. Let me try it later maybe it is because of the Internet speed here.
And your idea about having audio discussion!
It is unique for me!
I like it so much, because I need practicing speaking too. What can be better than this nice story!
I need some time to make myself ready, if you tell the truth I am not so familiar with recording my voice and sending it here, please let me have some times.
I will try to do my best, but I don't like that this process be stopped, so if you can please record the second part too.
I am trying to be with you here.
Dear Sahar,
I understand. I will record again the second part. :)
If you'd like you can choose from the vocaroo, audioboo and cinch. Vocaroo is very easy to use. No need to register but unfortunately not good in voice quality and after one month the recordings are deleted. Hmm, I tried to sign up to the audioboo but not successful. Then the cinh,..it has a very good voice quality and the recorded audio are not deleted even after a long time.
In cinh, they will ask you to register. It's free and only a short fill out form..then you can now record your voice and embed it. After embedding it, you can paste it to the page you want by clicking the "HTML" above the comment.
Thanks Mayumee, my dear!
Let me see what I can do in this field.
I will try to do my best certainly.
.......
Dear Mayumee!!
How nice your voice is here.
Thanks... Thanks!!
Please, let me listen to it completely!
Oh thanks thanks, really! Ahhh, I was so nervous recording my voice, cos it's my first time here in our group that I did it....and I did it! I couldn't believe!
I'm afraid the recording was cut..:( but it's ok, it's only few words. As what I remember I was just asking about what you thought about the first drawing when you first saw it.
I'm looking forward to hearing your recording...Ah, I can't wait..
Bye for now, dear Sahar..
You left me a very exciting night to dream....
Have a nice dream...
Just finish chapter 1...Hope it has a mp3 download. :)
Dear Mayumee
I've tried to find MP3 for this story, today.
I found one but after downloading it didn't work!!
Now,
Let's search for it together :)