The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

30 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 3 green book and begins to read. The rugged landscape of Middle Earth at nighttime presents itself to you from his deep baritone before he dips down to reveal a party of Orc-raiders fighting each other as two small Hobbits named Merry and Pippin slip into the dangerous Fangorn forest. Your eyes begin to slip closed once more as you hear him tell of an elf, a man and a dwarf appearing on the scene. Your eyelids lose the battle and your vision is clouded with ebony. You take a moment to feel your surroundings before opening your eyes this time. Soft, cloth beneath your palms, cushy seating surrounds you, and the smell of cinnamon and cats in the air overwhelm your senses. Eyes opened, you gaze at the new setting. You behold the welcoming scene of a living room decorated in tans, dark browns, and hints of royal purple. There’s a baby grand piano in the left corner by a window, an unlit fireplace closer to you, and a large rug covering the wood floor. A little staircase separates a hallway that leads to a small, yellow kitchen from an armoire to the right of the piano, and a glass top table stands in the corner opposite of the piano. Another sofa across from yours holds my mother. She’s older – you can see it in the laugh lines and the sprinkling of silver in her raven hair. She’s reading a dark blue paperback with golden writing painting the front. “What are you reading?” you ask. “As Sure as the Dawn,” She replies distracted. She is reading intently; her fingers grasp the well-loved pages in a tight hold as her eyes flick across the page. “Sounds boring,” You hear your voice say of its own volition, “Read it to me?” She laughs as she pulls her eyes from the book to look at you warmly. She flicks a lock of hair over her shoulder with a caramel colored wrist as she basks the book in the lamplight near her. You burrow deeper into the comfort of the couch beneath you. She nods and begins to read the story as you let the characters and story be brought to life in your mind. As you listen, you hear a word you’ve never encountered before and stop her to ask what it means. She lists out a variance of definitions and sample situations. You marvel at the dictionary-like knowledge she displays and motion for her to continue reading. She picks up the story once more and after a couple of chapters, your mind drifts away from her voice. The scene fades out. You find yourself enclosed by books and sitting on a stepping stool in between bookshelves. You’re separating the botany and self-