"Tell me a story," he said and so I proceeded to tell him the story all about how Winne the Pooh got his name- a ridiculous story from the imagination of A.A.Milne; non-sensical and silly. Even though I couldn't see his face and he'd never admit to it, I know he was smiling.
Personally, I love the factual- the interesting things about the world and the way it works; objects or ideas that you had never considered before but suddenly, when exposed, possess an aura of awe. Or the monumental discoveries of things you had always wondered about and never could quite get to the truth of. I definitely believe that there are some people who are content to simply exist in the world; to go about their daily routine and take in their stride whatever life brings their way. They seem not to possess any curiosity or desire to question or explore or discover. Interest, for them, lies in the surface level of what they encounter in their daily lives and goes no deeper. 'Why?' seems to be lacking from their vocabulary. Perhaps there is alot to be said for this way of thinking. Maybe acceptance and contentment come far more easily than to those who wonder.
I love the factual, and I love the fictional. My Mum spent countless hours reading me stories as a child, me, snuggled up, absorbing the characters and the adventures they had, and my Dad spent many more hours telling me stories- worlds and characters of his own invention but equally engaging and charming. Stories make us go deeper; they explore situations and provide answers to what-ifs that never could be found in real life. They create magic from simple words and a happy contentment in their listeners.
Facts entertain, stories entertain; imaginations need to be nurtured and our brains need nourishing with knowledge. Life can be tough or can be great on a daily basis and sometimes daily concerns leave no room or no need for interesting factual stories or ingenious fictional ones. They're always there though, waiting to be heard and waiting to put a smile on someone's face- you just have to incite: 'Tell me a story'.*
