This Christmas season, we decided to donate some of our
DriverWorks Ink books to elementary and high schools in our home community.
It's sort of a continuation of what we do with a number of our books – donating
$1 from each book sold to a worthy charity – but donating to schools also has other
benefits for us:
1)
More local teachers
and school administrators learn about our small, local publishing company and
will soon know about some of our great books written by Prairie authors;
2)
We get more local
stories into the hands of local children;
3)
We get our Prairie
authors’ works to more potential customers that they cannot physically reach
themselves;
4)
We reduce inventory
for some books that have stalled in sales and pump up potential sales of some
of our best-sellers just before Christmas; and
5)
We connect personally
with more local people, which has led to some other unexpected results.
This last
point is the reason for this blog.
We’ve had a
few chuckles and several heart-warming moments because of Al’s deliveries of
books to schools this past month.
So here, for
your Holiday enjoyment, is a replay of several interactions between my husband
and publishing partner, Al Driver, and individuals at some Regina and area
schools.
Al’s routine was always the same – enter the school
through the main doors, go to the office and present the books to office staff,
along with a personal introduction and a letter explaining our company and our donation
of books.
* * *
At one elementary school, he met two young lads who
were waiting inside the school office. A little boy who was six was sitting
with his six-and-a-half-year-old buddy. They'd already said ‘Hi’ in response to
Al’s ‘Hello’ and had answered his question of their ages. (Al’s coached
children for decades, so he is well-versed in how to relate to the little
gaffers.)
Being an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings hockey club,
Al was wearing his Detroit Red Wings jacket. The six-year-old looked and looked,
and then asked, “Do you play for that team?”
Al: No. I’m way
too old.
Student: Then do you coach them?
Al: No.
Student: Where did you get the coat?
Al: It was a birthday gift from my grandsons and their
mom and dad (knowing the boy could relate to that).
Student: (After thinking for a moment) When was your
birthday?
Al: June.
Student: Oh.
* * *
A young boy asked, “Are you here to help us with our
Christmas concert?”
Al: No. Is somebody coming to help you with your
concert?
Student: Yes. (Then he whispered) Our teacher said
there will be a surprise.
Al: Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise,
would it?
Student: (thought for awhile, then said) Yes.
* * *
A teacher was in the hallway by the office with a group
of girls in about Grade 4. The students were learning a dance for the Christmas
concert. Al had go around and behind the teacher to get to the office.
The teacher started backing up and almost backed into
him. Then she asked him if he’d like to join in and learn the dance, too.
Al declined. “They don't want to see me dance. It
would be bad.”
The girls all
giggled.
He carried on to the
office, hearing tittering in the background.
* * *
At one high school, an office secretary came running
over the second that Al set a
Never Leave Your Wingman book down on the counter on top of the pile of other books.
“This is my favourite book ever,” she said. “I just
loved it. Any time I see anything now about Dionne and Graham, I read it. How
is she doing?”
Al was pleased to respond, “She’s
doing very well.”
(See a YouTube video) Then he introduced himself and our company and said why he was
at the school with the books.
“(Gasp!) You published this book! Your company
published this book?”
Al replied, “My wife and I did. We’re a small company.
Better yet, my wife wrote this book.”
“Oh, bless her. It’s a beautiful book. I want to take
you and introduce you to the librarian because you’re giving us free books.”
The librarian was thrilled with the donation and was
told by the office clerk, “This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.”
* * *
Some of the older schools do not have offices in the
immediate vicinity of the main doors, so Al had to go searching a couple times.
At one school, a little girl about eight years old looked carefully at Al as he
walked into the school.
She sternly asked
him, “Are you supposed to be here?”
Al refrained from
smiling and asked, “Are you the hall monitor?”
“Nooo!” she replied,
annoyed at his insolence.
He told her that he was looking for the office and had
some stuff to drop off there, which seemed to appease her. She pointed him in
the direction of the office and let him go on his way.
(She’ll probably be a
policewoman or security guard some day.)
* * *
