The many loves of The Miraculous Voyage of Edward Tulane

Edmund has been reading The Miraculous Voyage of Edward Tulane.  But, tonight I had to take over.  We had gotten to the climax of the story.  And, by the end of tonight's reading, both Edmund and I were in tears.

Abilene was Edward's first love.  Hers was a childish, glad you're here, require nothing sweet expression faith.  Abilene continues to hold a special place in Edward's heart.  Although he misses her, he does not, can not truly love her in return until he learns the price of love.  Edward's love of Abilene was a selfish love.

The fisherman and his wife have a paternal love of Edward.  They tend to him.  They include him.  Lawrence teaches Edward.  Nellie nurtures him.  In return, Edward fosters a child's love of security and home.

With Bull and Lucy, Edward shares a fraternal love.  He became a buddy and traveling companion.  Edward was a confidant to others.  He was known and respected.  Under the umbrella of the hobo and his dog, Edward found self-worth.   That worth however was greatly damaged when he was seen as an object by the old lady who used him as a scarecrow.

Edward finds true reciprocal love in Sarah Ruth.  Suddenly, he doesn't care if he is dirty, tattered or poorly dressed.  He longs solely for her company.  He is needed.  He wishes for her betterment.  He listens to her and cherishes the time he has with her.  And when she passes, it is as if his heart has been ripped out.

Sarah Ruth's brother, Bryce, takes Edward next.  Poor Bryce is richest in spirit.  He was constantly losing things, constantly in need.  Edward was all that the boy had left.  He had no home, no father, his sister just passed, and no friends or money.  Yet, his sacrificial love caused Bryce to seek out the best doll maker he could find.  Then, not having the money to pay for Edward's repair, he chooses to give Edward up.  It was heart wrenching.

Tonight, Edward met the doll maker.  He is an id.  The doll maker only loves Edward for what he can receive out of the bargain.  In an odd sense, Edward has come full circle.  He is once again magnificently clothed.  He is refurbished.  He is fully restored just as the doll maker had promised Bryce in their bargain.  But, Edward is not loved.  He is to be used again, not as a scarecrow, but as a source of possible income.  Only now, it is much worse because Edward knows the difference.  He knows that he is simply being used.  He also knows the hopelessness of being able to do nothing about it.

It is at this point that Edmund and I know that Edward is ready to go home to Abilene.  He was no longer like the beautiful princess in the story of Abilene's grandmother who was turned into a warthog because she loved no one.  Edward has learned his lesson about love.  Edmund clutches Bunny extra tight tonight.  I don't blame him.  Books like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane make a reader question and hold a little tighter, the things a child holds dear.

What's Harvard?

Tonight's BrainPop video was about John F. Kennedy.  The boys watched the clip in silence until it mentioned that President Kennedy had went to Harvard.  Edmund wanted to know what kind of school Harvard was.  I told him that it was the best college.  He then asked me how you get to go to Harvard, to which I replied that you had to study hard and do a lot of extra work.  Edmund noted that a lot of important people went to Harvard.  I agreed.  Then, he thought for a moment. 

"Is that why you make me do extra work all of the time?"

"Yes, I think that you are capable of doing GREAT things,"  I said. 

Edmund cocked his head and thought for a long time.  Then, he gathered his bunny and his ipad sleepily.  He stared a the picture of Kennedy and then looked up solemnly.

"Thanks, mom" he whispered as my six and a half year old settled in for the night.  And in the brevity of that moment, I believe Edmund understood that the extra work was my way of saying, I love you.