The Importance of Reading

I was in third grade when I discovered juvenile science fiction novels, pulp science fiction novels written for kids. All summer long, I would go to the local town library in Kirkwood, Missouri, pick up two or three books,. Bring them home and I would read all day. And dad was concerned about that. He came in one time to tell me, get outside and play some ball. It's a beautiful summer day. You know, go out and play someball. And I was off saving the galaxy and enjoying it. And then my mother came in and this is my memory of it: She said, now Del, it's okay to have a son who reads. Well,