why did you do this for me?

Every year I read my favorite children's book with my class. I read Charlotte's Web. We have been reading it the past few weeks, and Friday we came to a close on a classic piece of children's literature. It's one of those books that I am very excited to read each year to my kids. The book is so familiar to me it feels like an old friend that I introduce to a new group of kids each year. Sure, most of the kids have seen some, if not all of the movie - but the book is different.

Although I do always tend to get a bit emotional while watching the movie, I can barley make it through reading the book without my voice cracking, and/or crying right as I read the story to the class. I realize they have not come to the realization as Wilbur, and I have. That will come with age. The realization that friendship is a precious gift that will not always be easy or as simple as sharing crayons or sliding down the slide together. A big part of true friendship is love. And the older we get, the more we realize - when love comes into play in anything, it takes the simplicity away. When we truly love someone, we find out to what depths we would go for their happiness. Charlotte was a true friend to Wilbur. She loved him unconditionally, and sacrificed all that she had for his survival. There aren't many friends like that.

"Why did you do all of this for me?" Wilbur asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."


But as he was being shoved into the crate, he looked up at Charlotte and gave her a wink. She knew he was saying goodbye in the only way he could. And she knew her children were safe. "Good-bye!" she whispered. The she summoned all her strength and waved one of her front legs at him. She never moved again. Next day, as the Ferris wheel was being taken apart and the race horses were being loaded into vans and the entertainers were packing up their belongings and driving away in their trailers, Charlotte died. The Fair Grounds were soon deserted. The sheds and buildings were empty and forlorn. The infield was littered with bottles and trash. Nobody, of the hundreds of people that had visited the Fair, knew that a grey spider had played the most important part of all. No one was with her when she died.


It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

I think what Charlotte was trying to say was the Wilbur was the most special kind of friend. Wilbur was her family. I finished reading this book on Friday, and then came home to create a special birthday cake for my brother. As I was working on his cake, I got to thinking about Charlotte's Web, and who it is in my life that I find to be the most special friend that I would do anything for. I looked down at the cake and realized...Nick. I got a little choked up thinking about how truly lucky I am that my brother and I are such great friends. I started thinking about all the other birthday cakes I have made him, how much I love picking out birthday presents for him, and how I love to sit in his living room with him and watch the movies he got as presents. I think about my entire life growing up with him, and all the fun times we have had. I think of all our phone conversations we have where we talk about our days, vent about our frustrations, and ask each other advice on which path to take. I think about how much we laugh when we are together, and how hanging out with him can always bring me out of a bad funk or mood. He is my most special friend. He is my brother. He is my hero. I never feel more safe than when I am with him, and never have more fun than when we are quoting movies, and in essence, memories. I think about how I would sacrifice so much for him, as Charlotte did for Wilbur.

I love those moments. Moments when the book had an impact on you. You sit back and think, this is how that situation relates to my life. It sticks with you. The words on the page are no longer just words. They are more powerful than that. They are sparking emotions and thoughts you didn't realize you would have. They make you think much longer than a movie would. And that, my friends - is why I read to my kids, and for myself almost every day.