Stephen King’s The Mist
I started reading Stephen King when I was six or seven years old. My first taste of King was the book The Shining. I have to admit, at that age, I felt very proud of myself reading such a big book. My parents did not force me to read I naturally loved to read. I don’t think a day has gone by that I have not read something.
I still remember where I purchased it. It was from Mr. Marvin’s corner store that was located near our church. Mr. Marvin was a slim man. He wore glasses and had dark brown wavy hair which was flecked with gray. I always wondered what he put in his hair because it was always immaculate.
I first met him when I was five years old. I remember thinking he looked “bookish”. He always had penny candy for my brother and myself. We were some of his favorite children or at least that is what he told us. It had the desired effect. It made my brother and I feel special.
Mr. Marvin was the neighborhood delicatessen. His store was located right down the road from the church where my parents were members. Imagine my excitement when I found out that he had books in his store.
Mr. Marvin’s store was like that one day you would come in and discover something you had never seen before and like Stephen King’s book, Needful Things, you felt that you had to have that item. Mr. Marvin knew that I loved to read and in my little world I felt that he had supplied the books just for me. ;-)
I paid $2.92 for that copy of The Shining. I still remember the cover. It was yellow with a tiny picture in the center. It was so bright and yellow it reminded me of the sun. I wasn’t sure what the book was about but that cover made me want to purchase it. I remember being hesitant because this was a big book. It probably was an adult book. It didn’t have any pictures! Suppose Mr. Marvin didn’t let me purchase it?
I slowly walked up to the counter hoping that Mr. Marvin did not notice that the book was for “big people”. Mr. Marvin picked up the book and peered down at me from across the wooden countertop frowned and said, “Are you sure you can handle a big book like this Opal?” My heart made a sickening thud. I was sure he heard it! I started to feel queasy that is until I caught his smile! Yes sir! I grinned.
He smiled while I counted out my coins. When I was finished counting I shyly pushed the coins towards him. He joked with me as he took the money. I giggled. This was one of our moments. He rung my purchase on his old fashioned cash register. He didn’t like the electric cash registers and refused to switch. In my eagerness I almost forgot to thank him as I took the book. I raced out of the store and waited in the car for my mom, who was in the store also. I held on tightly to my new treasure.
In the car ride home I gazed at my newly acquired purchase tucked between my schoolbooks. It was well hidden. I hid it because I did not want my mom to take it away from me. She might not think I was old enough for this “big book”. I gazed at the book and wondered what mysteries lay within it’s pages. All too soon we were home. The store was about ten minutes away. I regretfully tucked the book away under my pillow and headed down the stairs for dinner.
Later that evening, after my homework was finished, I was able to ease some of my curiosity and my passion for books hit an all time high. I enjoyed the excitement wondering what was lurking behind each page. I’ve been a fan of Stephen Kings writings ever since. I think I have every book that he has written under Stephen King and his pen name Richard Bachman and the articles he wrote under the name John Swithen.
At bedtime I often wished that my father would surprise me and spring a Stephen King style (something like Cycle of the Werewolf) bedtime story on my brother and myself. My father is a great story teller but that never happened. I carry on that tradition, story telling, with my daughter. I make up stories for her every night. If I forget she’ll remind me.
I remember when my mother discovered my passion for everything Stephen King she did not want me to read his books. She did not know who Stephen King was until I started bringing his books home. However after reading some of the pages from one of his books she thought they were too scary for me. Ha! I thought, That shows she didn’t know me too well. I loved those types of books.
I still remember my father coming to my defense and telling my mother that Stephen’s books weren’t too different than Alfred Hitchcock’s books. When I thought about it I had to agree they both gave you suspense, macabre, and they focused on your “regular joe” characters. I know that is what drew me to them. I could relate. They could be people I knew!
I don’t watch too much television, but I did happen to capture some of Hitchcock’s flicks this past month. I was pleased to find out that The Mist was made into a movie. It will be released on November 21st. I’m hoping they don’t stray too far from the book.
I picked up The Mist by Stephen King from our local library (Joppatowne Library.) I was about eight or nine years old. Mr. Marvin’s supply of books were limited and he did not carry that book in his corner store. In the book David Dreyton and his son are trapped in a large grocery store with other townspeople. He is unwilling to venture out because of a disturbing myst that is lurking right outside that grocery store.
Mr. Marvin’s grocery store was where I imagined this happening and my brother, family, and friends were trapped. As I continued reading I realized that David had more to fear than what otherworldly creatures lurked outside within that disturbing myst. He was becoming uneasy with some of the people who were trapped within the same grocery store!
I was eager to move forward to see what was going to happen next and at the same time I hesitated. I wanted to take my time and savor the experience. Following my usual style I blasted through the book in no time. I then came back and reread it at a much slower pace hanging on to every word. (I still do that to this day.)
A few days ago I passed by Mr. Marvin’s old store. His store was called Ferdick’s corner store. Ferdick was his last name. Of course it had long ceased to be his store. That building had seen many businesses’ come and go over the years and although I had been inside a few of the owners “business homes” they never had the same style as Mr. Marvin. He was one of a kind. A good man.
Last week, I noticed, that they tore the small building down. Looking at where that building used to be I became sad. You see whenever I drive past there I instinctively look over to that place and am instantly transported back to my childhood and the fond memories I had. The childish conversations that I had with him and his wife. The importance I felt having an adult (outside of my family and teachers) actually talking, listening, and paying attention to what I had to say.
They always welcomed my mother, brother, and I when we entered their business home. They welcomed my father also but we mainly went with mom. The Ferdick’s treated us like family. I will never forget that.
I can still remember what Mr. Marvin Ferdick’s looked like. The way he used to smile when he would see me, and the way he pronounced my name. He and his wife have been dead for several years but I still have fond memories of him, his family, and my first introduction to Stephen King.
If you enjoy Stephen King as much as myself or are curious about this movie log onto The Mist check out a few of the trailers, galleries, synopsis, etc., I for one am looking forward to this movie.
[tags]The Mist, The Shining, Stephen King[/tags]