All That Glitters……………..

Charlie was so excited and looking forward to making his Christmas card, he’d had a bad morning he’d fallen off a bike in the playground and screamed so loud even the ‘wellard’ caretaker came running out his workshop and grunted “You ok boy”? He was ok though, was just graze, the first aider cleaned him up and he limped unneccesarily for a couple of hours but the mention of making his Christmas card soon took his mind of it.

I’d collected all the paraphernalia they would need, I’d even stolen the best quality glitter from the Rottweiler Head of Art’s cupboard while she wasn’t looking (she seemed to think it was only to be used for 4th year and above) but I think 2nd years should have equal opportunities. I’d ordered a huge bag of sparkly jewels but my OCD for all things that glitter and shine just wouldn’t allow me to let them be used just yet. I’d have to admire them tumbling over each other in the plastic bag in a hidden drawer for at least another term!

As I sat with Charlie his chubby little fingers struggled to cut out a snow man he’d drawn round and when he applied the glue to stick it on the card he put it on the wrong side, “No worries” I said we can still put some glue on the back and the glue on the front will dry clear and he will look nice and shiny. He then put dabs of glue on the snowman’s head and tried to stick some sequins to it, they stuck to his fingers so we poked them off with pencil which worked very well. The snowman look resplendent with his ragged edges and a green shiny star for his nose (set to the left a bit but who cares).

I gritted my teeth when he decided he wanted the quality silver sprinkled all over the snowman, I wanted it to go round the class and Charlie didn’t have the best co-ordination but he had grazed his knee and it had to be all his own work. I thought quickly and sellotaped a few of the sprinkle holes in the container just in case. I didn’t really mind when a little bit of glitter tumbled on to my new M and S trousers, what the hell there was glue and red paint on them already!

“That looks lovely Charlie” I exclaimed “I’ll put it on the radiator to dry now”. He beamed with pride and sat there peeling off the pva glue he’d got plastered all over his little hands.

Later in the afternoon I told him it was dry and asked him if he wanted to address the envelope for his card to Mum and Dad or Mummy and Daddy. “No”! he said ” Could you write Heaven on it please”. I looked into his sweet little face and asked “Why heaven Charlie”, as he looked up at me he said “Because my Grandad died last Christmas of cancer and I miss him, I want to send it to him”! “Well that’s fine Charlie” I replied ” So how do you fancy sticking some lovely sparkly jewels on that card?”……………..