Thursday, June 19, 2008

29. Basket Case

A trifle of Grandmotherly nostalgia today. Actually,this is a true anecdote and it is my lovely daughter, Rebecca, Harry’s aunt, who is relating it. Harry has since had his fourth birthday and is growing up fast. You can admire him (you're sure to!) on my Clickpicks page.

BASKET CASE.

Harry is my nephew. Harry is still three.
He’s sitting in the laundry-basket playing happily.
He rocks around, making a sound and smiling up at me.

‘Communicate with him!’ I think. ‘That’s what a toddler needs,
Before he really understands; before he ever reads.
Who knows where stimulation from a loving Auntie leads?’

‘Are you in a plane,’ I say, ’Flying in the sky?
Wow! Your wings are very big! You must be very high!
Look! A flock of pretty birds! See them flying by!’

Harry turns and looks at me.
After all, he’s only three!

‘Oh now I see! You’re in a car and the wheels are going round!
Brrrm brmm goes the motor car! What a lovely sound!
You can go so very fast, you hardly touch the ground’.

Harry turns and looks at me.
After all, he’s only three!

‘No! My mistake! You’re in a ship, with lovely bright red sails.
You’re sailing far out in the deep, among the sharks and whales.
There must be dolphins over there! I can see their tails!’

Harry turns and looks at me.
After all, he’s only three!

‘Better still, you’re in a train, having a lovely ride!
I can see the great big trees and the beautiful countryside!
Duck-ponds, houses, bridges too and other things beside!’

Harry turns and looks at me.
After all, he’s only three!

‘Now whee! You’re in a spaceship! I’m sure I’ve got it right.
You can see the world below! What a lovely sight!
Don’t bump into any stars or you’ll turn out the light!’

Harry turns and says to me
‘It’s a laundry basket! Can’t you see!’

3 comments:

Kim said...

wonderful Brenda !!!
this made me chuckle :)
I can just picture Harry thinking ...wow Auntie Brenda sure has quite a vivid imagination :)

Clippy Mat said...

this should of course be a wonderful children's book. get it done and illustrated at once. love it. :-)

Kat said...

How cute of Harry to reply so.
Leaves one wondering who's the adult and who's the kid :-)))