Scene 7
Slipping Through My Fingers
Ella – The infants may well be evil geniuses but they ARE cute!
Emma – Do you remember how cute our reception class buddies were when they started in September?
Paige – Yeah, they were really sweet, and some of them didn’t want their Mummies or Daddies to leave them so they’d grab a sleeve or a bag or an umbrella – anything to stop them from leaving!
Jay – See they are geniuses, they’ve created a new sport – leg wrestling! Maybe it could be the new sport in the London 2012 Olympics?!
Child 1 enters holding the hand of parent 1, walking to school. Parent 1 is holding child 1’s book bag and lunch box in their other hand. Child 1 is humming the rainbow song.
Parent 1 – So what are you going to be doing with Mrs Rusbatch today?
As Child 1 answers the questions, Parent 1 ties child’s shoelaces and wipes child’s face by spitting on a tissue.
Child 1 – I fink we are going on a teddy bears picnic in the woods, making a G-I-A-N-T lizard, talking to a visitor about castles, cycling around the park, learning to be a vet, washing a car and filling it up with petrol at the petrol station, playing in the cafe, dressing up as a super hero, teaching Year 6 how to read, singing in the hall and, erm...I can’t remember what else.
Parent 1 – Blimey, all in one day? Mrs Rusbatch must be a teaching machine! (Child 1 giggles) Does she sleep in the classroom overnight?!
Child 1 – No, she sleeps in the school cellar with all of her resources.
Parent 1 – Hmmm! Here we are.
Parent 1 and Child 1 enter the playground. They are greeted by Parent/Child 2. The 2 adults greet each other with their children following them, tugging on sleeves and hugging legs. Mrs Rusbatch appears at the door.
Parent 1/2/3 – Good morning Mrs Rusbatch
Mrs Rusbatch – Hello.
Parent 1 – I hear you’ve got quite a busy day planned!
Mrs Rusbatch smiles confusingly.
Parent 2 – Come on trouble, in you go. I’ll see you at 3:30.
Child 2 wiggles backwards away from the classroom door. Parent 2 manoeuvres around Child 2 and attempts to push the child into the classroom. Parent 2 eventually grabs Child 2 by the wrists and Mrs Rusbatch lifts up Child 2 by the ankles. Parent 2 and Mrs Rusbatch carry child 2 onto the carpet. Child 2 has a sulk.
Parent 1 and Child 1 have a similar struggle and is eventually dragged into the classroom by Ms Hilliard.
Parent 1 – Quick, let’s make a quick getaway whilst they’re not looking.
Parent 2 - Good idea. Ah bless them; they can be so embarrassing sometimes!
Meanwhile, in the playground, two Year 6 children are waiting with their parents.
Child 3 – Hiya
Child 4 – Y’alright?
Child 3 – Yeh. My Mum’s really annoying me though.
Child 4 – Why?
Child 3 – She keeps telling me what to do, like, you know, last night right, I thought it would be funny to pour a jug of custard on the dog (child 1 giggles). The dog didn’t like it and went running around the house barking his head off. Mum said that I had to clean it all up.
Child 4 – That is SO unfair.
Child 3 – I KNOW!
Child 4 – Well last Saturday, my Mum kept ringing these wind chimes really loudly, shouting and telling me I should be out of bed. It was only 2 o’clock in the afternoon!
Child 3 – SO unfair. Quick, let’s make a quick getaway whilst they’re not looking so they can’t give us a hug or a kiss.
Child 4 - Good idea. Ah bless them; they can be so embarrassing sometimes!
Parent 3 – Oh look at them, running away, they’re probably embarrassed by us!
Parent 4 – You’re probably right. They just keep on growing don’t they?
Parent 3 – Yes, they grow up SO quickly, I feel like she’s slipping through my fingers.
SONG – Slipping Through My Fingers