The other morning in Fran’s class, I was having one of those over-enthusiastic, extra-friendly, welcome-to-our-community chats with one of this term’s new children, who quite frankly wanted to ditch me to build a cubby/play football/do some handwriting practice but who was clearly too well brought up to make his break for freedom.
Luke has lived most of his life in San Francisco and was telling me how his parents have decided that it’s time to settle back in their native Australia. ‘Oh how lovely, Luke’, I cooed welcomingly, ‘does this mean that you’ll live forever in Australia?’
His frustration was palpable. What kind of sheltered life had this woman been living? Was he going to have to teach her everything?
‘Well,’ he said with as much patience as a six-year-old can muster ‘I don’t think I can live forever. There are things that I can’t control.’ He paused. ‘I hope we will be living in Sydney for a long time, though, yes.’
Never patronise a six year old.
When I mentioned to Luke that I was going to quote him in this week’s blog, he wanted to share two pieces of information about himself that he says are actually more interesting. ‘I like kumquat. I really like it. I have lots and lots of it for treats. And chlorine doesn’t hurt my bruises when I put my legs in the water.
Thank you Luke. And welcome to Currambena.
