The Christmas HELPER

Visiting a petting farm this close to Christmas was a mistake, I’d always thought that. Miss Stevens is in charge of Year 3, and I’ve got Year 4. We were supposed to come in the autumn, but it got postponed, the deputy head making the rash promise that the visit would occur ‘later in the year’, even though we were fast running out of year.

My bunch were already in a hyped-up state before they even got off the coach, because they’re putting on the school nativity play next week. Actually, as director, prompter, gluer of tinsel to coat hangers and mopper of tears, I’m in a worse state.

At least Heverdean Animal Farm has done its best to look Christmassy. As soon as we arrived, all the kids made a beeline for the baby reindeers and ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’, before Miss Stevens took her lot off to see the rabbits and guinea pigs.

‘AS DIRECTOR, PROMPTER, GLUER OF TINSEL