I was late leaving work this evening which often happens because I am busy and constitutionally ill-adapted to being on time.
This meant that Michael was late getting his healthy pizza (ahem) for dinner. His father had been out dropping Daniel to GAA. If only I had been home on time, or somewhat organised and got herself or the childminder to put on the pizza, Michael would not have been eating pizza in a plastic box as we screeched out the door to go to scouts (still very popular, thanks for asking). There was some running up and down the street in the snow to find where the car was parked – definitely adding to the allure of the pizza – and a call home (don’t mock the afflicted) but we found it eventually.
After dropping Michael to scouts, late, I had to go and collect Daniel and a neighbour’s child from GAA. The traffic was very slow in the driving snow and I didn’t turn up to collect them until 7.30. I arrived to find the pair of them sodden, frozen and last to be picked up. A man I didn’t recognise delivered them to the car.
As they thawed in the car, I asked what had happened. Due to the snow, practice had stopped at 7 rather than 7.15 (unprecedented in my experience, usually nothing stops practice); the club house was locked, the other children’s parents were punctual (caring, delete whatever you think is appropriate yourself) and they stayed alone and coatless in the snow like a pair of orphan waifs until a man came up to them and asked whether they would like to sit in his car. His face was familiar and he had a kid they knew from training in the back. Daniel said, “But stranger danger, [neighbour’s child] didn’t want to get in.” “So,” I said in horror, “you stayed freezing in the snow.” “Oh no,” said Daniel, “I got in alright, just [neighbour’s child] stayed outside in the snow. The man did try to bundle him into the car, but he resisted.” One can only imagine the scene. Shortly afterwards, the man brought them up to the car park where they met me and all was well.
You may draw your own conclusions about this little tale but I am quite pleased by Daniel’s good sense.
