School Fair

I hereby deliver the second installment of The Triple Sleepover, now known as The Tickle Sleepover, thanks to Adam.

Three out of four kids slept pretty well, save my four-year-old daughter. At two in the morning I must have been sleeping so deeply that she had to pull herself out of the top bunk, walk to our room, jump into our bed and register her complaint with loud sobbing, swollen teary eyes, and a hyperventilation -like- breathing that could be mistaken for asthma. She was completely distraught at the idea of having to brave a dark hallway to the kitchen to retrieve her blankie.

I couldn't fall back to sleep after she was safely tucked back into her own bed with blankie and a few select (23) stuffed animals. I turned all night until finally drifting into a dream, I heard my six-year-old son emerge from the basement, proclaiming to all the world that Today, November 21st, is finally here! It's 6 in the morning.

On any other given morning, he is the last person in our family ever to wake up, much less on time. We usually have to resort to threats, bribes, and food to resurrect him from his slumber. It's a miracle he gets to school on time. So, why, on this morning, did this night owl leap from bed, dress himself, and make his own breakfast singing all the way through? The School Fair.

Once a year, all the kids at Cashmere Primary put on their School Fair. Fifty cents buys the chance to throw a dart at water balloons, get your face painted (T-Rex, if you haven't already guessed), or toss a sponge in an 8th grader's face, which all the 1st graders are busting to do. No matter what, they are rewarded a few lollies for their effort and being a good sport. One dollar buys you an ice block or a soda pop, or in this Blip's case, a sausage. They also bring all their used toys & books they don't want anymore for the White Elephant. My son and his guest were both given $10. Gone in 15 minutes, with only two shopping bags full of lollies to show for it.

Lunch was on me.