Up at the crack of Dawn. It's a big day for Emsy! She's off on a school trip to Weston Super Mare, and she could hardly be more thrilled. She spent all last night packing, making sure she'd got hold of Heather's camera and my new Ipod and most of Sophie's clothes. Despite her advancing maturity though, there is not a moment's consideration to leaving without scruffy Harry, her favourite cuddly toy.
She is beaming all the way to school, and hauls her massively overpacked suitcase over to the waiting coach. The HM, Roger Dodds, is waiting and gives her the bad news that her best mate, Florence, will not be able to come this morning as she is sick. How caring of him to even know that they were best mates, and then to tell Emsy personally.
There are about thirty or forty parents lined up to wave the coach away as the excited kids bundle aboard and hunt the best seats. I think Emsy goes upstairs, but sadly the windows are smoked glass and I never get sight of her. I wave like fury, hoping I am on the correct side of the coach, but just wishing I could glance her little excited face before they go.
The the parents are left all alone, and many a moistened eye is wiped by both mums and dads alike. A few siblings are there too, waiting for school, skinny little legs poking out of baggy grey shorts and knee length skirts. This school has played such a delightful and rewarding role in the lives of every one of us, and it brings me to tears to think that we have not much more than a month left with it as part of our family. Emma's leaving service is going to be unbearable.
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