Africa-day: in which my Dad is a Hero in the eyes of my boy (and ALL his mates)

Youngest asks

We are learning all about Africa mum, can you come and talk at the school?

I reply rather absentmindedly

Hmm? umm, ok.

Youngest asks again

Would Bumpa come too?

When is it for? I think I better start concentrating now

Not for a while, the teacher says it will be ok, I have already asked if you can come

Oh, um ok, think we better speak to Bumpa

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A couple of day later, and in his most angelic voice Youngest asks my Dad -

Bumpa, we are learning about Africa at school, can you come and talk about it?

To his absolute credit my Dad did the exact opposite to what he would have rather have said and said.....

Yes

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Weeks later, we suddenly register that 'Show and Tell Africa-day' is imminent and although we have all loosely discussed African related ornaments and stories, clothes and food - we haven't actually done anything about it! My Mom decided to make some traditional 'Boer rusks' for the children to taste and asked me how many to make, and according to youngest there are 16 - 18 in his year. (Please retain this low number in your head for later.......)

Phew - not so many kids to deal with. 

As the day gets closer, nerves get a bit jangly - although I used to teach, its always a bit nerve tingly to start in a new class of faces and I knew I wasn't the only one getting cold feet..... but we'd promised and with a slight feeling of fatalistic dread we all carried on.

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On the day - which was yesterday, we met up at the school, we had bags and boxes and oddly shaped parcels holding our historic and sentimental treasures. I suggested that the children be in first so that as we arrived and opened our 'wares' the element of surprise would be heightened.

My Mom had made some copies of a map of Africa but midway through printing them her printer decided to conspire against her so ended up with only 10 copies and we asked at the school if we could have a few more copies made.....

I'll do you 33 copies the secretary cheerily said...............

33?    33?   THIRTY THREE???? 

(please retain not so low number in head for later....)

My Mom and I glance at each other and then at my Dad................. Had he heard? 

The look on his face confirmed all. 

Before he could run off we were marched to the classroom by the headteacher who whilst chatting mentioned that Youngest had been enthusing so so much about his Grandad's Africa stories that there would be a few more children - aah, I thought, that's why there are 33.

We were then met by the teacher who is such a lovely young enthusiastic lady whom Youngest adores. She said how Youngest was so pleased and proud his family were coming that she and the other teachers had added a few more children in and they were all excited to see. I suddenly thought I'd better ask how many children ....exactly... how many children....

Oh, she happily said, about 60 or 65 I'm not exactly sure...............

60!?!?! (please recall at your leisure and at our discomfort how many children were originally involved.......) 

I didn't dare look at my Dad now!

But, once we started it was fine - my Dad and Mom were brilliant, and the children loved it. Especially when historic weapons came out, a wonderful old ram rod rifle, assegai and ceremonial axes. We passed around fired clay beer pots and stone carvings. We showed porcupine quills and beads and played traditional wedding music. My Mom had made a traditional costume and one of the little girls happily wore it and danced to the music. We spoke on snakes and spiders and all things squeamish, we told of hills and mountains, of rivers so wide that it was difficult to see the other side, we spoke on lions and crocodiles,  we shared the heat and dust of Africa with the class of English children that day. 

And Youngest was a happy chappy in the back row and he later told me,  the kids in the school thought....

that his Mom, his Grandad and his Gran were AWESOME  

so I think we did ok :)

PS - there were 68 children in the end........and two teachers................and the headteacher..............and two teaching assistants.