The School Trip

On the afternoon before the school trip, Mrs Park gathered Leo’s class to go over the arrangements. “You’ll need to be at school by eight o’clock,” she said. “The bus leaves at half past, and I’m afraid it won’t wait for anyone.”

“Do we have to wear uniform?” Sam asked. “Not for once,” said Mrs Park, “but I do insist on comfortable shoes, because we’ll be on our feet all day.” Leo wrote two words in his notebook, underlined them twice and hoped that would be enough: shoes, eight o’clock.

At home, his mother helped him pack. “You’ll need a lunch,” she said, “and don’t forget water.” His little sister Amy, who was watching from the doorway, looked pleased with herself. “I don’t have to go anywhere,” she announced. “I get to spend the day at nursery.” Leo pretended not to hear, knowing that his sister would mention it again at breakfast.

The next morning he overslept and had to sprint to the bus stop, certain that the bus would leave without him, arriving breathless as the doors were about to close. Sam waved from the window. Once he had caught his breath, Leo asked whether they were supposed to sit with a partner. “Everybody is,” said Mrs Park, “and nobody leaves their seat until the bus has stopped.”

At the museum, the guide raised a hand for silence, then smiled. “You’ll have to leave your bags here,” she said, “but you certainly don’t have to whisper.” The children burst out laughing, and Leo, still pink from his sprint, decided that it was going to be a very good day.