Storytime
Doreen, an embittered teacher, tells a magical story to her young class.
(4-5 minutes)
Good morning children. Today I am going to tell you a story about MAGIC (while you’re still young enough to believe in it) so, if you’re sitting comfortably, I’ll begin.
Once upon a time in a land not very far from here, there was a kind old washerwoman . . . because kindness is important, isn’t it? Even when people take you for granted, you should always be kind . . . and this old washerwoman was kind – really kind – maybe even too kind for her own good . . .
But anyway, this kind old washerwoman, was good at her job, and never complained (not even about those ‘stubborn’ stains) and she worked very very hard . . . (well, someone had to provide for her three growing children after her husband started his own ‘laundry’ business with her best friend) . . . but she was happy with her work and her three children loved their mother very much.
The eldest child was a beautiful daughter. She had long flowing hair, eyes that sparkled and a captivating smile. She was like a princess . . . (and wanted to be treated like one too.)
The second child, a handsome and charming son, was very athletic and particularly enjoyed the muddy sports . . .
The youngest of the three, another daughter, was blessed with a quick and clever wit, and never missed a trick . . .
Now, of course, their mother did everything she could to pave their paths with happiness — because that, children, is what mothers do (unlike fathers) — but as they neared adulthood she worried that too much love and attention had not equipped them for the big wide world, and she decided it was time they were all given a little nudge towards independence. And so, as each child reached their eighteenth birthday she gave them a very special present . . .
You like presents, don’t you, children? Of course you do. And you’d love these presents . . . because these presents were . . . MAGIC! Yes, they were magic . . . washing baskets!
No, don’t look at me like that, because if you listen you might learn something here.
Anyway, the eldest daughter was the first to reach eighteen. She moved in with her boyfriend and because conversation was not their strong point, it wasn’t long before they had a baby . . . and then another, and another, and another . . . and the beautiful daughter soon discovered that the washing basket really was magic because no matter how much washing she did the basket was always full!
When the handsome son reached eighteen, he was still living with his kind old mother, and he told his big sister, “My magic basket works differently to yours. Every time I put dirty clothes in it, they disappear and reappear the next day, cleaned, ironed, and as good as new!” The beautiful sister was very jealous when she heard this . . . but she needn’t have been, because on the very same day the boy left his mother’s home to live on his own, the magic stopped working.
The youngest – and cleverest – daughter had witnessed both episodes and decided that her magic washing basket would work forever in her favour . . . so, until she could be sure of its magical properties, she used a laundry service once a week and changed her clothes as little as possible. And instead of worrying about what she looked like, or silly sports, she spent her time reading books and furthering her career . . . But children, one day she met a man and fell madly and deeply in love, and they decided to be married . . . But on their wedding day, the girl gave her beloved a gift . . . yes, it was her magic washing basket, with instructions for use so that she never ever had to do the washing herself . . . and she lived happily ever after . . .
© Wendy Storer 2019