The Things They Say.

In Year 1 (1st grade) in my nephew’s school the kids are encouraged to write stories. In doing so they’re learning all sorts of exciting things, things like the use of adjectives. Now, I know what an adjective is. It’s a describing word – a word that makes the story, well, more exciting if you will. I just don’t remember knowing about adjectives when I was 5, but my nephew Doddle knows about them and in writing a story recently he was scored very highly for his adjectives. I don’t have it word for word, but his story went something like this.

I was playing in my back garden. A vampire came and chased me. I was scared. I ran away very fast.

The success of this story was illustrated by the underlining by the teacher of the adjectives of note and when it was returned to Doddle after marking it was earmarked for publication.

Publication in Year 1 involves the teacher putting the story into the computer, decorating the page and printing it out, leaving room for the child to illustrate it. Once illustrated the picture is affixed to the wall display so all the other parents and visitors to the class may admire it in all its glory.

Doddle duly illustrated his picture and it his account of this that makes me fall in love with him aGAIN. He has some CUTE on him, that boy.

He went home and told his mum, my sister, of his success and after he had accounted to her for the above, and when the time came to describe his picture to his mum this is what he said,

“Mum, actually, I didn’t know what a vampire looked like… but you know what? it’s ok! I didn’t have to draw one because I was running away very fast! You couldn’t see it!.”

Serious points for ingenuity and having an answer for EVERYthing. I do believe this kid could justify almost anything if he had a mind to, and he’ll give it a good go, and defend his position long after he’s been proven wrong… I think he’s a great candidate for the bench.

Or the stage.

However, for now, I think my sister is a little thankful that Doddle didn’t pursue the conversation further with an inquiry as to the exact nature and appearace of vampires, and he is a little too young yet for Twilight…