Bratton Woods & beyond

The lads were a bit sheepish after being found guilty of monkey business on the school mini-bus from their trip to BBC.  Oh no, I cry, when I learn Mrs Leach is off to kill. Later she discovers the truth of the matter, vinyl got itself picked off the back seat.  All were called to account and the lads stepped up and took responsibility, even the one sleeping on the front seat. Great, I thought, teamwork. Punishment is being given, she confirmed.  I mentioned I would blog it.  I also said I had read from the blog pages to the Swindon's Writers Cafe and folk found the story of the Quest 1 trip to the vets with an overstuffed nicotine ridden rabbit rather entertaining.  As we sat outside, around a rather smokey fire pit, a nice writerly chap stepped forward and offered me a new character.  You've reminded me, he said, we have an old vintage cymbol playing monkey that you could take into school, use it as the enforcer - I'll write a poem to go with it. Oh dear, said Mrs L, laughing, you are going to get a reputation for working with strange toys.  Crikes, I thought, didn't someone once say, never work with kids & animals, I'm going to have to go undercover.