Free Never Too Late by Jay Howard Page B

think St George would have been able to slay the dragon with a floppy sword, would he Miss?”
    “But that’s a poker in there! You could really hurt someone with that!”
    “Promise I won’t, Miss. Honest!” Jules crossed his heart and looked at her pleadingly. “I’ll be ever so careful. Please don’t spoil my costume – I want to win the prize this year.”
    Every year the children paraded through the village from the school to the church and the congregation put their votes for best bonnet, or male equivalent, in a box as they left. The result was always pronounced at the village hall after the Easter egg hunt. The prize was small in monetary value but much coveted as it also meant getting your name inscribed on the Easter Cup which was kept in the display cabinet at the school.
    Maggie gave in to Jules’ plea but determined to keep a close eye out for any play ‘fights’ developing. She didn’t want to have to admit to some parent that she could have prevented a trip to A&E with their injured child. “Just bear in mind there will be NO Easter eggs for you if you so much as touch another child with it,” she stipulated.
    Jules grinned at her and put his sword in his belt. “OK!” He ran off to rejoin his friends.
    Maggie shook her head but with a smile on her face as Sharon came over. “Problems?”
    “No,” Maggie assured her. “No problem.” But she kept her fingers crossed behind her back as she said it. “Are we ready to roll?”
    Sharon scanned the hall and nodded. “I believe so.”
    She walked over to the doorway and clapped her hands loudly. “Children, children!” she called loudly and waited a few moments until she had their attention. “Come on, now, in twos and we’ll make our way to church in a calm, respectful manner.”
    The children rushed to get paired up with their best friend and, with a bit of pushing and shoving, got into place in front of their headmistress.
    She placed her finger on her lips and gradually silence fell. “Now remember what today is all about, what we talked about in assembly before the holiday.” She scanned their faces. “What did we talk about, Isabelle?”
    Isabelle looked startled – she’d been caught whispering to her best friend Jasmine. “What happened to Jesus at Easter that we need to remember?”
    Isabelle’s face cleared. “Jesus died on the cross but He rose again to save us all.”
    “That’s right. Now let’s think about Jesus while we walk to church. Remember how good He is, and how He loves all you little children, and we need to say thank you to Him.”
    Sharon led the crocodile with three of her teaching staff walking as ‘outriders’ to maintain order. The applause from the relatives lining the route could be heard while Maggie closed up the school. There was no doubt at all that the children would behave impeccably, but she suspected that was probably more to do with the threat of not being allowed to hunt for eggs than respect for Jesus.
    She thought back to the very early start that she, along with the other helpers and several parents, had had that morning. The pearly mist had hidden their scurrying around through the village, hiding mini chocolate eggs in little ‘nests’ for the children to find later.
    It had been a magical time of day, the milky opalescence growing in intensity as the sun strengthened and finally started to break through the drifting veils. Tiny drops of moisture on the branches and vivid fresh greens of the new leaves became glistening jewels, miniature globes of scintillating light. Blossom scented the air with a heady promise of fruitfulness to come and many birds were already busy with hungry, demanding chicks in their nests.
    A summery dress and a light cardigan were all that was needed today. What a shame, Maggie thought, that Easter did not always fall so late. There were possible April showers forecast for late afternoon, but the morning was set fair for all to enjoy.
    The children all sang