The Bus Ride
The class trip was to a real lighthouse on the coast. They had been talking about it for two weeks.
On the day, twenty-three children climbed onto a small green bus. Mr Halpern got on with them. So did Liv's mama and Marek's papa, who were the helping parents.
The bus left at half past eight.
The bus ride was an hour and a half. Some children read. Some children sang. Some children got slightly bus-sick (Liv) and were given a paper bag and a window seat. Some children traded snacks (Marek and Eyo had a long, careful trade involving a banana and three crackers).
The lighthouse came into view through the bus window. It was tall and white and red-striped, and it stood on a rocky point with the sea behind it.
"It's so TALL," said Bo.
"It IS tall," said Mr Halpern. "Lighthouses are usually quite tall, otherwise they would not work."
The bus pulled up. The class got off. The wind was strong by the sea, with a salt smell and the sound of gulls.
The lighthouse keeper came out to meet them. Her name was Mrs Kvist. She had grey hair in a tight braid and a warm smile.
"Welcome to Greybeach Lighthouse," she said. "Today you'll see how a lighthouse works, and we'll go up to the very top."
There were small gasps. The very top.