Ormesby Cheeleaders warm up...
I was met at Middlesbrough Station by my librarian escort for the day, Michelle Mollan. Michelle was very sensibly carrying a copy of my book and a picture of me (the one where my face Iooks like I fell asleep on a sunbed) to wave in case of emergency. Luckily she recognised me despite having my lobster face wrapped in a grey wool scarf.
And so on to Ormesby Comprehensive. My mission for the day: to work in the library with two groups of Year sevens and a Year six group from the nearby primary school. My visit coincided with BBCs Children in Need day so there were plenty of sweets and Pudsey bear stickers flying around courtesy of Angela the school’s keen and kind librarian (kind because I just know she’s going to stock all my books from now on…)
What was great about Ormesby was that the year 7s weren’t a bit reluctant to participate in the embarrassing things I ask kids to do. More boys than girls were willing to be cheerleaders at ‘half-time’ during my Girls FC talk. They were also fascinated by my toy microphone (age 3+) though i was a bit miffed when one boy pointed out they had them in Poundland and I’d paid £6 for mine in John Lewis! In the second session, Daniel asked me such an amazing question about cliffhangers and writing series I bought him a book as a prize. That lad’s a star for the future if I ever saw one. What was also delightful was one girl’s expression throughout the second session. She had read one of my books and was so overawed that I, the person who had written that story she had read, was actually IN THE ROOM. Her face was a picture as she tried to put the two things together. Aww!
I finished the day with creative writing. The Quest always goes down well and today was no exception with children from Ormesby Primary inventing money spouting volcanoes and rivers of human blood… nice.
Before I knew it, it was time to pack my pom poms and overpriced microphone and head back to the station. This time, the trains were running as smoothly as if Mussolini himself were on the platform. I changed at Darlington and had time for a raspberry muffin and cappuccino while I began Coraline by Neil Gaiman. I got so engrossed I didn’t want to catch my connection. I’m glad I did though. I ended up sitting with a bunch of guys on their way to London to watch the rugby international (England v New Zealand) at Twickenham. Out came the plastic cups. Out came the champagne. Being the gents that they were, they invited me to join them. How could I refuse? That’s the thing with trains. You never know what’s going to happen.
‘I think the flying rats should go here…’