BOBBY'S STORY

I met him on a bus. I meet lots of people on the bus.  Some I observe, some I watch. Some I talk to and by listening to their story I learn.  'Bobby' was going home from school with a busload of schoolmates.  They'd all been released early for the Summer break. 

The bus was humming.  These were not just any young school-goers.  These were from Bourne Grammar School and all will be voters when the present government gets its parliamentary finger out and brings in the bill that gives the plebiscite to sixteen year olds.  Bobby will be have the vote then for the next election, because Bobby is twelve.  

  In Bobby's bag were the fruits of his last term's work and goodies. He shared nachos with two older girls who were discussing their mocks and then he pulled out bits of white paper which he proceeded to fit to his hand like finger stalls which he then wiggled at the young ladies one of whom asked for them but not imperiously. 

Emptying more from his bag he handed over ten which the young lady proceeded to fit on all available digits before demonstarting to the packed upper deck the art of finger puppeting ... 

The bus from Bourne to Peterborough passes through many rural villages and towns and, as it happened, Bobby was getting off later, so we had time to chat.  He was fascinated to meet a writer who lived on a canal boat and in no time was surfing the net to find out more.

He had already admitting to Grade4 piano and was interested in art and music and working with origami.  I told him my boat was a floating art project and outlined the concept of wabi sabi
 
He was very interested in the idea of a ... boat as an art project ... and during the later part of our shared journey, when all the others had decamped at their various villages and towns, I was able to show Bobby my website and tell him a little about wabi sabi.  The website has its own section on the art form as applies to my boat and the hyperlinks take you there ...

Maybe he will take the journey and maybe there will be a comment ...