The Ashes
Tonight at supper we tried to explain to Daniel (who had just announced that he wanted to live on a farm in the Highlands and have a pony) about the Ashes. Ed talked about the Empire and spreading the good news of cricket throughout the pink bits of the map. We discussed cricket whites and strawberries and running back and forth between the wickets. Daniel and Helena have been rejoicing in a plastic cricket set sent by the lovely Jo so they had some context for this. Then Ed explained about the Ashes themselves, how the English and Australians some time ago had played their first competitive match and then burned the stumps and now those ashes are the prize so fiercely fought for.
Ashes, said Daniel.
Right, said Ed.
A look of complete horror crossed his face and then returned, settled and blossomed like a fast-action replay of a flower blooming.
Ashes? YUCK! he cried.
Ashes? Yum! said Helena, who was in that sort of mood.
Double yuck! insisted Daniel. Treble yuck. Quadrayuck. Quintayuck. Sextayuck. Septayuck. Octayuck. Nonayuck. Decayuck.
And that seemed to be all there was left to say on the subject. He then announced he wanted to open his own store. Selling adverbs.
