Stop! Listen! What’s that sound?

Emma and I are in the park. Emma has taken Nigel and Malli (the Big Kids) across to the Big Kid play structure while I remain with the littlies at the Baby Play Structure.

Rather than scream from one end of the park to the other, when it’s time to go I give Emma a call. From my cell phone to hers. (Spoiled and effete, I know, I know.) My cell phone has a dignified and retro old-black-dial-phone ring. Emma’s has some bizarre, frenetic and raucous – though catchy – modern noise music.

I wait for Emma to pick up. Suddenly, across the playground, Nigel starts to do the Whirling Dervish. Spinning round and round, swatting at his head, yelling. A bee? A piece of grit in his… ear? Except he’s not crying. From where I stand, it looks like he’s laughing.

Emma certainly is. She’s practically doubled over with it. She does manage to stagger over to Nigel, though, and … pulls her cell phone out from his hood. When you don’t have pockets, toddler hoods make great storage. Until they start to sing and dance…