Chapter 7: Sweet Treats Tuesday

Dovic started the day looking forward to “Sweet Treats Tuesday”. He remembered how Bruiser and Ronnie had invited him to eat the lollies last week and although he had said ‘no’ then, he really wanted to try some today. He loved red lollies the best, especially red snakes! He looked at the time and hurried to Hibiscus’ working space not wanting to miss out on learning with her class. As they came into the zoom meeting, they greeted Hibiscus cheerfully and as it was a library session, they told Miss Lee the librarian, what books they’d been reading. One girl was reading, “The Sick Bay” and every now and again, she had read bits of it out to Hibiscus and another child was reading, “Just Annoying” which her sister had talked her into reading. They were all reading different stories and Miss Lee was happy to hear that.

After library, it was time for Maths. Dovic loved Maths more than any other subject! He knew other subjects were good too, but he thought Maths was Very Important in Life. Today they were learning about how to measure time in 12 and 24 hours and how to read an analogue clock and change it to the digital time. Last week they had learned about measuring the perimeter and area of their dream house and now they were learning about time. He listened intently but every now and again, he got distracted by the ticking clock and wondered when he could go and play with his friends.

When school was finally over, he joined Tumbarumba and The Old Wise One who loved hearing about what he had learned. The Old Wise One would listen quietly and Dovic often wondered if The Old Wise One was thinking about many years ago when schools were so different and there wasn’t even computers. TOWO’s boy had gone to a big school where they did lots of sport. The whole town would come and compete against another town and they all celebrated when they won. Tumba started asking Dovic a question when suddenly Ronnie came speeding in on the red dump truck. “Whee!” he sang out, “Look at me! I’m a truckie!” He spun the truck around Milly the lab, but she paid him little attention. Richo came over with his footy and tried to put it in the yellow dump but it didn’t fit. “Can I have a turn, Ronnie?” but Ronnie spun around again, wishing he was on a dirt track so the dirt would go flying up around him. He missed being allowed to go outside and play in the park, but that was part of the restrictions in Victoria, for now.

Dovic and Hibiscus decided to bake a cake. Hibiscus had been inspired by one of the boys in her class who would show her in zoom, the delicious cakes and muffins he had baked. Dovic measured to make sure the pan was the right size, while Hibiscus measured the ingredients. After the eggs, milk and flour had been mixed together, Harley, Richo and Bruiser joined him so they could lick the beaters, the wooden spoon and the mixing bowl. “That is the best part of cooking!” declared Hibiscus. The cake took 50 minutes to bake, so Dovic watched the clock closely. When the bell went off, it was taken out and cooled. “Delicious! Wait until the class see it tomorrow,” Dovic thought.

Today was Sweet Treats Tuesday and although he didn't get any red lollies, Dovic got to, not only make the sweet treats, but also to taste them. What a great day!