Winston Wallaby Can’t Stop Bouncing. Kay Al-Ghani

      After playtime and for the rest of the school day Winston had to sit by Mrs Calm’s desk. He noticed some of the pupils whispering to each other and pointing at him.

      He had tried so hard to be still and he really wanted Mrs Calm to be pleased with him, she smiled so kindly… But he just wished he didn’t need to sit by her desk – it was so embarrassing.

      That first day passed quickly enough, but Winston had broken his pencil twice, overturned his chair three times and spilled a whole pot of counting bricks all over the floor.

      Mrs Calm smiled sweetly and told Winston not to worry – the first day of school was always hard and tomorrow was a new day.

      The next morning was Tuesday.

      Mrs Calm was waiting at the school gates to greet everyone. She smiled at Winston.

      “I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce…” Winston whispered to himself.

      When he got inside, there was a round rubbery cushion and a little waistcoat on his seat. Mrs Calm said these things would help him to sit still and listen.

      The waistcoat was very heavy and Winston felt a bit silly wearing it, but he did like the feel of it. The little cushion was very comfy.

      Mrs Calm told the class about Winston’s cushion and waistcoat. She told them he needed a bit of extra help to stop him being so bouncy.

      “I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce…” Winston whispered to himself.

      For the next fifteen minutes Winston sat calmly and answered his name when the register was called. He was able to put up his hand and tell his teacher the names of the days of the week.

      Mrs Calm smiled so sweetly at Winston that he felt as light as a feather and he bounced right out of his seat, almost landing on Mrs Calm’s toes. Somehow, he could not feel the weight of the waistcoat anymore.

      Mrs Calm removed the waistcoat and told Winston to bounce three times around the edges of the playground and then come back inside.

      When Winston returned, all the pupils were in a circle on the floor ready for story time.

      Mrs Calm told Winston to sit on his special cushion and then she draped a little blanket over his knees and put a heavy snake toy around his shoulders. All the children laughed and Mrs Calm told them that these things would help Winston to sit still so he could listen to the story properly.

      Winston felt a bit silly, but he had to admit they did feel good.

      “I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce, I won’t bounce…” Winston whispered to himself.

      Winston was able to sit calmly and listen to a story about a dingo called Racer, who loved to run.

      After story time, Mrs Calm told the children they would be doing some painting. She had set out all the paint pots, brushes and water.

      Winston felt so excited that he bounced right off his cushion. The snake and the lap blanket fell to the floor and, before Winston could stop himself, he bounced over to the table and upset one of the water pots. The water splashed over William, who was sitting nearby. William wasn’t hurt, but he was very wet and not very happy.

      The pupils started to laugh and Mrs Calm told everyone to be quiet. Then she told Winston to bounce five times around the playground before coming back into class.