Mr. Manners

Jack was involved in an unfortunate school yard "incident" on Monday.

A stick that was in his hand somehow collided with his playmate Olivia's face.

In Jack's own words "she got a bleed".

As I signed the incident report I felt terrible for poor Olivia, and of course ready to dole out a serious punishment.

The teacher assigned to the playground that afternoon came and spoke with me, and assured me that this had been nothing more then an accident...

...that a number of children were waving sticks in the air...

and none of them were watching where they were going

and that Jack was not really to blame.

Relief flooded over me.

And then,

I paused to wonder -

Under what circumstances was it o.k. for a group of four year olds to be waving sticks around on the playground?

That was probably the most disconcerting part.

Jack made this for Olivia when he got home.

I hope she likes it.