I've teased my mum and been a pest

From dawn till late each night,

Her chance of having any rest

Was coming into sight.

Her Little Pest, Just short of three

Is packed off smart to school.

She says it's best for little me,

Who does she hope to fool?

So, here I am, in Infants One,

With children twice my size.

I'm put next to a boy called John,

We're here until we're five.

This desk is big, my chair is hard,

I don't like sitting still.

What if my mum's not in the yard

What happens if I'm ill?

It's not the school that worries me

It's being very small.

What happens if I need a wee?

What happens if I fall?

If I stay nice and clean all day,

Don't tease my mum at all,

And close my eyes tight when I pray

God might make me tall.

But, if I'm not, I'll be alright,

With John and little Sue

They're both my size and never fight

Like bigger children do.

I've drunk my milk and played a game,

Done counting up to ten.

I think, tomorrow, if it rains,

I might try school again. Betty Lightfoot

Wentworth Road

Swinton s

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.