Hand Up, Mingo!

Today Mingo’s class was going on a trip to the big pond at the edge of the Meadow. Their teacher, Miss Flutter, a butterfly with purple wings, gathered everyone together. Mingo had brought his notebook and his magnifying glass. He had a hundred questions in his head!

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“Three rules for today,” said Miss Flutter. “We walk in pairs and stay on the path. When you want to speak, put your hand up. And we wait for our turn, so everyone can be heard.” Mingo nodded, but the questions in his head were hopping about like grasshoppers.

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On the way, Mingo just couldn’t wait. “Why don’t ducks sink? Where do frogs sleep? How many legs does a spider have?” he called out, all at once. Then the others started calling out too. It got so noisy that nobody could hear the teacher’s answers.

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Then Mingo saw a green frog and ran towards it, right off the path. Splosh! All six of his feet sank into the mud. The frog got a fright and jumped into the water. There stood Mingo, with muddy feet and no frog.

4

Miss Flutter helped him out of the mud, and she didn’t tell him off. “I know you have lots of questions, Mingo,” she said gently. “Questions are wonderful. But when everybody talks at once, nobody can hear a thing. And when we leave the path, the little animals get frightened.”

5

Mingo went back to the path, next to his partner, Dali. This time they walked slowly and quietly. And look: the frog came out again, onto a lily pad! Mingo didn’t shout. He put his hand up, as high as it would go.

6

“Yes, Mingo?” said Miss Flutter. “Where do frogs sleep in winter?” Everyone went quiet to listen. “Some frogs sleep at the bottom of the pond, in the soft mud, until spring comes,” said the teacher. “In the mud!” laughed Mingo. “Just like my feet!”

7

That day, Mingo wrote seven new answers in his notebook. In the evening he told his mum, “Today I learned something important. When I listen to my teacher and wait for my turn, I get to hear all the answers. And my feet stay clean!”

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