" Driing ..."
"Allo?"
"Bonjour. I'd like to speak to the Directress, Mrs SauvXXX please"
"Just a moment please"
(muffled waiting sounds)
"Oui, Alloo?"
"Hi. My name is Alison Bernard. I'm Abigail's Mama."
"Who?"
"Mrs Bernard. I applied in June for a place for my little girl. I want her to go to the local village Creche two half days a week. Please"
"hmmm ... let me see ... can't seem to find the application ... " (sounds of ferreting through a disorganised deskload of papers) (the last comment is very subjective!)
"What did you same her name was?"
"Abigail"
"OH". "Her". "The disabled one"
"Hmm Hmmm. thats right"
(irritated, impatient grunt)
"Listen, we already have a 'difficult' child. Its difficult for us to look after two of them"
"MMMmmm" (ironic tone)
"My daughter is part of the CAMSP programme. (a Government Social Security Programme aimed at integrating children with disabilities into every day social life).
'Right. Well you tell your Dr at your CAMSP that I want a Doctor's certificate and explanation. I don't want two of them. Its hard enough as it is."
"I will send you the Doctors certificate"
"Good. And I'll have her sent to the other Creche. We don't want two of them in the same Creche"
(Editors note : Mamas eyes are just about popping out of her head at this stage).
Oddly, Mama is not in a very happy mood tonight. Not for lack of my trying to make her laugh! Get a load of this!!!
Mama's sole consolation tonight is that my glasses-rebellion appears to have semi subsided
!!!
