And Then There Were None...
Or 12. Now we’re not saying the trip is cursed or anything but… first there was Kerry and then there was Malcolm – and we all know what happened to them.
But it didn’t stop at the position of third youth worker: we have now amounted a significant pile of disused scrapbooks – whose glitter is dull and whose pages are empty – their stories cut short by a cruel twist of fate. We are considering burying the scrapbooks in tribute to the 6 youths who have been seen no more: Charlotte, Ross, Gareth, Kevin, Josh and Sarah are those who have since left our number. But we wish them all the best in what is to come.
Here’s a poem Amy has so tactfully written:
20 little map youths,
Together were uniting,
Kerry had family commitments.
And then there were 19.
19 little map youths,
A trip we were debating.
Charlotte had young enterprise,
And then there were 18.
18 little map youths,
The nicest ever seen,
Ross went trapezing,
And then there were 17.
17 little map youths,
Mingling and mixing,
Malcolm got promoted,
And then there were 16.
16 little map youths,
But one of us was drifting
Poor Gareth was to leave us
And then there were 15.
15 little map youths,
With trust funds to be sorting,
Josh disappeared without a trace,
And then there were 14.
14 little map youths,
Strictly friends- there was no flirting,
But Kevin was too busy
And then there were 13.
13 little map youths,
Working hard as Santa’s elves,
Sarah didn’t want to stay,
And then there were 12.
I hope you all enjoyed my poem, fan mail and gifts can be sent to the usual address. I thought I was basing it on a poem called Ten Little Soldier Boys, but I've since found out the first version of the poem was very racially offensive. However, I’m not one to let a small lashing of racist undertone ruin my chances of becoming future Poet Laureate, so I hope that nobody is offended by my poem, (apart from the 8 mutineers who forsook the ranks and left us all alone, of course).
Meanwhile as we were now left with 12, all of us were invited to be the official group who will journey to Ghana this summer. Yay! However if we lack funds we will probably just go to Cornwall. With our numbers lessened we are welcoming in some new recruits to be reserves; Savannah and Olli – we salute you; but we feel it is only fair you get the life changing – sorry Mel - chance to taste some of Michael’s delicious food.
Which leaves us with the position of additional part-time youth workers 3 and 4 to fill. In the following weeks we will interview, in the same gruelling process we experienced involving questions about biscuit preference, the volunteers; Jeanine (who wasn’t afraid of Melissa) and Charlotte (who owns a biscuit company – enough said). Ollie (who has been to Ghana) also came to talk to us.