Boxed In – Jenny 27

 

[For back story go here: Story so far at 17 Sept 2020 and definitely this one.]

[Other back story found in in-links]

“I’m not a teacher,” said Jenny.

“Obviously,” said Helen. “But luckily you don’t need to be. You just need to be my parent. So there you go. And here you are.”

“I can do maths.”

“Obviously,” said Helen again, “But this afternoon isn’t maths. It’s a PSHE project.”

“P-she?”

“Kind of stuff you need to think about for living life in general. There's no exam, it's just, stuff. Personal Social Health Education,” spelled out Helen. “PSHE.”

“…for P-short?”

“P-shut up,” smiled Helen. “The project is called The Box.”

“P-sure.”

“Stop it.”

The Box

Since the onset of Covid and the national lockdown earlier this year your lives have changed beyond recognition. There are things that you are now doing that you never thought you would be doing. Likewise there are things you can no longer do which you might be missing and which you – and others – would like to do again.

For this exercise imagine a box. 

“How big?” Asked Jenny.

“It doesn’t say,” said Helen, flicking the paper over and checking. “I think it’s theoretical rather than real.”

“Right,” said Jenny. “So pretty big.”

“Theoretical – it doesn’t exist.”

“Mine’s pretty big. The one I have in theory.”

“Mum!”

For this exercise imagine a box. Things that are inside the box are things you can no longer do. Things that are outside the box are things you can do. Think about the things that Covid has moved inside or outside the box. Discuss five things the you would like either inside or outside the box which are currently not where you would like them. Your discussion assumes the pandemic is over so the choice of where anything is, is entirely yours.

“Got it?” asked Helen.

“It's a big box.”

“It has to be theoretical,” said Helen, “Because you can’t actually put ‘hugging complete strangers for the hell of it' in a box of any size, right?”

Jenny looked doubtful.

“You can’t – you just can’t,” insisted Helen. “Hugging isn’t a thing – well it is – but it’s not a thing that would go inside a box. Of any size. So it’s theoretical.”

Jenny looked doubtful. She was thinking of a person sized box where at least two people could go inside and have a hug. She was quite enjoying thinking about this box and was already lining up people who she might go in with. Starting off with Izzy, naturally. And her kids. But then…

“Mum!” said Jenny, snapping her back to reality.

“So hugs is something you’d like to take out of the box?”

“M-huh.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“Complete strangers though?”

“It’s fun.”

“It’s… wait – you’ve done it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Jenny eyed Helen suspiciously.

“It was an experiment. Well, a bet kind of experiment. An experimental bet.”

“When was this?”

“Can we just get on with the PSHE project?” asked Helen. “You want me to do well, don’t you?”

“There's no exam. How will you...?”

"They'll still assess it," said Helen. "I have to send them something. Come on, your turn."

“I’m thinking about the theatre,” said Jenny.

“Good one,” said Helen, writing it down.

“See it needs to be a really really big box. Because at the moment all the theatre is in the box trying to get out and…”

“Stop thinking about the size of the box!”

Mother and daughter ricocheted ideas around. Jenny identified coffee – too much of it – and speculated whether this would ever go back in the box in quite the same way again. She then asked whether it was possible just to put some coffee in the box and close the lid while a more sensible amount stayed on the outside. They decided it was possible. Theoretically.

Helen raised social media in much the same way and said home learning could well and truly go back in the box and never see the light of day again.

“I don’t know,” said Jenny. “I’m quite enjoying this.”

When it came to bringing things out of the box they both wanted physical contact with people – and not just complete strangers. Alongside that were safe cafes, shops and gigs. They drew up quite a list, ticking off the things they thought would be quite common. Then Helen thought of a few, different things.

“What about Peter’s baby?” she asked. “If it could go back in the box, regardless of Covid? Theoretically.”

“No I’m good with that,” said Jenny.

“And Izzy? The arguments?”

Jenny paused. “So it’s not been entirely enjoyable,” she began, “but things happen and because you go through it, sometimes stuff gets better. You can’t be afraid of it or avoid it, otherwise it’ll fester and come and get you.”

“Do you want your old job back?” 

“No.”

“I’d put your plumber thing in the box,” said Helen.

“Really? Why?”

“Cos I think you’d make a great teacher.”