For the best – Daniel 64

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[Old back story is here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Daniel episodes especially this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

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“We’re not entirely together,” said Daniel, for what felt like the millionth time. “It’s a trial. Believe me it’s a trial.”

Chrissy smiled what she hoped was a compensatory winning smile down the video link with Mrs Chistlehurst. “It’s going quite well,” she let herself say. Even though she wasn’t certain whether this was an acceptable way to frame the relationship between herself and Daniel or whether she was in effect damming with faint praise.

“Well,” said Mrs Chistlehurst, “Daisy is very excited about being able to live with you both, so well done you.”

This was what amounted to a parent’s evening these days. A zoom call during the day in which Daisy’s teacher, on an operational but clearly not very high definition lap top, guided her pupils’ parents through the ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses of their children. Whilst this was not in any way as good as sitting down next to parents and guiding them through their child’s academic life, it was at least something.

Although in the case of this something, her current parents seemed firstly distracted by their own concerns and secondly distracted by the apparent lack of detail in the work she was showing them. 

“This,” she said, “is Daisy’s picture of a monster.”

She held up a water colour piece that was primarily black and red. There was certainly a monster in there somewhere struggling to get out, but neither Daniel nor Chrissy could see it. 

“Is that the right way round?” asked Daniel.

“I don’t think it really matters,” observed Mrs Chistlehurst, “I just want you to get a feel for Daisy’s brush and mark making skills at this point. And this is her dinosaur.”

Again the picture was mainly black and red. “It’s next to a volcano, I believe,” she commented.

“How does this compare with other children?” asked Daniel.

“We don’t compare with other children” said Mrs Chistlehurst.

“So how do you know if she’s any good?” asked Daniel.

“Well, we assess according to age expectation,” said Mrs Chistlehurst.

“So that’s pretty much the same as comparing with the other children, right?” said Daniel.

“And this is her flower...” said Mrs Chistlehurst.

“Are you sure that’s not another volcano?” asked Chrissy.

"What are Lexy's pictures like?" asked Daniel.

Everything was about adaptation, thought Daniel. The entire pandemic from start to wherever it was they were at now was adaptation. He’d adapted his work (well, he’d lost his work and found some other things to do, but that was still sort of adaptation). They’d adapted to ensure Daisy still got some home schooling - although again this was more to do with what was happening between him and Chrissy than actually working out what was best for Daisy educationally, but she had still been learning things. On and off. Just like everyone else they’d chopped and changed according to circumstances, perhaps trying to make out they had some kind of power over what was happening when really they were at the mercy of events just like everyone else.

And all the time the virus was adapting. Changing and mutating faster than anyone else could move. Faster than poor Mrs Chistlehurst could throw together a coherent lesson plan that they as inexperienced educators could deliver.

“I would says Daisy is hitting all her attainment targets,” said Mrs Chistlehurst reassuringly. “She’s great on maths, spelling is right where we want it, writing is good as well, it’s just…”

She trailed off and instead picked up another mainly red and black painted piece of paper. “Do you have a pet?” She asked.

“I guess we’ve all been through it,” said Daniel. “I mean, if you asked me to draw a picture to represent what was going on at the moment I dare say my picture would look a lot like that.”

“Really,” asked Chrissy, “Even now?”

“This isn’t about us,” said Daniel quickly.

“This is why I think you getting back together has been so good for Daisy,” reiterated Mrs Chistlehurst. “She’s become far more talkative, much lighter and more herself. It’s like there’s a new bright light that’s been switched on. And who knows, by the end of term she might have found a different colour to use other than red and black.”

In the aftermath of the call Daniel and Chrissy supped their tea and shared a few biscuits. 

“Are we staying together for her sake?” asked Daniel.

“Is there a better reason?” asked Chrissy. “I mean, I know we’re not completely hitting it off or whatever, but it’s not bad. And if it makes Daisy happy then why not?”

Daniel paused. “Because we might want to do other things,” he said tentatively.

“When you say ‘other things’ do you mean ‘other people’?”

“Well, yes, frankly. I mean, I’m very pleased I can actually be in a room with you without wanting to tear out my own hair, but, you know…”

“I’m sure we can work something out,” said Chrissy, with a small smile. “I mean, I might want to do other people as well… from time to time.”