Mr Fingerton’s Eyes - Chapter 1

Mr Fingerton’s Eyes

‘A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 1

Walking  Before Christmas Into Town

 

It was almost summer at the end of the year and the school doors was almost ready to close . Mr Fingerton had already started to switch off from schoolwork and his main focus now on bringing a little Christmas magic into his classroom  .

He decided to bring the children in his classroom on an excursion into town to look around some of the shops and check out the Christmas decorations that were on show so he asked permission from the school principal to do that . A few of the other teachers were envious and also wanting to do that but weren’t  given permission as it was Mr Fingerton’s excursion .

He was called to the principal’s office before leaving on the excursion to obtain some money from the teacher’s petty cash to cover any expenses . The principal  said he could get some fish and chips for lunch for the children in town . Mr Fingerton was very happy about that and thanked the principal . On the way back to his classroom he noticed something strange in one of the classrooms that wasn’t being used anymore . In the half-light he saw what looked like a child being punished .  There was a teacher there with a bamboo cane slapping the child . He thought  but how can that be as that kind of punishment was banished many years ago . He went into the classroom but once he was inside , no one there . Sometimes he would see things that weren’t there, it was the first time this had happened . He never knew when that would occur it just happened in unexpected moments as if he had stepped through a door into another time for a brief visit to another time and place .

He returned to his classroom and asked everyone to stand outside the room in the corridor in a column of two , He stood at the front to lead the way and they all marched off from the school into the town. 

“Keep up everyone ,.don’t get left behind “

He said as they made their way past the buildings and factories that seemed  strange to most of the children as they had never done anything like this before .

A few people passed by and said good morning to Mr Fingerton

“Aye it’s a good day for it “

Saids the man with the cap on his head “

“It’s a little brisk but the walk will keep us warm :”

Mr Fingerton replied .

A young girl approached wearing a ballet dress , pirouetting and dancing along the sidewalk . She looked at Mr Fingerton and smiled . No one there had seen her and in a few moments, she was gone . He realised that it was another one of those people passing by moments . He thought they must be just  passing through .

 

The streets were not that busy and the children were well behaved . They all walked together on the sidewalk . Some of them were talking among themselves ,   

 “What are you doing on the holidays Danny “

“Going to visit my grandparents “ He replied.  .

“That’s nice “ Said Peter who replied.

“My grandma is in a nursing home ; I don’t see her anymore . She sent me a Christmas card yesterday .“

Mr Fingerton saw a man dressed up as Santa on the other side of the road , He waved over to everyone but Mr Fingerton was the other one who waved back . He turned around to the class and asked ,

“Didn’t any of you see Santa across the street ?”

Everyone laughed as if he was playing a joke on them . Then he looked again but there was no one there across the street . That was the third time today that he had visions from beyond . Another man dressed as Santa came walking down the street towards then and all the children started cheering and applauding ,

“Merry Christmas Children. “

Santa said.

Some of the children began shouting out their wishes for Christmas.

“I want a new bike :‘

I want a pair of football boots and a ball “

“I want toy train “:

The man dressed up as Santa , said.

“Ho Ho Ho “

And went into a photographer’s studio nearby where small children were waiting with their parents for photos with Santa .

The children all screamed and laughed , My Fingerton asked everyone to settle down and said ,

“Isn’t it great to get out of the classroom today children  ?

They all said ‘ “

“Yeah “

Some of them put on a funny voice and said.  

“No , I want to be back in the classroom writing in my notebook :

 

“Thank you, Mr Fingerton, for taking us out from the classroom. “

Said another .

One of the children raised his hand in the air and shouted.

““Three cheers for Mr Fingerton :

”Hip hip horray” Went up the cry .

When they came to the top of the town they could see the lanterns hanging and buntings with different colours . There were trees with tinsel and imitation sleighs with reindeers . Elves in suits with little sacks and fairy lights everywhere .The centre of town looked just like a Christmas wonderland .

Mr Fingerton said  .
"Today we are going to have some fish and chips for lunch “

The children all cheered .

As they all walked through the town, they were greeted by people walking their dog and pushing prams , Everyone seemed happy to see the school children out and about .  Some of the children were jumping over the cracks on the pavement ,   others were looking all around at the Christmas decorations in the shop  windows . Mr Fingerton said ,

“Are you all enjoying the walk today?"

Some nodded their heads ; others started to laugh and cheer and by the look on their faces it was almost like Christmas had already arrived . Then all marched along past shops with tall windows and every now and then one of the children would stop and make a strange face at the reflection of himself in some of the shop windows .

The walked happily through town looking at all the new sights with displays inside shop windows and Christmas sale signs everywhere . Colourful signs displayed images of Santa and his elves . Mt Fingerton noticed a few of the children were starting to look tired and he said ,

"All right boys lets go and we’ll get some fish and chips ."

He asked them all to sit down on the seats that were provided and placed an order for them all to share . The man in the shop was delighted to see the children out for the day and made an extra-large serving for everyone to enjoy . They all got a soft drink as well . Mr Rice paid the bill and after lunch he checked his watch and noticed that the time was getting on and so decided they better start making their way back to school .  When they returned to the school , there were just in time to grab our school bags and go home . Everyone had a nice walk into town and Christmas was almost here

End Of Chapter 1

 

Link to chapter 2

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/mr-fingerton%E2%80%99s-eyes-chap...

 

Mr Fingerton’s Eyes

‘A Novel

By Paul McCann

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