Week 42: Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

 Type of Writing:

Now that Kit can wave, a list of things that I'm looking forward to him wave at and a list of things I'm not looking forward to him wave at.





Say Hello

From the back seat of his wedding car as it accelerates off to his future.

Breaking character during the school nativity when he sees us in the audience.

In context. (He just waves at the moment with no regard for circumstance or event.)

Doing the ‘cheerio, cheerio’ chant as an opposition player is sent off.

At lorry drivers on a primary school trip.

An understated one to us at his graduation ceremony.

To Mickey Mouse at DisneyLand or Harry the Hornet at Vicarage Road, whatever our budget stretches too.

When he does it with a smile to let us know he’s going to be alright and that we can go and leave with him his friends because he’s got this covered; he’s cool; it’s no sweat; ‘I’ve got this.’

During an organised run when he spots us in the crowd. (He’s probably raised loads of money for a charity that doesn’t get the attention it deserves because that’s the kind of guy he is.)

At the Arrival terminal when he returns home.

Acknowledging drivers who give way. (It’s the polite thing to do.)

During ‘Sweet Caroline’ at a disco.

When he’s being introduced on a quiz show.

In an ostentatious way, across the platforms, as he bids a temporary farewell to the person he’s falling for.

After talking to a friendly stranger that we meet on holiday.

To Watford players on an open top bus as they parade through the town with the FA Cup.

At his own child when he’s teaching them to wave.

Wave Goodbye

At the Departure gate when he goes off somewhere for a long time.

A perfunctory one that he does because he’s obliged to do out of social necessity, but there’s no real conviction to it and he would just rather we left him to see his mates and not be so embarrassing, thank you very much.

At lorry drivers on a secondary school trip. (It’s just less endearing and more laddish when you’re a teenager.)

To us on his first day at school.

When we see him in the rear-view mirror as we drop him off at uni or wherever he’s left home for.

At the open top parade welcoming back gallant losing finalists, Watford FC.


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