In happier times. there would be sandy trunks and treasures from the beach....when I first took Kieron to Tunisia, we were horrified at all the camel poo on the beach, until I realised that it was a rather strange seaweed that looks exactly like poo and Kieron and I had poo fights on the beach, stashing some in a carrier bag to bring home. Kieron had a camel ride on the beach, led along by his older brother. He sat tall and proud on the back of his latest favourite animal, talking to his new friend and grinning with delight.
Clothes crusty with salt and sticky with ice cream. An outfit identical to a traditional Tunisian one, of which I sadly don't have a photo, was a particular favourite and was used for a dressing up day at school. Camel mugs and assorted bits of valuable rubbish, cluttering up the luggage and needing to be found pride of place in Kieron's room. Singing and dancing cuddly camels and dried out scorpions, snakes and beetles.
Piles of washing and ironing waiting to be done as soon as possible and chatter about our adventures together. A smattering of Arabic to show off with...shokran, min fadlek, asslema. A little boy intent on allowing the world to discover him, rather than the other way round.
Today the unpacking is finished, the washing done and put away. A house of memories of other holidays when Kieron could be invincible and always here. Tales to tell back at school and treasure to take in to show his friends. Now...emptiness.
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