Jack and Poppy came running through the gate panting and yelling. “Dad!” Jack called. “Dad, it’s fallen down.” And right behind him was Poppy and she was also red in the face from running and pushing her hair back from her eyes. “Dad, it’s true!” she said. “We’ve got to help!”
Dad was in the middle of the potato patch in the garden and he stood up and grinned and pushed his hat back on his head. He said, “Of course we’ll help. We will. But first, slow down and start again. You’re sounding like a speeded up youtube video.”
Poppy had another try. “Dad,” she said, wiping the little bit of sweat from her brow, “it’s Mrs Threadbare.”
Dad nodded. “Our neighbour?” “Yes,” said Jack, “her big sign thing has fallen over.”
Dad asked, “That sign up on the hill?” Jack and Poppy nodded. “Yes, the one that says we can save the planet.” Jack said, “Something about picking up plastic rubbish and using paper bags.”
Dad smiled and they all sat on the garden bench together. He said, “Got blown over in the wind this morning, perhaps.” “Yes,” Poppy nodded. “When we were at school the wind came and pushed it over!” “Bumph!” Jack said, pushing his hand in front of him. “Just like that.” And he swished his arms around to show dad what it looked like now.
“So it’s lying on its back on the hill?” dad asked. Jack and Poppy nodded. “Well, we need to get some people to help us stand it up again.” Poppy said, “Yes. Erect it.” Jack said, he didn’t know about that, but the sign did need to be stood up straight again.
“Well,” dad said, “I’m sorry, but your mum and I can’t help. I need to get washed and then we’re going to meet mum’s work boss.” He looked at his phone. “In 15 minutes. Your mum’s almost ready. So I need to go now.”
Jack and Poppy didn’t know what to say. Jack’s mouth did a little ‘I’m sad’ twist. Poppy let out a big disappointed sigh. Dad was smiling again. He said, “You don’t need me and mum. You’ve got all your friends from school. They’ll come and put that sign up again.”
And suddenly Jack and Poppy realised, Yes. That’s right! They could call their friends. So dad and mum got ready and drove off to see mum’s work boss, and Jack and Poppy went off to gather their friends.
Poppy said, “You remember, Jack, everyone from our class is on the other side of the hill today doing sport.” Jack nodded. She said, “Let’s go there and get a few of them to come and erect that sign for Mrs Threadbare.” Great idea, Jack said. And the two of them went out of the gate, along the footpath and up onto the hill. Up and up.
The other side of the hill was a long way. Longer than they’d remembered, and by the time they got to a place where they could look across and see the kids doing school sport practice they were puffed and a bit tired. So they sat down for a little rest. Poppy was quiet.
Jack said, “All the kids are there, Poppy.” She nodded. He said, “If they’ll come and lift that sign with us it’ll be up in no time.” Poppy nodded again. And Jack went on. He said, “And it they’ll help old Mrs Threadbare they’ll feel good. It’ll make them happy.” Poppy nodded. But then she turned quickly and looked at Jack, and she said, “But what if they don’t want to help us? What then?” Jack stopped. He hadn’t thought about that. She went on, “What if they want to keep on practising their sport? What if they haven’t got time to help our nice old neighbour?”
Oh dear. Jack didn’t know what to think. Neither did Poppy. But then she stood up and said, “Well, Jack, we just have to go over and invite them to help us.” And Jack got up too and he said, Yes that’s right. They paused. Looked out to the kids over there doing their sport. And off they went.
It wasn’t too far to the sport ground, and just as they they got there the teacher was blowing a loud whistle. Everyone shouted and jumped and laughed and the kids started jogging off the ground towards where Jack and Poppy were. “Hello, Jack!” “Hello, Poppy. What are you doing here?” And so Jack and Poppy told their friends about old Mrs Threadbare’s sign.
“It’s lying on the ground and we need some help,” Jack said. Well their friends clustered around and smiled and chatted and picked up their bags and things and said, “Let’s go!” And Jack and Poppy led the way. Up the hill and around the side and down to the bottom. And right over to Mrs Threadbare’s sign.
In no time they had all grabbed a hold of it and heaved and hoisted and lifted and struggled and said, ‘Push more! This is heavy!’ And slowly slowly the sign was raised up. Up it went. Further. Then ‘thud’ the two big posts at each end dropped back in their holes and the sign was ready again.
Everyone thought it looked so good. The biggest kids got out their phones and took pictures. “We want to show our mum and dad,” they said. And the smaller kids asked the others to read the words to them. “Save-the-planet.” Then it was time to go and everyone scattered to their homes.
Jack and Poppy scooted along the footpath and through their gate. And guess who was there waiting for them? Mum and dad and Mrs Threadbare! Their nice old neighbour was smiling and beaming. “Thank you so much,” she said. “You’re really saving the planet. And while you’re busy recovering from all that work, I wonder if you’d like to try some special muffins I’ve just baked.”
With a flourish she whisked a big plate of the most delicious looking muffins from her big handbag and everyone laughed and trooped inside to enjoy them together.
And as they sat down dad said, “You know, what you just did reminded me of what Jesus did one time. He asked some people he knew to help him.”
“And did they?” Jack asked.
Poppy said, “Yes. They did. We call them disciples.”
Mrs Threadbare nodded. She said a few extra helpers were usually needed for big jobs. Like helping Jesus, or saving a planet.