It was Friday morning, in Lily Pearson’s first week back after Christmas.
“Alright, 2J,” Miss Jason smiled, “Did everyone bring in their best presents to show the class, like I asked you on Monday?” Everyone had. “Good. I’ll call you in alphabetical order. Then you can stand up at the front and tell us a bit about your gifts.”
Each pupil brought forth their Christmas gifts; mainly toys, computer games and new clothes. Poppy Jacobs even showed the class a collar, since she had got a puppy for Christmas and couldn’t bring pets to school. This was why Lily felt a little small when she showed the class her gift.
“That’s a very nice notebook, Lily,” Miss Jason said warmly, trying to encourage her. “I love the animals on the cover. And look at all those coloured nibs on the pen! Incredible! Who got it for you?”
“Uncle Colin,” Lily managed to say.
“And why was it your favourite gift?” Miss Jason asked. “And speak up so that the class can hear you better.”
“Because I like writing stories and I like the animals too,” said Lily. “Uncle Colin said I could write something down in it whenever… insulation strikes.”
“You mean inspiration,” chuckled Miss Jason. “Well, Lily, your uncle chose very well. You do write the nicest stories.”
“Miss Jason?”
“Yes, Dear?”
“What is in… er, in-sa…”
“Inspiration?” said Miss Jason. “It’s when you see or hear something that you really like and it gives you a fantastic idea of your own.”
“When will I get in-spur-ation, Miss Jason?” smiled Lily.
“I can’t say,” replied Miss Jason, “But you’ll know it when it comes.”
Two weeks later, Lily was no wiser as to what inspiration was. But her parents were going out for the evening and they had a surprise for her.
“Muriel’s back,” they told her.
Lily squealed with delight. Her big cousin Muriel, Uncle Sam’s daughter, had once been her favourite babysitter, but for some reason Muriel hadn’t looked after Lily for ages.
“Don’t they draw Muriels on a wall?” Lily had asked her parents the first time Muriel had come over.
“That’s a mural, Lily,” Mum had said. “Not a Muriel.”
When Muriel came through the door, Lily charged at her and flung her arms around her.
“Great to see you too, Lily,” she gasped, suddenly rather short of breath.
“Where have you been, Muriel?” Lily squeaked.
“Travelling,” she grinned, “Over land all the way from here to Australia. I’ve brought the pictures if you want to see them.”
“Can I please, Mum?” Lily begged.
“Of course,” Mum replied. “Have fun, you two.”
Off Lily’s parents went. After Muriel had eaten dinner with Lily, then played a couple of games of Buckaroo with her, she attached her camera to the digital TV and began showing Lily the photos she had taken while travelling.
Lily sat spellbound as picture after picture of strangely dressed people and remarkable buildings met her eyes. And the names those places were called! Neuschwannstein, the Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Persepolis, the Qutab Minar, Angkor Wat…
Then came a shot that actually made Lily gasp.
“Look at the trees on that lorry!” she squeaked. “They’re black inside. Are they burned?”
“No, Lily,” said Muriel. “That wood’s called ebony. It’s the same wood black piano keys are made from. I took that photograph in Borneo. Ebony grows in the jungles there.”
“It looks just like…” Lily began. “Wait a minute, Muriel.”
Muriel watched dumbfounded as Lily dashed out of the room and scrambled up the stairs to her bedroom. She returned moments later with her notebook and multi-nibbed pen.
“Lily, whatever are you doing?” Muriel chuckled.
Lily didn’t answer her at first, but wrote furiously in the notebook. Muriel actually laughed out loud when she saw what Lily had written.
Two weeks afterwards, Lily showed Miss Jason her notebook again.
“Is this another of your stories, Lily?” her teacher asked.
Lily nodded quickly. Like Muriel, Miss Jason laughed at what she saw inside the notebook.
“The Giant’s Pencil Case?” she grinned. “Is this based on Jack and the Beanstalk, Lily?”
“No, Miss Jason,” said Lily. “I was looking at some photos with Muriel and inspiration striked.”
“That’s wonderful, dear,” Miss Jason replied. “And by the way it’s “struck”. Inspiration struck.”
She ushered Lily back to her desk to start the lesson.
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