The visitor

We have a visitor today.
My children's madness begins subtly.
They actually help to tidy their rooms,
In anticipation.
Once everything is prepared they became fractious.
When is he coming?
Distraction comes in baking sugary offerings,
Drawing and colouring,
Or finding a quiet corner to continue reading.
Then at last ten minutes before expected,
The car comes up the drive.
Kisses and embraces and presents distributed.
The volume gets louder.
After a cup of tea and chattering conversations,
The visitor and mass of children retire to the lounge room.
Then the wild rumpus really begins.
The climbing, the dressing up, the dancing about to loud music.
Voices becoming more shrill as the excitement builds.
Then there are the minor squabbles, tears and retribution.
One returns to a quiet corner to continue reading.

We have a visitor and my children go crazy.