"I saw a lion."

"No you didn't. There aren't any lions!"

"Yes there are!"

"Can I go to the toilet?"

Mr Gamper put Tamzina down and stretched his arms to get the soreness out of them.

"You were heavy," he said.

"No I'm not," said Tamzina, "My dad can carry me easily."

Miss Trollop blew her whistle and the noise level dropped slightly.

"Team two is on the lunch. Get into the kitchen, wait on! I haven't blown the whistle. Remember what I said about not moving till you're told to? When I blow the whistle, team two will serve the lunch. Meanwhile, Mr Gamper and I will judge the nature collection. Could those of you who have mud on your shoes please take your shoes off and put them outside on the deck. Who's that out there in his socks? George, come in here. Yes, you. There isn't anyone else running around outside in their socks is there?""

The whistle went and so did all the kids.

Thomas skidded on the concrete floor and hit the side of the doorway.

"No running!" shouted Mr Gamper.

"Who broke that bowl?"

"Get the shovel!"

Lawrence pushed the big soup pot towards himself across the stove and slopped thick, red soup into the air. He yelled as it struck him in the face. Samuel laughed. Daphne screamed because she thought there was a mouse in the cupboard. Juanita and Elizabeth rushed over and screamed with her even though they both knew there wasn’t a mouse.

Tamara crawled under the floor mat and pretended to be a monster, until John sat on her and made her cry.

The soup was ladled mostly into the plates, and the toast flew about. Some of the boys found that toast can glide a long way if its thrown at the right angle. The floor grew thickly with crumbs and food. Butter dripped over hands and down fronts. Spoons clacked and rang and scraped.