Crossing Today

Short updates from a crossing for small people.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

(This is the final entry of Crossing Today. Work demands mean I can no longer be the Lollipop Man for my local school. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had, and urge you to give it a go if you have the capacity. It really does make a difference.)

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (this month): trips away; side-eyed welcomes back; rainbow day glitter eyelashes; appreciative protestation; "YOU'RE THE BEST AND YOU RULE!"; the search for a replacement; a hat full of lollipops on a lonely desk; taking down the flags one last time; and fin.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): an Easter bonnet is held gingerly; BREAKFAST BEAST; head-slapping joy; the simple pleasure of a dog belly scratch; paused confusion; Grandma keeps a-rollin'; a ruby slipper blowout; and "Did you hit yourself with a stick?"

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday and last week): mufti excitement; rainbow knees; a shout of greeting; high fives on the crossing; a plate of slices; MONSTER MITTENS; a parachute toy; the coiling of a plastic snake; a furry coat; and frost on the way.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): handball played with a basketball; fancy sock day; "We're just getting to school later and later!"; six inches of rain in a morning; a faded shipping container sign; PRAISE FOR TOURISM; and a truck driver who could moonlight in ZZ Top.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): a reversing tune; "I smell like toast!"; wailing due to a sticky shrub; ruminations about a four degree Friday; a galah sings as it escapes; "STOP LICKING THE LID!"; a pause to fix one's boot, an escapee dog (the best kind); and tree corpse transport.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): lights on in the new building; reflections in a tarn on the turf; “Days like this are the reason why I couldn’t be a lollipop lady!”; hat protector proves its worth; rain rebounds from road; SNAIL BUDDY; and a gutter torrent.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: mud splashed up the sides of a ute; surprised by the postie's beeping; a tradie WORKS THE GRIND; hanging pull-ups fail to impress; acid sloshes in transparent travelling tanks; a dangerously mobile basketball; and a stick-smashing test of strength.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): leaves have begun falling; junk flies from the building site; a FUNKY HAT; a truck trails wind you can taste; CLANG; the smell of metallic burning (a stroke?); socks receive an unintentional wash; and more than 300 local lightning hits.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: a mock bus stop punch-on; the scent of roses drifts past; a small boy rides in the bottom of the pram; "I enjoy walking in the rain: puddles, fresh air, that kind of thing!"; a watchful brown dog; and sign-aided adventures in drain unblocking.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: a cool change brings short-sleeved goosebumps; colours of the leaves tending to red and gold; the sound of a mysterious, unseen siren; overzealous squirt bottle grip results in a wet shirt; sunlight through afternoon haze; and a red and white Charger idles.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): an enormous truck of beef; a boy waves like royalty through a bus window; a fluffy bird identifies a hat; heat burns off the concrete; a pall of dust hangs over the air; "We will be relying heavily on the fan."; and a wombat-stickered truck.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (this week - it's been busy): THE LAW BUS; "I'm going to spend a lot of time in the toilet today!"; high bouncing road risk; "I see you're mixing it up with those shoes!"; one pink glove; PUSHEEN!; a running lizard; and a luxuriant handlebar moustache.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: a small girl is dropped off in a large blue tractor (with thresher); a teenager makes DJ moves before a slapped handshake; a warning about ROSE DANGER; a full leg cast for a half-pint boy; and a local policeman makes a career change, dumping the badge and gun.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (last week): excitement about the forthcoming Show mounts; the smell of rain teases but does not ever deliver; guard almost run over (twice, though not by the same person); much argument about village use in a miniseries; and a multi-wheeled juggernaut drives by.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): "Your sign looks to me like it's a giant's walking stick!"; a cavalcade of superannuated vehicles; the unique pains of a highly skinned knee; the point of a natural divining rod; eagerness to cross only just kept in check; and lazy flag flaps.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): a dog's vivid eye patch; "Welcome back – you're not grumpy like the other man!"; debate on dirt in the streets; a leaf plunges into my eye; a competing team of traffic controllers; heat inches ever upwards; and a small village goes back in cinema time.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: casual crossing supervisor gets the lie of the land; discussions on the merits of local pubs; "I really should've worn a long t-shirt today!"; spinning top walking styles; a third place position on a first time out; and the distinct lure of the weekend.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today (yesterday): loud talkers pass the school gate; a branch of tiny apples suddenly appears; a car door bears marks of a parking battle; echoing construction taps ring out; breaks shriek during a normal drive; and a small puppy is carried like a canine prince.

[Crossing Today @crossing_today]

Crossing Today: water-blasted bricks indicate construction's close to completion; a forgotten violin; "So today I have HOMEWORK!"; neat hair and ties for school photo day; excreted berries; a risky game of handball; a swarm descends on the bins; and DRUMMING STOMP.