Wednesday morning arrived with the usual mixture of school bags, toast, shoes that had apparently vanished overnight and Barry announcing that he couldn’t possibly go to school because he was “extremely busy.”
“Doing what?” asked Mrs Brand.
Barry thought about this.
“Things.”
“What things?”
“Important ones.”
Mrs Brand looked at him.
“Such as?”
Barry shrugged.
“I can’t remember.”
“Excellent. Then you should have plenty of time for school.”
Marmaduke arrived a few minutes later, cheerful as ever.
“Morning!”
“Morning,” said Mrs Brand.
“We’re going to the library today.”
Barry looked interested.
“The real library?”
“Yes.”
“With books?”
“That is generally what libraries contain.”
“Can we take one home?”
Mrs Brand nodded.
Barry’s eyes widened.
“A whole book?”
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“No. You borrow it.”
Barry considered this.
“So… temporarily forever?”
“Something like that.”
Alfie, already sitting at the table doing his breakfast reading, looked over.
“You have to return it.”
Barry sighed.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a library.”
“I know.”
“You just asked if you could keep it.”
“I was checking.”
Alfie returned to his book.
“Right.”
At school, Mrs Abraham explained the plan.
“Today we’re going to visit the library. Each of you can choose one book to bring home for your parent or carer to read to you.”
Marmaduke immediately looked delighted.
Barry looked delighted too.
Then Mrs Abraham added:
“But you need to choose carefully.”
Barry nodded solemnly.
This sounded like an important responsibility.
The Reception children walked to the library.
It was a proper library.
Rows and rows of books.
Shelves.
Quiet corners.
Little chairs.
And, most importantly, books about dinosaurs.
Marmaduke spotted one almost immediately.
He pulled it out.
DINOSAURS OF THE JURASSIC.
He opened it.
There was a picture of a huge dinosaur.
Marmaduke’s eyes widened.
“Barry!”
Barry came over.
“What?”
“Look!”
Barry looked.
“That’s a big one.”
“What is it?”
“Dinosaur.”
“I know it’s a dinosaur.”
Barry shrugged.
“Then we’re both doing well.”
Marmaduke read the title slowly.
“Jurassic.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means dinosaurs.”
Barry nodded.
“Right.”
It didn’t.
But Barry wasn’t about to let that interfere with his confidence.
Marmaduke hugged the book.
“This is mine.”
“Good choice,” said Mrs Abraham.
Barry wandered along another shelf.
He passed books about space.
Animals.
Cars.
Trains.
The human body.
He stopped.
The human body.
There was a brightly illustrated book showing a child standing next to a diagram of a skeleton.
Barry pulled it out.
He looked at the front.
Then opened it.
He turned a page.
Then another.
Then another.
His eyes became enormous.
“MRS ABRAHAM.”
Mrs Abraham looked over.
“Yes, Barry?”
“What’s this?”
She walked over.
Barry held the book up.
It was a human anatomy book designed for older children, with a section explaining bodies and the differences between boys and girls.
Mrs Abraham glanced at it.
“That’s a book about the human body.”
Barry looked at the diagrams.
“Why are there two?”
“Because boys and girls have some differences in their bodies.”
Barry looked fascinated.
“Why?”
Mrs Abraham smiled.
“Because that’s how human bodies develop.”
Barry turned another page.
His mouth fell open.
He looked at Marmaduke.
“Marmaduke.”
“Yes?”
“You need to see this.”
Marmaduke came over.
Barry showed him.
Marmaduke stared.
“Oh.”
There was a long pause.
Then:
“Why?”
Barry shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
They looked at Mrs Abraham.
Mrs Abraham was now very aware that she had a classroom full of four-year-olds, one anatomy book, and a rapidly developing scientific conference happening in the middle of the library.
“Remember,” she said carefully, “this is a book for older children.”
Barry nodded.
“Can I take it home?”
Mrs Abraham paused.
“You can choose a book to borrow.”
Barry’s eyes widened.
“This one?”
“If the library system allows it to be borrowed, yes.”
Barry looked shocked.
“I’m allowed to take THIS home?”
“Yes.”
He hugged the book.
Marmaduke looked at him.
“Your mum is going to have to explain that.”
Barry grinned.
“She will.”
Mrs Abraham suddenly had the distinct feeling that she had just handed Mrs Brand a problem in laminated-cardboard form.
Barry carried the book back to school like it contained the secrets of the universe.
Marmaduke carried his dinosaur book.
The contrast was extraordinary.
One child had chosen a peaceful book about prehistoric reptiles.
The other had apparently decided to bring home a four-year-old-sized biological bomb.
At pickup, Mrs Brand smiled.
“Hello!”
Marmaduke proudly held up his book.
“I got dinosaurs!”
“That looks brilliant.”
Barry stood beside him.
He held his book behind his back.
Mrs Brand noticed.
“What have you got?”
“Something.”
“What?”
“Science.”
Mrs Brand looked suspicious.
“Okay…”
Barry handed it over.
Mrs Brand looked at the cover.
She read the title.
She looked at Barry.
Then back at the book.
“Ah.”
Marmaduke leaned closer.
“It’s about boys and girls.”
Mrs Brand looked at Marmaduke.
“Apparently.”
Barry looked delighted.
“Can we read it tonight?”
Mrs Brand considered her options.
There weren’t many.
“Yes.”
Barry smiled.
“Good.”
On the walk home, Barry asked questions.
“Are boys and girls made differently?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because our bodies develop differently.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s how humans are made.”
“Why?”
Mrs Brand looked at him.
“Barry, are you going to ask ‘why’ after every answer?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.”
Marmaduke joined in.
“Do boys and girls have different bones?”
“Mostly the same bones.”
“Different hearts?”
“No.”
“Different brains?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking.”
“Different ears?”
“Not because they’re boys or girls.”
Barry looked thoughtful.
“Different hair?”
“Sometimes.”
“Different feet?”
“Not generally.”
“Different noses?”
“Not because they’re boys or girls.”
Barry nodded.
“So it’s some things.”
“Some things.”
“And some things are the same.”
“Exactly.”
This seemed manageable.
Until they got home.
Alfie was at the kitchen table doing homework.
He looked up.
“What book did you get?”
“Dinosaurs,” said Marmaduke.
Alfie nodded.
“Good.”
Barry proudly placed his book on the table.
Alfie looked at the cover.
He looked at Barry.
He looked at Mrs Brand.
Then he slowly closed his homework book.
“I think I’m going upstairs.”
“No,” said Mrs Brand.
“Why?”
“Because you’re part of this family.”
“That seems unfair.”
“You’ll survive.”
Barry opened the book.
“Can we start here?”
Mrs Brand sat down.
Marmaduke sat beside Barry.
Alfie remained at the table but looked as though he was considering applying for witness protection.
Mrs Brand took a breath.
“Right.”
She looked at the two four-year-olds.
“Boys and girls have lots of things that are the same. We both have brains, hearts, lungs, stomachs, bones, muscles and all the same basic body systems.”
Barry nodded.
“Like skeletons.”
“Exactly.”
“But there are some body parts that are different.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because male and female bodies are biologically different in some ways.”
Barry studied the pictures.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that some parts of the body are different, including the parts involved in having babies when people are adults.”
Marmaduke looked intrigued.
“How?”
Mrs Brand smiled.
“That’s a bigger conversation than we need to have tonight.”
Barry looked disappointed.
“But the book says.”
“I know.”
“It’s right there.”
“I can see that.”
He pointed.
“Can you explain that bit?”
Mrs Brand looked at the page.
She decided that honesty, simplicity and appropriate language were probably the best approach.
She explained, in simple terms, that boys and girls have different reproductive organs; that girls have a uterus where a baby can grow, and boys produce sperm, which is involved in making a baby.
Barry listened.
Marmaduke listened.
Alfie listened.
There was silence.
Then Barry said:
“So babies need a boy and a girl?”
“Usually, a sperm from a man and an egg from a woman are involved in making a baby.”
Barry nodded.
“Right.”
Marmaduke looked at the picture.
“That’s complicated.”
“It can be.”
Barry turned another page.
“What about that?”
Mrs Brand looked.
“Oh, that’s puberty.”
“What’s puberty?”
“It’s when children’s bodies gradually change as they grow into adults.”
Barry frowned.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Do you get taller?”
“Yes.”
“Do you get hair?”
“Yes.”
“Do you get bigger?”
“Yes.”
Barry thought about this.
“Do you have to go to school?”
Mrs Brand smiled.
“Yes.”
Barry sighed.
“So growing up is mostly bad news.”
Alfie laughed.
“Not exactly.”
Barry looked at him.
“You’ve got homework.”
“That’s true.”
Marmaduke suddenly asked:
“Do girls become mums and boys become dads?”
“Some women become mums and some men become dads, but not everyone does. People grow up and make their own choices about their lives.”
Barry nodded.
That seemed important.
Then he looked back at the diagrams.
“What happens if someone doesn’t look like the picture?”
Mrs Brand smiled.
“People’s bodies are all different. Books show examples, but real people don’t all look exactly the same.”
Barry nodded.
“What about people who are born with bodies that are different?”
Mrs Brand paused, then answered simply.
“Sometimes babies are born with differences in their bodies. Doctors can help families understand them. And it’s important to be kind and respectful because everyone’s body is their own.”
Marmaduke nodded seriously.
“Like Snowball.”
Barry looked at him.
“What?”
“Snowball has two blue eyes.”
Barry nodded.
“And a he’s deaf maybe.”
“Possibly,” said Mrs Brand.
“But a he’s still Snowball.”
“Exactly.”
Barry smiled.
He looked at the book again.
Then closed it.
“That was a lot.”
Mrs Brand laughed.
“Yes.”
Marmaduke picked up his dinosaur book.
“Can we read mine now?”
Mrs Brand smiled.
“Absolutely.”
Barry looked at the dinosaur on the front.
“What did Jurassic dinosaurs do?”
Marmaduke answered confidently.
“Be dinosaurs.”
Barry nodded.
“Much easier.”
Alfie reopened his homework.
“Thank goodness.”
Mrs Brand looked at him.
“Don’t you want to hear about dinosaurs?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve already done my homework.”
Barry grinned.
“That’s very boring.”
Alfie looked at him.
“I’m eight.”
“So?”
“I’ve got enough questions already.”
Mrs Brand laughed.
The evening ended with Marmaduke learning about a gigantic Jurassic dinosaur while Barry sat beside him, occasionally flicking back through his anatomy book with the serious concentration of a scientist.
Eventually he closed it.
“Dad?”
Mr Brand looked up from his laptop.
“Yes?”
“Did you know boys and girls have different bodies?”
Mr Brand slowly looked towards Mrs Brand.
Mrs Brand smiled.
“Library.”
Mr Brand nodded.
“Of course.”
Barry continued.
“And I know how babies are made.”
Mr Brand paused.
“Already?”
Mrs Brand laughed.
“Don’t worry. We kept it age-appropriate.”
Mr Brand nodded.
“Excellent.”
Barry thought for a moment.
“It’s quite complicated.”
“It is.”
“But I’m glad I borrowed the book.”
Mr Brand smiled.
“Good.”
Barry held it up.
“Can I keep it?”
“No.”
Barry sighed.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a library book.”
“Oh.”
He thought about it.
“So someone else can learn about boys and girls?”
“Exactly.”
Barry smiled.
“That’s good.”
He looked at Marmaduke.
“I think your dinosaur book is still better.”
Marmaduke nodded.
“Definitely.”
And with that, the great scientific investigation of the human body came to an end.
At least until the next library visit.
Which, given Barry’s natural curiosity, was probably going to be interesting.
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