DRESS TO IMPRESS
Once upon a time, the days of the week decided to take a day off, meet up and have a party. Every day, however, was booked up, all year round. They must have a whole day to themselves, they decided; and they, really, had one, only every fourth year, in the February of a Leap Year.
Therefore, they decided to have a fancy dress party on the 29th of February. They’ll eat, drink, make speeches, hang bunting, pop the balloons, sing, argue, make up and throw cakes at each other, as you do. They’ll dress to impress, so this, dear reader, is not so much a story time, as it is a fancy dress-up time. If you want us to guess, how will you dress to impress?
So the 29th of February came and the days of the week got together.
Sunday, the leader of all days, turned up first, in a black silk gown. It looked a bit like a clergy dress, but, actually, it was meant to be a domino piece. She also had a hat, with the brim, made up of theatre tickets (which looked a bit odd). Do you play games and visit theatre on Sunday? What else do you do? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Monday, the new moon, as they called him, a young fellow, a relative of Sunday and particularly fond of parties, came in next. He left work, he said, as soon as the clock struck five. “I must dash, everyone, put the mojo on, have a few drinks and a jig, win a karaoke contest, get a black eye and be back bright and early tomorrow morning!” Naughty! So, he dressed-up for the dance floor, with black make-up around his left eye. What do you wear on the dance floor? What sort of music do you dance to? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
“I basically make sure that things are done properly and on time”, said Tuesday. “I set the shopkeeper’s alarm clock, oil the factory wheels, put a spin on a sowing machine and the dustbins on the street. Then I let them all do their job and occasionally butt in with “there, you left a bit”.” So, Tuesday came in a suit. It looked a bit like a school uniform. Do you like your school uniform? If you could design your own school uniform, what would it look like? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
“My turn now”, said Wednesday, as she marched in passed Tuesday, to air kiss Sunday and Monday. “I stand in the middle of the week. In some parts of the world, they call me Miss Midweek. You could say I ‘stand out a bit’, I suppose. You see, throughout the year, I have three days in front of me and three behind me.” So Wednesday came dressed as a signpost. But signpost to what? Where… when? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Thursday came in dressed in the overalls, carrying a hammer and a metal tray. Huh??? Apparently, these are the symbols of her royal descent. Sh-sh! Don’t laugh! I think she’s just tired. It’s that time of the week. Besides, she could be telling the truth. Do you descend from royalty? Of course you do. So, what are the symbols of your noble descent? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Friday said he was usually of a quiet, shy nature, but on Leap Year, became the exact opposite of himself – loud, daring, funny and bright. He came in his best evening dress, ready to impress. What is your usual nature? And what would be the exact opposite of it? If you want us to guess, how would you dress?
Saturday appeared as an old housekeeper with a broom and some cleaning products. “I’ll bring some last-night’s left-overs to the dinner table – it’s a special dietary requirement – so if anyone wants any…”, said Saturday to her week mates, when they spoke on the phone, about the party plans. Well, that’s what Saturday likes to do on Saturday. Do you clean on Saturday? OK, I suppose I do too. But that’s not all I do on Saturday. For instance, I like to daydream on Saturday. I like to dress up like Friday, go shopping with my best friend, do yoga in the park and watch black and white movies. Oh, and I like to cook. So, no left-overs for me, thank you! If you could do whatever you wanted on Saturday, what would it be? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
And so all the Days of the Week arrived to the party.
What did they talk about? What did they eat?
Who made friends with whom? And who didn’t?
Now, off you go and throw a party, worthy of such guests.
Ask them to bring, as each walks in,
A trick, a game, a jest…
They need not be the days of the week. They may be months of the year.
They may be times of day or countries or places
Or someone you love or fear.
Once upon a time, the days of the week decided to take a day off, meet up and have a party. Every day, however, was booked up, all year round. They must have a whole day to themselves, they decided; and they, really, had one, only every fourth year, in the February of a Leap Year.
Therefore, they decided to have a fancy dress party on the 29th of February. They’ll eat, drink, make speeches, hang bunting, pop the balloons, sing, argue, make up and throw cakes at each other, as you do. They’ll dress to impress, so this, dear reader, is not so much a story time, as it is a fancy dress-up time. If you want us to guess, how will you dress to impress?
So the 29th of February came and the days of the week got together.
Sunday, the leader of all days, turned up first, in a black silk gown. It looked a bit like a clergy dress, but, actually, it was meant to be a domino piece. She also had a hat, with the brim, made up of theatre tickets (which looked a bit odd). Do you play games and visit theatre on Sunday? What else do you do? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Monday, the new moon, as they called him, a young fellow, a relative of Sunday and particularly fond of parties, came in next. He left work, he said, as soon as the clock struck five. “I must dash, everyone, put the mojo on, have a few drinks and a jig, win a karaoke contest, get a black eye and be back bright and early tomorrow morning!” Naughty! So, he dressed-up for the dance floor, with black make-up around his left eye. What do you wear on the dance floor? What sort of music do you dance to? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
“I basically make sure that things are done properly and on time”, said Tuesday. “I set the shopkeeper’s alarm clock, oil the factory wheels, put a spin on a sowing machine and the dustbins on the street. Then I let them all do their job and occasionally butt in with “there, you left a bit”.” So, Tuesday came in a suit. It looked a bit like a school uniform. Do you like your school uniform? If you could design your own school uniform, what would it look like? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
“My turn now”, said Wednesday, as she marched in passed Tuesday, to air kiss Sunday and Monday. “I stand in the middle of the week. In some parts of the world, they call me Miss Midweek. You could say I ‘stand out a bit’, I suppose. You see, throughout the year, I have three days in front of me and three behind me.” So Wednesday came dressed as a signpost. But signpost to what? Where… when? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Thursday came in dressed in the overalls, carrying a hammer and a metal tray. Huh??? Apparently, these are the symbols of her royal descent. Sh-sh! Don’t laugh! I think she’s just tired. It’s that time of the week. Besides, she could be telling the truth. Do you descend from royalty? Of course you do. So, what are the symbols of your noble descent? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
Friday said he was usually of a quiet, shy nature, but on Leap Year, became the exact opposite of himself – loud, daring, funny and bright. He came in his best evening dress, ready to impress. What is your usual nature? And what would be the exact opposite of it? If you want us to guess, how would you dress?
Saturday appeared as an old housekeeper with a broom and some cleaning products. “I’ll bring some last-night’s left-overs to the dinner table – it’s a special dietary requirement – so if anyone wants any…”, said Saturday to her week mates, when they spoke on the phone, about the party plans. Well, that’s what Saturday likes to do on Saturday. Do you clean on Saturday? OK, I suppose I do too. But that’s not all I do on Saturday. For instance, I like to daydream on Saturday. I like to dress up like Friday, go shopping with my best friend, do yoga in the park and watch black and white movies. Oh, and I like to cook. So, no left-overs for me, thank you! If you could do whatever you wanted on Saturday, what would it be? If you want us to guess, how will you dress?
And so all the Days of the Week arrived to the party.
What did they talk about? What did they eat?
Who made friends with whom? And who didn’t?
Now, off you go and throw a party, worthy of such guests.
Ask them to bring, as each walks in,
A trick, a game, a jest…
They need not be the days of the week. They may be months of the year.
They may be times of day or countries or places
Or someone you love or fear.
