Back to the Intro Page
Check Out my Story Competition
Dave was up early as usual. He made his way downstairs, knowing he would find his dad in the front room. He did this most mornings. His dad was always up before him and usually sitting in front of their TV watching something called ceefax. As far as Dave could tell, this was just a newspaper on the tele and his dad would read him some of the stories and he would ask questions about it. He liked the stories about football, cricket or motor racing. Since he started school a month or so ago, in September 1982, his dad had also got him his breakfast.
But this morning was different. As he opened the door to their living room, instead of silence, he could hear a man talking. There was a programme on the television at this time of the morning. That never happened.
He ran across the room and jumped on the sofa and cuddled up to his dad.
”What's happening dad”, he said, “why is this programme on. Where's Ceefax.”
”It's a special day. They're raising a big ship from under the water. It's been there since 1545. It sank then.
”Wow, did you see it go down” said Dave.
His dad laughed. “No, funnily enough I'm not over 437 years old but nice of you to think I was”, his dad chuckled.
Dave wondered how his dad thought he knew that 1545 was so long ago. It was all just numbers to him although he did know that he had been born in 1977 and now it was 1982 but 1545, what did that mean.
”It's a very special moment Dee. You're lucky to be watching it. Nobody knows what will happen when the boat comes out of the water. You're watching history”.
”Shouldn't mum and Jen be watching too”, Dave asked, wondering why if it was so important his sister and mother were still asleep.
”They can watch it later, I'm sure it will be on the news tonight but it is a bit special to watch it as it happens. I'll get you breakfast, let me know if anything exciting happens.”
Dave watched as his dad left the room, feeling pretty important to be sharing something special with his father and watching the screen so as he could tell him if something exciting happened while he was away. Dave didn't really know what was exciting or even really what was happening but he knew it was special.
His dad came back with cereals for both of them and they sat eating. Later his sister and mum came down and then it was time to go to school. His mum was taking them both and Dave was really surprised when he got to school and there was a TV on in the main hall and all the school were told to sit and watch this ship being raised. That must mean it was important if they didn't do their lessons.
Just after he sat down there was applause in the hall and a lump of wood appeared above the surface of the sea. It didn't really look much like a ship but everyone seemed excited.
Eventually as more wood appeared, the kids went off to their classes. Dave felt really proud that earlier that morning he had shared something very special with his dad.
Here is Richard reading the story to you.
Forward to the Next Time Period Story
