"Couchie-Couchie-Coo" to the Rescue!

8:40am and we are having a quick run through of this week's story
"Couchie-couchie-Coo" intones a member of the team.
"That just has to be the best line ever!" I declare, encouragingly, and get a well-deserved look that says 'stop-taking-the-Michael' far more eloquently than words could ever.

We conclude our preparations, the props get the final move into position, to ensure that it is clear which scene of the story we are enacting, and the pupils file in for assembly. Two members of the team pick some helpers and they are briefed as to how they are to take part.

Six eager volunteers are looking up at me and I have no idea what is happening in their lives.
I have about two minutes to bring them up to speed, so no time to beat about the bush.
"OK girls, I am afraid you are mothers whose babies are going to be killed."
Six pairs of eyes are suddenly all directed at me, with a look of disbelief.
..."But it is OK, they are not real babies, just a piece of cloth!"
They look rather relieved at this 'good news'.
"When the soldiers come, I want you three to drop your 'babies', throw your hands in the air and scream, and I want you three to drop your 'babies' and run away."
We have a quick practice, and the three who run away, do so with great enthusiasm

Meanwhile, the soldiers, under the guidance of a member of our team, are looking forward to some serious swordwork. I break the news that all they need to do is wave their swords and growl. No disemboweling of towels will be required, thank you very much!

So we begin the story.
Moses' Mum duly prepares the basket,
lines it with pitch,
and places it on the blue material that represents the river.
Meanwhile, I am hiding behind the bullrushes, ready to leap up and volunteer the services of a wetnurse.

Faced with an ambush of sword-brandishing Year Threes, three of the mothers drop their babies, but forget to scream, the other three run down the central aisle.
Right on cue, the princess spots the Tesco's best silver-grey wash basket, and, as planned, Moses is successfully rescued.
The princess utters her line with panache
"Couchie-couchie-coo!"  and repeats it for good measure.
"Couchie-couchie-coo!"
Reception and Year 1 laugh.
The Princess gets into her stride
"Couchie-couchie-Couchie-couchie-Coo!" 
The other children laugh.
The adults are caught up in the awfulness of the story, and try and shush the children.

I think of the children in our world today, who are refugees, whose lives are at risk.
Whilst I am sad for them, I am relieved that the children can see humour in this story and are not traumatised by the brutality. There is a balance between the way we present the story without compromising the truth, and avoiding anything that is not to our taste.
When they are older, I hope they will think about the vulnerability of refugees, but for now, I am grateful that they can laugh at the ridiculousness of a "Couchie-couchie-Coo!"