Growing up

It might not look much to you but these are three girls, three friends, on the cusp of a new era. They all belong to Woodcraft Folk (hippy Scouts) and are about to move up into the teen group called Venturers. This evening they met the existing members of the group they'll be joining, in a Turkish social club above a supermarket in Dalston.

They discussed as a group what they will do this term, what time they should meet, how they'll travel together, what film they'll watch on film night... I'm sure I could see their wings growing. They just loved it and the three friends threw themselves onto these chairs at the end of the meeting with sheer 'Look at me, I'm growing up' delight! Brilliant to behold.

Alice is not so happy. She's been left behind in the Pioneers group with a bunch of disruptive boys and no other girls, now that these three have left. I didn't actually break it to her that they've effectively left straight away; she thinks they're going at Christmas. To be broached carefully. I fear she may rebel. I don't blame her...