Easter, 2016.

Several days ago I met the daughter of my neighbour,being collected from school.[The same school, by the way, Prince William and Prince Harry had attended when they lived in Kensington Palace.] She had enormous bonnet on her head with a bird the size of an elephant.I was transfixed.Trying hard no to burst out laughing, I said- hello,sweetheart,you look beautiful.I like the hat, lovely. It is awful, she replied, I am so embarrassed to have it on my head.I hate the big bird. Even if the bird was twice as big, you would look gorgeous. You don't think I look stupid,she asked as only the young and the innocent can. Good heavens,you look adorable. And your friend,too. Her friend's hat had no bird, just a large quantity of multicoloured little eggs, attached around the rim.The helmet, too big for the small head,came down to her ears, little round glasses peeping out.She was constantly pushing the glasses back above her nose, quite unsuccessfully, as the hat was weighing them down. Poor little mite,the glasses were even uglier than the bonnet.She was not pretty,rather plain in fact,but obviously from a well to do family, so why on earth would her parents let her out into the world with that on her face. She will have enough to contend with growing up. No-one can be more cruel to a child than another child and nothing hurts more than than the mocking and laughter of one's peers.I know how it feels,I have been there. My little god-son, who was 7 in March, has to wear glasses.His parents explained to him why,[he is a highly intelligent little boy, top of the class in all subjects] and was allowed to choose the frame.He chose a designer frame, the most expensive in the shop.His parents almost had a heart attack, but a promise is a promise is a promise.He has his father's expensive taste.Adam has neither lost the glasses, nor damaged them in the year he has been wearing them.They suit him to a tee and he looks very cute.