If you could choose any fictional character to be, just for one day, who would it be? I’m asking you, because I’ve been asked and thought it would be good to share. Easy question, right? Initially I went with my gut reaction and blurted out ‘Mildred Hubble’ (from Jill Murphy’s Worst Witch collection). I loved her, she was such a kind-hearted character, but absolutely hopeless. Every time a spell went wrong, I felt for Mildred. I devoured those books when I was at school and was delighted when my own children read them (it meant that I could read them again).
But, then my brain started whirring. Would I actually choose to be Mildred or did I just empathise with her? I am not sure that I would want to be that clumsy and awkward. I’ve done that once, and am pleased to say it’s a phase in my life which I managed to survive. So, who would I actually choose to be? I could go high brow and say Elizabeth Bennet. Now there’s a feisty protagonist if I ever saw one. The way she employs intelligence and independence to succeed is admirable. But again, would I want to be her? I’m not sure I could suffer Mrs Bennet for a whole day!
I think, if I could choose, I would be either Max (Where the Wild Things Are) because he is so freely expressive of his feelings and he gets to lead the wild rumpus, or Alice. Her adventures have thrilled me since I was a little girl, so the opportunity to be her for a day just couldn’t be missed. I know, I know, I’ve cheated, but I can’t narrow it down to less than two and that was a struggle. How about you?
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