A school run

Tuesday evening, 5:04pm school collection as Henry finishes gym club:

Dad: Hen-reeee!! So, what happened at school today?
Henry: Not much, really.
Dad. Oh.
Henry: ....
Dad: Well, let's start with classes. Did you have any?
Henry: Yes.
Dad: Did you have lunch?
Henry: Yes.
Dad: OK. Did anything interesting happen?
Henry: Not really.
Dad: Did anybody die?
Henry: No.
Dad: Oh.
Henry: Dad, what's for dinner?
Dad: Spaghetti.
Henry: Dad?
Dad: Yes, Henry?
Henry: Would you like to see me do a cartwheel?
Dad: Did you do cartwheels in school today?
Henry. Yes, Daddy. I can do them with my legs straight. They're part of my routine for the show we're practising for.
Dad: Gosh, Henry. Yes, let's see you do a cartwheel.

Wednesday morning, 8:44am, "in the slot", systems nominal, school drop point ETA T-minus 1 minute:

Henry: Oh yes. Dad?
Dad: Henry!
Henry: Mr Whittaker wants to know if I can go to Germany with his special choir.
Dad: ... Which one is that?
Henry: You know, he's only taking ten students from the whole school..
Dad: .. Gotcha. Wasn't the school doing three or four cities, and then some pan European school competition in Berlin?
Henry: Yes, Daddy.
Dad: Well, you are a dark horse. Nice one, Henry - we better snap this one up!
Henry: (meltingly) I know!
Henry: Are any of your friends going?
Henry: Nobody else from the first three years is going, Dad. Just me and the seniors. They're really nice to me.
Dad: Oh. Gosh. When did you find out about this?
Henry: Yesterday, Daddy!
Dad: I asked you yesterday and..
Henry: I forgot. Please can I go, Daddy?
Dad: How could you forget that? When is it?
Henry: The week before the trip to France and...
Dad: !! Whaa...?
Henry: Yes, Daddy, there isn't much time. He wants to know this morning and its going to cost..
Dad: Wait a minute - that's the beginning of July - that's like 6 weeks - you're supposed to be going to Fra..
Henry: Yes, Daddy. Germany will be Monday the 6th, and we're back on the 10th, and I'm going to France with my class on the 11th. Can I go?
Dad: ?? (mild alarm)..Uhh.. wh..
Henry: Thanks Dad - I have to see Mr Whittaker before classes start!
Dad: Hey! Wait a minute - Hen..
Henry: Bye! (car door shuts. Dad gazes at the school building and randomly wonders what the border control officers see on their computer screens when they scan a passport, and then hand it back with a knowing smile. The driver behind honks her horn).