School projects can take over

Sometimes, as a parent, you agree to things without knowing what you're really getting yourself into. Such was the case when, in February, Mitchell decided to make a model of The Battle of Helm's Deep for a book report. Lydia loved the idea because it would finally get rid of piles of styrofoam I had been saving 'just in case they were needed.'
Little did we know that the final product would take over three months to build and result in a miniature that was anything but! At its widest point the base is four feet long and it stands two and a half feet tall. Such dimensions forced Mitchell to design it in four separate parts, which can be pieced together to create a cohesive whole.
Helm's Deep, for non-Tolkien fans, is the scene of a major battle in the second book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy; The Two Towers. During the battle, humans and elves defend themselves in a huge fortress against an army of Uruk-Hai - a race of super orcs.
No easy task
Making a model of this battle is no easy task and I must give credit to Mitchell for his creativity. Especially the part where he suckered Lydia into letting him hijack the kitchen as his workshop.
Mitchell spent hours painting figurines, cutting Styrofoam, and sculpting with clay. He then topped it off with spray-foam to create the surrounding mountainside.
Naturally, a project as large as this created concerns.
In a mock-serious email to his teacher, Mitchell explained, "It will require several desks - of the same height - to be put together for the presentation. Did I mention it's really big? You may want to check the structural integrity of the school."
Fortunately, his teacher confirmed the building's soundness.
"That's all well and good but how on Earth will we ever get it to the school?" Lydia asked.
That was a good point. Maneuvering the section containing the massive fortress into our little Honda Civic did not look promising.
"We could rent a fork-lift," I suggested.
I couldn't help but wish Mitchell had settled on a smaller scene. Something with two characters, perhaps? But, in truth, no matter what Mitchell did it would have ended up being grandiose. When it comes to things he loves, there is simply no scrimping. To me, that's a good thing, and I wouldn't want him to be any other way.
We were still left with the transport dilemma. I suggested multiple trips with the car seats down. With luck, it just might work. However, there was still one major problem left and Lydia was the first to mention it.
"Where the heck are we going to keep it when it comes back?"
(Note: The project was too big for our car! But, thanks to our neighbour Rhonda and her pick-up truck, Helm's Deep made it to school.)
atoal@ns.sympatico.ca