Two little boys and the greatest song about childhood friendship ever written!

My now four-year-old has never really had a mate. He’s never needed one. He and his older brother have always been as thick as thieves. Three years separate them but you would never think it. They adore the ground each other walks on. They’re always laughing and, yes, fighting, but in a good way. A lions’ cubs’ way (the young ‘un actually bit a chunk out of the side of his brother’s waist yesterday. Hey ho! All part of growing up).

The first words out of the little ‘un’s mouth in the morning if his brother has got up before him are: ‘Where’s Tom.’ His last words at night are: ‘Night Tom.’

Tom makes him breakfast, teaches him games. Cuddles him when he’s upset. They are Rolf Harris’s Two Little Boys. No wooden horses, but warriors, but, of course. They remind me of me and my younger brother when we were growing up.

But this summer holiday, Sam has been without his Big Bruv, who has been spending his days at cooking school and activity camp with their Big Sis. And as amazing (sic!) as I am as a housedad, there is only so much a 47 -year-old surly grump like myself can provide for an inquisitive little boy.

And then, out of the blue, a mum of one of Sam’s nursery classmates called me to see if Sam fancied a playdate. Well, I’m a little embarrassed to say, I declined. I would rather stick rusty pins in my eyes that chat over coffee at another parent’s house while our children tear the place to pieces. So instead, I reversed the inviation and asked if her lad would like to accompany me and Sam on a day out to Hatifield House, recommended by my good friend Jo (whose site www.movies4kids.co.uk you really must check out).

This didn’t really sound like the ideal venue for a couple of lads whose main interests in life are going ‘Yaaaaaaaagh!’ at the top of their voices, but it was an absolute triumph. The place is not just the 17th century home to the 7^th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury, but also a rambling estate of woodland and pens for dozens of rare breed animals.

The boys absolutely loved it, feeding the sheep, pigs and cows, playing in the fantastic adventure playground and getting lost in the maize maze. And as I watched them together – Sam taking his lead from slightly older Evan – I saw a future where my youngest would find his own identity away from his older brother.

In a way, it made me sad, because I know a three year age gap becomes a chasm as kids get older, make new friends. But it also gladdened my heart to see the child we still call Baby (‘I’m not a baby – I’m Sam,’ he protests) striking out into the big wide world and create his own connections.

Who knows how close they will become? I guess that’s for them to decide, but there was a moment when Sam fell over, scraped his knees, and Evan picked him up and gave him a hug. Which is why I leave you with the lyrics from one of the greatest sons ever written….

Two little boys had two little toys
Each had a wooden horse
Gaily they played each summer’s day
Warriors both of course
One little chap then had a mishap
Broke off his horse’s head
Wept for his toy then cried with joy
As his young playmate said

Did you think I would leave you crying
When there’s room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don’t be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we’ll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we’ll remember
When we were two little boys

Long years had passed, war came so fast
Bravely they marched away
Cannon roared loud, and in the mad crowd
Wounded and dying lay
Up goes a shout, a horse dashes out
Out from the ranks so blue
Gallops away to where Joe lay
Then came a voice he knew

Did you think I would leave you dying
When there’s room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we’ll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I’m all a-tremble
Perhaps it’s the battle’s noise
But I think it’s that I remember
When we were two little boys

Do you think I would leave you dying
There’s room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we’ll soon by flying
Back to the ranks so blue
Can you feel Joe I’m all a tremble
Perhaps it’s the battle’s noise
But I think it’s that I remember
When we were two little boys