St Eunan's Primary pupil Macie draws hope at Christmas for life after Covid-19

But mum Linzi was shocked when Macie brought in an image of a green and blue globe for 2019, and a world on fire for 2020.

“What does this side mean?” asks her mum.

“Happiness,” Macie replies in a quiet, shy voice from behind her hair.

“And this side?”

“Sadness.”

You’re right Macie. Yours is a one-image, one-word summary for a year that adults can, at best, describe as “weird”.

We’ve had moments close to tears. There are empty rooms that should be filled with laughter and smiles. Now smiles are behind masks and screens.

And hugs. Where did all the hugs go?

Macie drew her vision of 2020 in November, after her eighth birthday the month before consisted of just a sleepover with sister Miley, five, and their cousin.

A year ago, she had a party at the Clydebank Community Sports Hub (CCSH).

She went to her mum with questions without answers.

“Why can’t we be free and do all he things we used to be able to do?”

“Why are all the shops closing again?”

“How come I’m allowed to stay in school - what if I catch it then?”

“Why is the Earth not as beautiful as last year?”

“Is this disease going to be here forever?”

One week there’s a lockdown, then it’s off, then back again. The lockdown from Boxing Day was announced 24 hours after Macie and her family were interviewed - socially distanced - at the CCSH.

“It’s hard as a parent when you can’t give them the answers,” says Linzi, a 36-year-old chef manager who has been on furlough since March.

Why was mum stressed trying to teach at home? Why couldn’t they see Nanny and Papa? Why could they only cycle past and wave at Great Gran in Old Kilpatrick? And why couldn’t Granda Sandy take them on walks to Dalmuir Park or elsewhere?

The world is full of reasons in 2020. They still don’t seem like good ones.

“Last year I didn’t have to go into lockdown. It was a good world,” says Macie. “And this year, I had to go into lockdown because people were catching the virus.”

For months she didn’t see her friends in school. There were no parties or family gatherings.

But the family went on cycle trips together and walks. Mum, dad, the two sisters and brother Aiden, 18, played board games.

Hallowe’en saw their North Drumry home and garden decorated. And they carved pumpkins - eight of them.

And Macie drew. The pet budgie Louie and dog Cobie were good inspiration.

“That was a good part of lockdown,” admits Macie. She wants to be an artist or fashion designer when she’s older. But she also asked for DJ decks for Christmas.

Macie has a process. She draws the circle in pencil, then the continents, then traces over all of it with a fine black marker, then erases the pencil. Then she starts the colouring.

The rich blue marker runs out. It happens. She and mum keep colouring with a lighter blue pencil.

Green always grows again after a fire. The land masses of Macie’s world are a lusher shade of green for 2021.

Macie says her St Eunan’s Primary teachers were glad when classes returned too. When a classmate tested positive, the entire class had to self-isolate for two weeks.

Macie wants to go back on an aeroplane again. Miley doesn’t.

And there’s the Craig Tara Caravan Holiday Park in Ayr.

“I would like to do more cycles and walks next year. And more board games,” she says. “And more hugs.”

(Macie may have snuck in some hugs when she returned to school.)

Macie’s TikTok about the 2019/2020 image got more than 800 views. The Post took her artwork abroad and asked other youngsters what they would say to a young artist in Clydebank.

“I know things may seem not great right now, and they’re not as good, but everything will get better,” says Oscar Deane, 11, in the US state of Indiana.

“Scientists are working on a vaccine for the coronavirus. People are now starting to work more on the environment. More animals have come back to places, which is great.”

And Oscar adds that he’s glad a new president will be in the White House a month from now.

Sisters Sydney and Symone Washington live in the state of Maryland. They had been looking forward to field trips this year, and a cruise. Instead they stayed home.

“Covid-19 has been really hard for me because I don’t get the help I usually do from my teachers,” says Sydney. “But the plus side is I did it virtual.”

“And I’m usually crowded in school but now I’m with my mom, dad and sister,” says Symone.

“We’re staying home and in our community, but we still have to keep our distance, we have to wear a mask, and we always have to put hand sanitiser in our hands.”

Sydney adds: “We get to be with our family more.

“In 2021 we’re going to have a better year because we’re not going to have any coronavirus hopefully and what we planned to do this year we can do next year.

“So make sure you stay safe, stay healthy and put your mask on.”

“Did the coronavirus destroy everything?” mum asks Macie.

“Not everything.”

“You still have all of us,” says Linzi.

“And animals have been coming back to places,” adds dad, Craig, 32, a plasterer.

A pandemic makes the world seem so big - too big, maybe. This virus is everywhere. But the planet is also as tiny as Macie’s drawing. Because Macie, Miley, Oscar, Sydney and Symone and millions more are experiencing it.

We’ve stayed at home, but in that, we are not alone.

Macie slides a piece of paper and a pencil to Miley when she gets bored with this Post interview. But she sits in dad’s lap instead.

As soon as Macie finishes her art for 2021, she’s on to the next idea. Big smiley face. No, not happy with that one. Flip the paper and try something else.

“I’m feeling a bit more hopeful for next year, she says.“I’m hoping for a birthday party next year.

“Next year will be better.”

Macie will keep drawing. And maybe do some DJ-ing.

Macie Savage with her image for 2021