大象传媒

This story was written up by Karen in the 大象传媒 Open Centre in Hull

When Great Britain was entering into World War Two, I was having my own private battle at the age of five, i.e. the dreaded first day at school. Playtime we all went into the playground for our very first taste of freedom from the classroom. On walking over to join a group of boys and girls who had gathered in a corner, I was horrified to hear one of them shout, 鈥淒on鈥檛 play with her, she鈥檚 got spots.鈥� My face and arms were covered with freckles in those days. That did it for me 鈥� running for my life into another playground I asked some larger ladies wearing navy blue knickers (older girls aged about 12 playing netball in a senior playground) to direct me to the gate. Gratefully following the direction of the pointing finger I ran and ran for about 15 minutes until I reached my front gate. But wait a moment, the front door was locked, the side door was locked, my Mother had gone to the shops. It was a nice day with sunshine. Mrs Pickering rescued me,(a neighbour two doors away) took me through her house into the back garden and plying me with chocolate, gave me the third degree. A short while later I could not understand why my Mother was so angry when she returned from the shops 鈥� she shouted at me and told me I could have been killed if there had been an air raid. She slapped my legs (I can still feel it so it must have done me some good me good) and marched me back into school. I managed to tolerate the infants and juniors then passed my 11 plus and went on to be a secretary but it was still the happiest day of my life when I left school at 16 鈥� FREE at last!

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