~o0o~
“Why don’t we give that tape a listen?” she suggested as she pushed the ‘eject’ button on the kitchen cassette player.
“I’d rather listen to it on my own… in my room.” I replied.
“And I’d rather you listen to it with me, in here.” she told me as she held an expectant hand out. “Thank you.” she chirped as I placed the cassette in her palm.
Listening to ones own voice is always slightly odd. “That doesn’t sound like me!” was my initial thought. It began with the doctor asking me to confirm some simple details such as my name, home town, if I knew what day it was and strangely, the colour of the sea. I couldn’t help but snigger when I heard my reply; a greeny-bluey-grey.
Did you have any dreams last night Peter?
Yes
Can you describe it for us?
I was in my room and my mum… well, I think it was my mum… it could have been an aunt or someone… anyway… she was telling me how nice my underwear was and I looked down to see I was wearing girl’s underwear.
As in… knickers?
Yes… and bra.
I glanced nervously at my mother and insisted that I don’t recall any of this. Mum advised me to just sit and listen.
What colour were they?
Blue
Anything else?
They were really tight. I tried to get the bra off but I couldn’t. Mum… or, the woman said it was a special bra that I can’t remove by myself. She challenged me to try again.
And? Could you get it off Peter?
I don’t know. I don’t think so… I think I woke up.
“I remember the very last bit.” I confessed to my mother, “…about the bra.” I gulped.
“Shush.” Mum hushed. “It’s important that we listen.”
Ah… and the night before last… did you have any dreams?
Yes.
Can you describe it for us?
I’d wet the bed and Mum… or whoever… was really angry with me. She said she’d take me to the chemists to buy some big boy’s nappies and said I’d have to wear them for bed. Then we were in the chemists… the one on the high street with all the mobility aids in the window …but they didn’t have any big boy’s napp…
“Peter!” my mother exclaimed when I turned the tape off.
“I don’t want to listen any more… this is freaky… I don’t even remember that one!” I retorted.
“I think it’s important that you do listen Peter.” my mother said. I told her that I didn’t want her listening to this ‘shi*t’. “Language Peter!” she snapped. “I’ve already heard it.” she reminded me. “Which is why I know that you should hear it too.”
“OK… but please… can’t I listen on my own in my room?” I asked. “With headphones on.” I added.
“I think it’s best that we listen together, then talk about it… then you can listen to it on your own if you want.” she replied. She smiled and held her hand out. I gave her the cassette and gulped as she put it in and pressed the ‘play’ button.
…aying musical statues and my party dress is sort of… floating around me. It’s really hard to stand sti…
“Ooops… wrong side.” my mother said as she pushed the auto reverse button.
…street with all the mobility aids in the window …but they didn’t have any big boy’s nappies, only girls ones.
