The strapping slowed, and then stopped as my mother finally realized that the belt had also had an unintended result. Tears came to her eyes as she dropped the belt and slumped to the floor. All of the energy seemed to drain out of her as she began sobbing in earnest. Her sobbing eventually […]

When I was little, I was convinced the house was haunted. Even in bright sunshine it was an imposing structure. We’d visit several times a year for a few days and I always looked forward to leaving. The joists creaked throughout the night and the nearby trees cast skeletal shadows across the moonlit walls. I […]

The Pageboy   Part1  “Mum?” I asked. “How old should a pageboy be?” “Any age,” Mum said. “But how old are they usually?” “As I say, any age,” Mum replied. “Why?” “Because when I tell people that I’m going to be the pageboy at Natasha’s wedding, they keep saying I’m too old.” I told her, […]

It’s half term and Charles is busy following his daily rota and pottering around the house. His mother is at work. His big sister Emily stayed over at one of her friends and isn’t expected back until the afternoon, and eleven year old Samantha is playing on her games console. Charles only had to make […]

My sister’s been walking on clouds all year. She’s going to Glastonbury with a bunch of friends and I’m really quite jealous. I’m almost seventeen and my sister has just turned eighteen, and in spite of the fact that sixteen and seventeen year olds are allowed to attend the festival unaccompanied, I wasn’t even allowed […]

From the first moment I saw a picture of our new house I knew exactly which bedroom I wanted. It’s the one with three windows overlooking the porch roof. I always thought it was cool in movies and TV shows when kids could sneak out of their bedroom window, clamber over the roof then climb […]

When I was little, I was convinced the house was haunted. Even in bright sunshine it was an imposing structure. We’d visit several times a year for a few days and I always looked forward to leaving. The joists creaked throughout the night and the nearby trees cast skeletal shadows across the moonlit walls. I […]

  Mum grew up in a time when girls were mostly girlie by default. She often talks about how things used to be and how much better things are these days. Women were looked down on if they didn’t dress up by wearing skirts and heels, make-up, etc. Now they’re looked down on when they […]

My brother’s a greaser! His hair is far too long and tatty, he rarely seems to wash and spends every day wearing the same Harley Davidson T shirt, a smelly old leather jacket, tattered jeans and his trusty old pair of baseball boots… and he thinks he looks ‘cool’. He looks like a reject from […]

I thought about the question for a moment before replying. “I really don’t know.” I said. My brother looked me up and down and smiled. “Because it’s fun.” he told me as he jumped off the dresser and twirled around in his pink satin pyjamas, grinning from ear to ear. “Boy’s clothes are just so…” […]