My story begins with the actions of four vandals who broke into our school garden. I was ten years old, in the last year of junior school. My father had drummed this message into me as a child: “If you mess up, own up.” He taught me that those that sit in judgment will be more lenient if you own up to your sins. Lie or cover-up, and the punishment is usually harsher.
So, that’s my background – here’s what happened. I was out of bounds. No question about it. Hands up, I was in the wrong. I was breaking school rules. In the school garden, there was a pond and some chickens and rabbits. Us children grew vegetables and learned how to sow seeds. I particularly enjoyed the greenhouse and the rabbits. I loved it out there.