Page 33 - Contrast1997
P. 33
it back on, I didn't fool myself that this was in seats and a family of four. I sat down and said
any way a clever disguise. However, it gave hello. They stood up and left.
me enough confidence to make my way back.
I decided, as I left Bristol, that I would lie to
I reached the station without incident and my parents. I changed my mind when I saw
was still in time to catch my train. As I stood my father. He knew what had happened to
on the platform every eye focused on me. me. As we left the station I told him my story
Every mind made assumptions about my and then asked, "Can we tell Mum I fell or
character. Every mother swore their child something? You know what she's like." I
would not grow up to be like one of my type. should've known this plan would suit my fa-
What bothered me was that I cared what ther too. We agreed on the story about the
people thought. I'm not a hooligan, I wanted
to tell them. I'm a decent person. My father's steps.
a policeman, I go to a good school, I used to Driving back to my grandmother's house, I
go to church. But they all knew different.
watched the reflection of my father's car in
I got on the train. I was still scared. I en- the shop windows as we passed by. "Dad," I
tered a small compartment containing six said, "you should've seen me run."
Linear Roxann Ingram
31
