1975
Three years after I was born and still living with my grandparents, my
mother gave birth to a girl - Emma Louise.
I hated her from the start, even before she was born I was not happy.
After
2 years of devotion from my mum and grandparents, I wasnt ready to start sharing their time with someone else!
Emma had only been home for a few weeks, but already mum was noticing a
change in me. No longer was I content to play quietly, no longer was I the good natured sweet little boy the neighbours adored.
After redecorating my room for my new sister to share, I set about destroying
the work my grandfather had put in. The new wallpaper was soon covered with crayons and felt tip scribbles.
I remember
at the time getting a major telling off from my grandma and I really couldnt see the big deal. I knew what I done was wrong,
but as I pointed out, I was only small and I couldnt quite reach to deface the entire wall!
So after feeling left out,
I had won a small victory and got the family to notice me.
Mum tried every way possible to get me used to my sister, but I wasnt having
any of it. I hated being told to have her sit on my lap while grandad took a photo. I likened her to a smelly cat and
cringed as the flash bulb filled the room.
After a few months I was slowly coming round to my sister and even let
her use my baby bouncer. So seeing as though things were getting better, mum gave me the responsibility to look after emma
for a minute while she went into the kitchen to get something.
As soon as she was out the room, I jumped off the sofa and
headed straight for my little sister laying on her baby mat cooing up at me.
With one swift movement I jumped up and aimed
for her. Luckily I misjudged and caused no real damage as I came crashing down on her. She was shocked more than anything
else and let out a loud howling. In the seconds before mum came running in I remember thinking I had just done a really terrible
thing and vowed never to do anything like that again.
The shock of almost causing my sister pain was more punishment than
anything my parents could dish out.
After three years of bringing up her family in her parents home, my mother
decided it was time to move on.
I was overwhelmed with sadness, as much as I wanted to be with mum, I couldnt
bear the thought of life without the security my grandparents gave.
So it was a sad day, just before the end of 1975 when we left the warmth
of Linley Drive behind, and I wondered what life would be like with no one to protect me from my father.
