Tag: childhood
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AWAKENING IN THE WOODS
Charging through the branches, leaping over roots and bushes, sliding down muddy embankments. Frankie loved the woods behind the playing fields. Lost in a world of her own she had been many things: knights, outlaws, monsters, animals. Here she had space to let her imagination flourish. As the sun began to set the woods took…
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FARMER BARRY
When he was a small boy, Barry loved playing with the toy farm his father made for him. He tended to the small cows, sheep and pigs, drove the tractor, mucked out the stables and fed the horses. Sometimes his father would join him, but after his parents divorce he sat playing on his own.…
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ALCOHOLIC
Maisie propped her handmade sign on the dusty old chair. ‘I finished it,’ she announced. Her father looked at the pink and blue flowers and bright childish writing. ‘For sale,’ he read aloud, then looked at his daughter. ‘That’s great, Maisie. What are we selling?’ Maisie gestured to all the junk that filled the garage.…
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AFTER THE RAIN
Mum watched me anxiously from the window. I gave her a smile and a wave. The curfew had been lifted two days ago. I was the only one outside. The National Guard had gone home. Maybe it was the rain that kept everyone inside. The new President had lifted the ban. Dad said things would…
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UNWANTED GIFTS
Why would Santa bring her these, Matilda thought staring at the teddy bears sat next to her in the car. He must know she was six now, already had plenty of cuddly toys, and they were definitely not on the list she had sent him. And why had he delivered them to Granny’s house? When…
Iain Kelly 