Loved this…. Brought back so many memories of my own. The excitement of joining my parents in far away places, after lengthy months away boarding. The delicious and thrilling contrast of the bleak corridors of school to the ripeness, warmth and vibrant colours of Singapore/Saudi Arabia/Havana… and the joy of being back home and loved. The diplomatic bag was a lifeline in those days with no email or FaceTime.
I remember too, those teenage hang ups of arriving pale and gauche, and feeling so self conscious amongst the gloriously tanned and beautiful bodies languishing poolside!
I can only imagine the joy of meeting your baby sister Laila for the first time! What a delicious chapter!
Such an evocative description of landing into the hot night air of Bahrain. Another beautiful chapter. But it would be disingenuous not to come clean and say that I am that baby sister! As I read, time rewound and I felt the first soft touch of my beloved big sister's hand as I slept in my cot.
Gorgeous Emma. I just listened for the first time, it’s so great to hear you read. And a lovely break for all of us from cruel matron! Though the memory of HER celebrating L’s birth is painful.
This took me back to the day before 'going home' - the start of the summer holidays. Block 2 middle school slept down at the junior school and had lessons at the senior school... (before middle school was a 'thing' with a building). I was summoned to the House Mistresses flat at bed time and was given news that was quite hard to process... at least I didn't have to encounter horrid Matron. We had a strange matron who had a very odd dog (the subject of kidnapping attempts...the dog, not strange matron)... but that's all a chapter not quite written... processing that time in my life is still ongoing...
Your description of how Cruel Matron's eyes changed just enough to get a glimpse of what must have felt like another person present. I wonder with each chapter I read what it was in her own life that imprinted her such that the cruelty to outweighed any tiny moments of showing kindness. It is a delight to read about the arrival of your sister and your seeing her for the first time, then to your grown up years and together, abiding by the wishes of your mother, whose wishes I so understand.
I loved this chapter, Emma. Such a welcome contrast and change of mood from Cruel Matron's domain - dark to light.
Thank you so much for this Helen. Dark to light. As always, you hit my writer’s spot.
Loved this…. Brought back so many memories of my own. The excitement of joining my parents in far away places, after lengthy months away boarding. The delicious and thrilling contrast of the bleak corridors of school to the ripeness, warmth and vibrant colours of Singapore/Saudi Arabia/Havana… and the joy of being back home and loved. The diplomatic bag was a lifeline in those days with no email or FaceTime.
I remember too, those teenage hang ups of arriving pale and gauche, and feeling so self conscious amongst the gloriously tanned and beautiful bodies languishing poolside!
I can only imagine the joy of meeting your baby sister Laila for the first time! What a delicious chapter!
Thank you so much for this lovely, descriptive and empathetic comment, Anne.
Such an evocative description of landing into the hot night air of Bahrain. Another beautiful chapter. But it would be disingenuous not to come clean and say that I am that baby sister! As I read, time rewound and I felt the first soft touch of my beloved big sister's hand as I slept in my cot.
❤️❤️❤️
Gorgeous Emma. I just listened for the first time, it’s so great to hear you read. And a lovely break for all of us from cruel matron! Though the memory of HER celebrating L’s birth is painful.
Thank you so much, Ruby. Yes, it’s a great relief for me too to be away from Cruel Matron! I’m so glad you like the audio.
This took me back to the day before 'going home' - the start of the summer holidays. Block 2 middle school slept down at the junior school and had lessons at the senior school... (before middle school was a 'thing' with a building). I was summoned to the House Mistresses flat at bed time and was given news that was quite hard to process... at least I didn't have to encounter horrid Matron. We had a strange matron who had a very odd dog (the subject of kidnapping attempts...the dog, not strange matron)... but that's all a chapter not quite written... processing that time in my life is still ongoing...
Thank you for this Angie. I’m intrigued by the dog!
Hmmm, so we're we. Periodically it was placed outside the windows in the concrete window boxes...
Thank you so much, dear Anne. I love the descriptions of your own experiences
Your description of how Cruel Matron's eyes changed just enough to get a glimpse of what must have felt like another person present. I wonder with each chapter I read what it was in her own life that imprinted her such that the cruelty to outweighed any tiny moments of showing kindness. It is a delight to read about the arrival of your sister and your seeing her for the first time, then to your grown up years and together, abiding by the wishes of your mother, whose wishes I so understand.