Silence

Anne Armstrong

It wis a warm Friday efternoon in 1953. The war wis finished, the country wis lookin forwards tae the coronation, the economy wis boomin: men in full employment, women back in the kitchen, everythin jist as it should be.

I wis five, sittin at my desk directly in front ae the teacher. Soon we wid be free. The weekend stretched ahead, full ae peever, peeries, scraps, statues, an cowboys. I fair loved the school. Up till noo, I'd had nae pals, naebdy at aw tae play wi; noo I had aw these mates an best friends. An the teachers gied us whit we didnae get at hame - attention, praise, and sweeties oot ae a big jawr. They were trainin us like puppies. Learnin wis great, even if it did rot your teeth. ... (continues)