Hallo! (voice dripping with disdain) My name’s Jamie. It’s very nice to finally meet you. How do you do? Eugh! I think in going to be sick.

Look, I don’t know what you want from me. I’m really not that interesting a person. Honestly. I’m perfectly normal. Have never done anything my father wouldn’t do. Gave him all the respect he deserved. I’m a good child, wouldn’t do any less.

Fine, since you insist I’ll tell you my story, but I can guarantee YOU won’t find any pleasure in it.

     I’ve spent the last EIGHTEEN years (periods of time frequently get lost in that inner space between my father’s ears, as do other tit-bits of information) enclosed inside brick walls, getting exercise only through lifting the remote or walking through the foggy rooms on the way to the kitchen to collect some refreshments.

I stimulated my brain only through trying to read those nutrition labels on cereal boxes and learned to communicate with the public only through yelling at the t.v screen.

I never learnt how to read or write properly until Mrs Green took me in after my father died. That was six months ago. At least, that’s what I tell people. Easy to fake since an ambulance came and took him away anyway. He was so drugged up didn’t know anything was happening.

What a shame.

     I don’t have a mother, at least not anymore. I miss her, a lot. There have been so many times when I’ve needed her.

What happened was an accident, it wasn’t my fault. I was bored and trying to keep myself amused. How was I supposed to know what that stuff was? She shouldn’t have asked me to make the tea anyway. I was only five.

I think that tea was the best stuff she’d ever consumed to be frank. Too bad it didn’t have the same effect on dad. Oh well, he’s being looked after and she’s probably a lot happier. I liked her too.

     I have to admit I do actually miss him. What do you expect after being practically joined at the hip for that long.

He did all right by me I guess, kept me fed and clothed and the like. He used to be in the army so was as strict as Satan but hey, he got through to me. We did everything together, everything.

He tried to pass on his so-called wisdom, though not much got through. I’m more of a doer than a listener. He got on my nerves a lot. Mainly because I knew there was a whole other planet on my doorstep yet while he was around, being over protective to say the least, I would never get to set foot on it. I wasn’t scared of when the time came though, just curious. It was a shock moving in with the neighbour.

     She was a conspicuous woman, Mrs Green. She was always prying into other people’s business. I liked her a lot but I soon got fed up with her questions. Didn’t know how to answer them. Didn’t know how to act around her.

I made her a cup of tea one night in hope that it would shut her up. I needn’t have worried, she was dead by morning. I liked her too.

    Then I was out on my own. Not a friend in the world. Not a clue what to do.

I lived on the streets for a week. That was an interesting experience, watching the world go by. I was finally free and that was all that mattered! I was finally free.

You hear that father? I was free! I got to meet people from all walks of life and learn new things! No more elasticated days of watching t.v and listening to the radio! No more going to bed at night afraid of waking up! No more twisted life lessons and philosophies! Things, which only now dear daddy, I can see were seriously screwed up! So badly so that my freedom has been taken away from me! AGAIN! Taken away so unrightly because of the things you taught me! Because of the things you showed me! Because of the way you were brought up! Because of the way your father treated you! LOOK AT ME DADDY! LOOK AT WHO I AM! LOOK AT WHERE I AM! (calming down) 

     I got the job as a park warden a month ago. I spent so much time in there while I was getting used to my new way of life, watching and learning, that the old warden put in a good word for me. I was lucky he was retiring.

I loved my job and they put me behind bars for it. They said I was a danger to the public. I paid too much attention to the children or something.

I just liked to watch them play. I never had that as a child so I guess I was just trying to rekindle my youth.

I only wanted to feel the sensation of sliding down a chute, only wanted to feel the joy of running about and laughing. I saw a chance to interact and I grabbed it.

I looked forward to the children coming. I had a special place to take them to; a place where no adults were allowed, a little from the play area so we couldn’t be seen or heard.

It was a secret you see. It was a place just for me and the children. A place where I could teach them what my dad taught me (since it was obvious they’re own parents let them run wild). Teach them about the real world.

Then these men in black uniforms dragged me away. It’s not my fault I turned out the way I did. I’ve really no need to be in here. I was just being a good daughter.


The end.