I hadn’t yet turned nine, when my mother was preparing to re-marry-
It was 1969, and other than the excitement of ‘wedding-plans’,which was pretty much ALL I’d been thinking about, there was really nothing much else ‘going on’…..but something was about to change that, and here’s how it unfolded: My older sister[by 2 & 1/2 years] and I, were happily playing together, directly across the road from where our maternal grandmother lived. In those days, we spent more time outside,making our own adventures and fun….this particular day, we’d found a tiny kitten, and of-course, immediately claimed it as ‘ours’!! My sister decided we should put it in a safe-place, so after locating an old cardboard box, it quickly became the kitty’s temporary home, while we planned and connived stories of ‘how’ we were going to convince our mother, we should keep it!
Word soon got around the neighborhood,and children came from everywhere to see our kitten! By now, we had moved outside another house; an old Nursing home which was made from white Bessemer-bricks and often where we would perch ourselves upon the brick walls. It was here that we’d sat the box, whilst all inquisitive locals took turns peeking into our box, all wanting to pat OUR new furry feline! All at once, another two children appeared out of nowhere,a girl and boy; brother & sister….the boy, was not at all nice, something I remember vividly even today-he began pushing & shoving to get his hands on the kitten, and unbeknown to any of us, we were right near an unguarded & switched-on, lawnmower. It all happened so fast, but I remember the sudden feeling of excruciating pain, for in the boy’s haste, he had knocked me backwards, right onto the mower, and the motor acted like a vacuum, sucking and pinning my bare legs to the top! It felt like forever, before a man came rushing over to help me, immediately turning the lawnmower off, grabbing me up into his arms, and by my sister’s instruction, racing me to my Grandmother’s home….all the while my sister’s screams were deafening & I could hear nothing else……thankfully my Nan knew some first-aid,ripping up sheets, soaking them in water and wrapping them around both of my legs….then I was whisked away by ambulance, the next procedure was far more horrid and painful, for I’d suffered 2nd & 3rd degree burns to both the inner-thighs.
Kim & Debbie 1969
This all occurred, in the days that led up to my mother’s pending marriage….and I was only worried the accident would mean I could NOT walk down the aisle, as ‘flower-girl’…..the wedding had to be postponed, but, on November 15th, 1969, mum re-married, and I was able to walk down the aisle…..that was 4o years ago, tomorrow.
Happy Anniversary, Mum & Dad xxxxxx
This would have been your 40th!!
