The city sun was no different to the country sun, so why was it so scary? A strange question to ask your 10 year-old self? I should have asked why the other boys were throwing stones at my legs, but I knew the answer. It was the short pants. Let me explain, we had moved from the farm to a council estate in Bradford (not the best decision my parents made) now, country boys wore short pants whereas city boys wore long pants.
As someone different I had to be punished bulliedย maybe it was a form of banter ;-). I kept walking and they followed, until a girl began talking to me. She placed herself between me and them, they stopped throwing stones and dispersed. Her name was Christine Oats and we became friends. We played together that summer until one day it was over and we were sent to different schools. I saw her again once, 7 years later, I was with some ‘lads’ we were ‘lads’ on the last bus home and drunk. They were making some rude innuendos towards her and when I recognised her I went to sit with her whereupon they ceased their abuse. We talked for while, well, I slurred and she didn’t really speak much until we reached her stop and suddenly she was gone. I often wondered why she was so ‘offish.’ Then a few days ago I worked it out, she was disappointed. She saw what I had become, she thought I had become one of the stone throwers. It was shortly after that, as a 17 year-old I came to my senses and realised that ‘stone throwing wasn’t really me. I left Bradford for good. I’ve never been back.
I don’t blame you for not returning to Bradford as it has only one road, a one way street from Pakistan ๐
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But to be fair, the Indian and Pakistani kids were always great ๐
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I agree. All kids are great ๐
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People are bound to change. You’re better than you were. Age makes difference for good or for worse.
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Yes, youโre right. I think at that age you want to be part of the peer group, but then later you realise, in actual fact, you donโt. Thanks for the input, always appreciated.
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โค
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Well I was born in Bradford but left before I was old enough to throw stones… so it wasn’t me either. Some early experiences just stick with us, I wonder why?
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What a coincidence, i think that particular incident stuck as it was the first time I witnessed any kind of cruelty, but after that came Drummond Road Boys School so you toughen up pretty quick ๐
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Ah, such a sad story. But, I can see why you moved away. I moved away from my home town at 18. I couldn’t stand the on-going drama that was always unfolding.
Good story!
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Thanks Beckie; yes it was the best decision I made ๐
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Charlie! The arc of that life story, that was great.
How old was your dad when you were born?
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Thank you ๐ He would have been 42 when I popped out and 58 when he died.
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Bless you both, you didnโt have each other for as long as most folks get. My husband is a lot older than I. Heโs 63 and our son is 14.
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Iโm 61, but Iโm not sure I would thank you for a teenager in the house theses days ๐๐
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He and my husband are so much alike in personality that it works. But if it was my older son, who is so much like me, parenting him at 63 (and him a teen), whoa, that would be hard!
Hey, have you ever seen Peter Frampton in concert?
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Thatโs very interesting, I have a friend who argues with his son and his wife says itโs because they are so alike haha, but itโs great that they get on well, ๐ No Iโve never seen Peter Frampton but I really wish Iโd caught one if the 1975 concerts ๐
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Itโs like he had a moment and then he was gone.
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Ainโt that the way with so many of them. Heโs doing a farewell tour this year apparently ๐
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His hair though.
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You mean lack of it these days or the abundance years ago?๐
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His hair then. My 13 year old self built dreams with that long curly hair.
My adult woman self sees something like that now and thinks, โDude, trim that or something.โ
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๐๐๐ ainโt age great ๐
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Oh such a state of encounters, bittersweet.
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Thank you, just realised thatโs the story of my life, I wonder if thatโs why I so fond of Sweet โnโ Sour Chicken ๐
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Hum, you three have interesting personalities.
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Haha, Gemini ๐๐
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Iโd be mad in her case as well ๐๐
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Yeah, I bet very few have crossed you ๐๐
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๐๐๐บ
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A great read, Charlie. I can relate, to a degree with this scenario. We just have to ‘be ourselves’. Our environment, and the people in it, help us to navigate to who we really are! Well done you! ๐
xoxoxo
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Thank you Carolyn, yes thank goodness for others, well some of them ๐๐
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Good one. Memories…
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Have you ever met that girl again, since the bus ride? She seems like a good person. Hopefully, life worked out well for her.
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Nope, never saw her again, but yes I really hope it did ๐
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Wow, what timing to happen upon her again 7 years later, and for her disappointment perhaps to be something that took you down yet another path. Life does work in mysterious ways..!
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Thank you for the comment and yes it most certainly does ๐
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Well, the abuse stopped and you yourself know that you actually weren’t a stone thrower, right?
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Spot on, but it was a while later before the abuse stopped ๐
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Awesome story
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Nice, in a way each of you protected each other when in need. You don’t sound like a stone thrower, thanks to her for helping you not being one.
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Just love it that you could return the favour all those years later.. ๐
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Thanks Lisa, ๐๐
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Social concepts are so formative with age, gender, institutionally, geographically and expressed unsuspectedly in our youths, even today.
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Yes, I find it interesting how it still happens, but my students do it in a different way, of course we didnโt have social media.
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Time molds old concepts and in, inconspicuous ways most often.
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Hello Charlie. It was a interesting peace. Keep writing โบ
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Thank you Iโll try haha
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๐
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Great story, l totally relate since l was born and raised in the country. I always admired everything about kids. Couldn’t wait to mature l relocate โค
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It was definitely a great start in life, with a grotty follow up, but itโs fab how, as humans we adapt ๐
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โค๏ธ
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I have the same problem Charlie, but instead of girls i have guys๐๐, i use to read and to comment thousands of people, but only few hundreds got back to me๐, so whats the point of having followers who never like, never read and never leave a comment?
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Very true I think we have both been โcullingโ at the same time ๐
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I got some weird pictures even๐๐well its life๐๐there are so many sick people and there is no medicine for stupidity๐๐
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I suppose that is a bit of a bonus being a guy at least the pictures I get sent are a little more tasteful than the ones you get ๐ But yes there are some strange people out there ๐
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Lol๐๐tell me about it๐๐some of them want to marry me without knowing me, the effect of full maybe?๐๐
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๐๐๐๐๐
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Sorry didnโt understand โthe effect of fullโ ๐๐
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When full moon comes people are getting crazy not all, but a big part of them๐๐
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You can google it๐๐๐
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Aha full moon, that’s why they want to marry you they think you are a Werewolf haha
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lol๐
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I commented from phone, so for some reasons comment went on the wrong post it was sup to be on (nasty followers)
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Yes I realised that, but understood and it would have petty to point it out ๐๐
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๐๐คhave a nice evening your answer to the cam girl made me laugh๐๐๐
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I used to live there. I hated every second of it. Leeds will always be home. Even if I’m not there now. Ha.
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Not keen on the west, it always seems so grim, haha,
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It depends where you go really. But I know what you mean. Did live in Hornsea too for a while just out behind floral hall ha. Lovely place there.
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Haha Iโve been in Beverley for two years! Do like Hornsea
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Beverley is lovely very quiet. Hornsea is good just not a lot to do.
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