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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 02/17/2015
Can I tell you a secret....?
Born 1957, F, from Buckinghamshire, United KingdomCan I Tell You a Secret…….?
……..I fell in love for the first time when I was eight. It was my first heart-thumping, tummy-churning experience and it was with a hero. I was a Brownie and we were at the Christmas Panto put on by the local Amateur Dramatics Society. It was love at first sight. I have no idea what the story was about but that didn’t really matter, as all I wanted was for the handsome Hero Prince to come back on stage as soon as possible, slap his thigh and look in my direction. It was two of the happiest hours of my young life that I can recall. My earliest fantasy life had begun.
Overwhelmed somewhat by the strength of these new emotions I dared to share my feelings with my Grandad. We were getting ready for Christmas making ginger beer in his tiny kitchen using the family recipe that had been handed down for generations. Mince pies were already in the oven and every surface (not that there were many) was piled high with holly, pinecones and mistletoe that he had brought in from the back garden that morning. The mix of thick spicy gingery cinnamon smells and pine with heat from the stove had made me a little lightheaded.
He took what I had to tell him very seriously indeed. As a wise old Yorkshireman Grandad knew that how he reacted to my shared secret might well shape my willingness to communicate for a lifetime.
Meanwhile he carried on pouring the pungent, thrilling concoction into the glass bottles and thought for a moment. He knew this wasn’t a time for looking me in the eye and chose his words carefully.
“Well lass,” he said, “it’s like this. There’s nowt wrong with what’s ‘appening to yer! Just you enjoy it.” I waited for whatever was coming next, pretending not to be really listening but hanging onto every word.
He took a deep breath and put out his hand for the stopper I had been clutching in readiness and with his coal-stained gnarled hand pushed it firmly into the neck of the bottle. It was as he reached out for me to pass the next bottle that he was ready to speak.
“Just remember this lass, sometimes you get more fun from a balloon. It don’t last long but it gives you a thrill”. I thought about this, yep, it was true, bouncing a balloon around the room did make me laugh a lot, but it soon popped. He continued, “Other times, you need a good strong ball. One that keeps bouncing back that’ll last a lifetime. “ I knew that he had said something important but I wasn’t sure what he meant. I must have looked at him quizzically as he put down the jug and funnel and lifted me up onto his strong miner’s arms. One of those moments of wonderful earthy wisdom that has helped set me up for life.
Trick’s this lass. Summat you’ll need t’learn, an that’s when to choose a balloon and when a ball serves you best! It needs a bit of thinkin’ about. Aye, a lot a thinkin’ about.” He popped me back down. C’mon then lass, Christmas is comin’ an’ we’ve a lot a bottles to fill…..”
Sandy Wickenden owns and runs “Let’s Talk”, a private counselling service based in Denham Village. She is also available for sessions on Skype.
Can I tell you a secret....?(Sandy Wickenden)
Can I Tell You a Secret…….?
……..I fell in love for the first time when I was eight. It was my first heart-thumping, tummy-churning experience and it was with a hero. I was a Brownie and we were at the Christmas Panto put on by the local Amateur Dramatics Society. It was love at first sight. I have no idea what the story was about but that didn’t really matter, as all I wanted was for the handsome Hero Prince to come back on stage as soon as possible, slap his thigh and look in my direction. It was two of the happiest hours of my young life that I can recall. My earliest fantasy life had begun.
Overwhelmed somewhat by the strength of these new emotions I dared to share my feelings with my Grandad. We were getting ready for Christmas making ginger beer in his tiny kitchen using the family recipe that had been handed down for generations. Mince pies were already in the oven and every surface (not that there were many) was piled high with holly, pinecones and mistletoe that he had brought in from the back garden that morning. The mix of thick spicy gingery cinnamon smells and pine with heat from the stove had made me a little lightheaded.
He took what I had to tell him very seriously indeed. As a wise old Yorkshireman Grandad knew that how he reacted to my shared secret might well shape my willingness to communicate for a lifetime.
Meanwhile he carried on pouring the pungent, thrilling concoction into the glass bottles and thought for a moment. He knew this wasn’t a time for looking me in the eye and chose his words carefully.
“Well lass,” he said, “it’s like this. There’s nowt wrong with what’s ‘appening to yer! Just you enjoy it.” I waited for whatever was coming next, pretending not to be really listening but hanging onto every word.
He took a deep breath and put out his hand for the stopper I had been clutching in readiness and with his coal-stained gnarled hand pushed it firmly into the neck of the bottle. It was as he reached out for me to pass the next bottle that he was ready to speak.
“Just remember this lass, sometimes you get more fun from a balloon. It don’t last long but it gives you a thrill”. I thought about this, yep, it was true, bouncing a balloon around the room did make me laugh a lot, but it soon popped. He continued, “Other times, you need a good strong ball. One that keeps bouncing back that’ll last a lifetime. “ I knew that he had said something important but I wasn’t sure what he meant. I must have looked at him quizzically as he put down the jug and funnel and lifted me up onto his strong miner’s arms. One of those moments of wonderful earthy wisdom that has helped set me up for life.
Trick’s this lass. Summat you’ll need t’learn, an that’s when to choose a balloon and when a ball serves you best! It needs a bit of thinkin’ about. Aye, a lot a thinkin’ about.” He popped me back down. C’mon then lass, Christmas is comin’ an’ we’ve a lot a bottles to fill…..”
Sandy Wickenden owns and runs “Let’s Talk”, a private counselling service based in Denham Village. She is also available for sessions on Skype.
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