Extract from The Bastard
18th May 2008
Hello lovely people
He looked at the bees again and decided to leave them and go and ask his mother what the word meant. He found her in the kitchen, ironing. He liked the way the sun shone on her hair, and stood quietly watching her.
Then she noticed him. She put the iron down and smiled, bent down and hugged him.
“And how was your day? Did you learn anything exciting?” she asked.
“I don’t know, Mummy. What is a bastard?”
For a moment she stood stock still. Then she slowly opened the fridge door, turned around and said “Let me pour you some juice, you must be hot from the long walk.”
He took the glass from her and drank the juice. He looked at her and asked again “What is a bastard?”
He was so innocent. She did not know how to answer the question. “It is a really nasty word, and I do not want you to use it. People say that when they do not like others.”
“But Betsy told me today I am a bastard, and I do not know why. Why would she say that to me?”
“My darling, people say nasty things to others when they do not understand. You are a sweet boy, and you must not take notice of this girl. She does not sound like a nice girl at all.”
“Yes mommy.”
“Now go and take off your school clothes, and then you can come and help me unpack this parcel I’ve received.”
He went off to his room, and the mother stood there, staring at nothing. So the time has come. Time to explain. Time to start building defenses.
Read the whole story in A Tapestry of Life, a collection of short stories about moments that changed people’s lives. The book can also be obtained from Trafford Publishing.
I will be working at a psychic fayre at Worthing Pavillion Theatre, Marine Parade Worthing BN11 3PX, on 14 and 15 June 2008.
I will also be leading a workshop titled Conquering the Spiritual Mid-Life Crisis in Scottburgh, South Africa, on 25 May 2008, and in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 30 May 2008. Please contact me for details if you are interested.
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Love and Light
Elsabe
