Tuesday 5 February 2008

Polly's Rescue

In the glam rocking, flare wearing, long hot hippy days of the late 1970's, there was a girl in my school called Polly. She was unusually large, had an unusually long chin, and was unusually awkward. She wasn't shy, but said all the wrong things and made all the wrong faces at all the wrong times. She tried so hard to make friends, but the girls kept her on the edge, teasing her slightly and rolling their eyes whenever she came near. I wept inside for her, but there was nothing I could do. Nothing I would do anyway, for befriending the outcast is social suicide for a 10 year-old.

I saw Polly in town yesterday. I couldn't stop staring. I wanted to apologise. Same build, same chin, but gone is that tortured, needy look in her eyes. As she took her daughter's hand, she looked happy. I can only assume she has found someone who loves her, and that she can now love herself too. Either that, or she's found a really good therapist. We had a brief, gasping, oh-my-god-it's-you conversation, and I walked away. Happy too.

9 comments:

  1. very nice blog - good luck with it. Re addiction, just remember to feed the children and occasionally shout: "I said `No'" from the computer and you'll be fine. I will blogroll you and let me know how you get on. best wishes

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  2. Thank you! I have tried explaining the concept of blogging to the children. B keeps saying over and over again "so ... they can really that in Australia?????" and L just yawns.

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  3. Hi there GBS, like your blog, I will definitely be back. I agree with Wife on the food thing and on occasion I also use 'Because I SAID so, and I am the MUMMY'. Obviously they will ignore you. (But what do I know; my boys are only 4 and 2...).

    And if you want to illustrate who can read your blog set up sitemeter (there's one on my blog you can use as a link). Not only will that tell you how many visits you get a day - if you want to subject yourself to such torture - it also has a handy little gizmo that shows you on a world map who your visitors are. And most importantly, it's free.

    Good luck!

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  4. I haven't got a blog name - maybe it should be wife on the edge. Fab blog. Can you guess who I am? Mother of four, pissed off husband, turmoil infused life, no cash. Sound familiar? xx

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  5. I loved this post., very sensitively written!

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  6. Hi there,
    I'm sure when we hit around 40, we all think "Oh screw everything" and stop caring about what everyone else thinks. we have also hopefully realised that there's more to life than looks. Or there had better be! Good for her.

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  7. Dear Anonymous on the Edge,
    Yes I know you. You must start your own blog immediately. Love & kisses to you and yours xxx

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  8. Just found you, GBS.

    Great blog - now on my list for regular visits.....

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  9. Hi Debio,
    Thanks for that! I'm coming over to visit you now ...

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