1 minute read
1. When I was seven
from When I Was Seven
by Collins
When I was seven my mum and dad split up. From four we were now three. It was a shock to us all.
A short time later, we found a new place to live. No. 73. My sister, my mum and me.
Now, I was the man of the house. At night, I checked the windows were closed. Then I checked the front door was locked. This made me feel safe. I was looking after us all. My sister, my mum and me.
I switched on the TV. The light and colours filled the dark gloom of the front room. Blues and reds, flickering and dancing across the walls.
The sound of the music!
The trumpets blasted loud. Two figures, blurred motion, the roar of the crowd.
I rushed to turn the sound down. They’re all asleep, dont wake them up! But in a heartbeat, I remembered: “Them” doesnt include my dad now so why not turn it up?
I didnt though, I panicked and turned the volume down. But even with the sound down low, something pulled me once again to the screen.
Something in my head went click; The movement, the colour, the image, the sound. Around the sun the earth spins round.
In that moment, there was a change. Something that I had missed before, something Id never seen. Watching. Listening. Hypnotised, by the action on the screen.
