Two Hundred Words
John Davidson was asked to write an essay consisting of one hundred words.
He replied: “If I were to write all the swear words my drunken Dad used as he bashed my mother, I would have to ask special permission to be allowed to use more swear words.”
My sister and I remember when we woke Mum for Mother’s Day to give her breakfast in bed. Mum was a bit hard to wake up that morning in 1978.
Dad was nowhere to be found.
Mum had two black eyes on that Mother’s Day. We asked her: “where was Dad?”
It turned out Dad came home the night before and argued because Mum had rissoles instead of steak for his tea. He blew his stack and threw the meal against the kitchen wall then bashed Mum.
We were over at Aunty Margaret and Uncle Frank’s house for the Saturday night before, the neighbours had called the police to take Dad away.
John made it to one hundred and sixty four words and felt the need to keep going, though that would be against the rules and John had been taught by his Mother to always stick to the rules.
Pity his father couldn’t do the same.
Support links
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence and you need to talk to someone now, contact lifeline 13 11 14 or access information online at www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help
Mens Line – Working with Men who use violence in their relationships
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