Tower and Town, March 2015 (view the full edition)Eglantine Mary JebbThe Child 
‘I’m going to town, Uncle James’. He looked up from his breakfast blankly and gave me a lost nod. ‘It’s a beautiful day. Would you care to join me?‘ Don’t be absurd, Eglantine, you know I am teaching today’; with that he pushed back his chair, causing the hard stone of the kitchen floor to screech in protest. He retrieved his robes and made a swift movement to the door. Reaching out for the doorknob, he froze in mid air. ‘I would appreciate it if you would have the dishes done on my return; the maid is absent today. You may visit the town after.’ He forced a smile, failing to show a trace of warmth behind it, and was gone soon after. After cursing the cloaked back of his withdrawing form, I fetched my wicker basket. The dishes could wait until after I’d been shopping. Gathering my skirts I strolled at a leisurely pace towards the High Street tilting my face to welcome the warm rays of the sun onto my chilly cheeks. Instinctively looking to the sky, I noticed the kites soaring contentedly, competitively. I resumed my usual gaze of awe and satisfaction, seeing the High Street unfold in front of me. The next moment changed my life forever. It was extraordinary and opened my eyes to the real world. At first I walked straight past her but the scorching hatred of her stare burnt into my back so fiercely that I had to turn to see what had caused me this violent shock. It was a ragged little girl with grubby tear-stained cheeks, her clothes tattered and dirty and her hair matted and unkempt. Her eyes were fixed on me. But soon after, the hatred was gone, replaced by innocence, pain and pleading. The look in her eyes pulled at my legs; I was cautious but obeyed and walked to her. It was then that I was her. I viewed the passers-by with her eyes. No one showed any interest. The passers-by were too interested in their own lives. It was my turn to care now. And it was my turn to make a change to the world. To Save the Childen. Molly Corfield |