Chapter 1
EARLY MEMORIES
I'm two. I can walk. My Daddy is in the lounge room. I'm going to sit on his knee. Ouch. My foot hurts. Hot, hurting. I put it in my Daddy's coffee cup. Mummy grabs me. "Accident, Mummy." Mummy is picking me up very fast. Mummy is making it better. Beautiful cold water. Mummy's nice voice is calming me down.
Chocolate Dirt
I'm three. I have a friend. She lives next door. We love playing together. Today we are playing in the front garden. Yum, Yum, chocolate.
Chocolate Dirt
In the air was a chill,
But I didn't seem to care.
I just loved the garden,
And the chocolate that was there.
It was like a fascination,
But I don't know why.
It felt great through my fingers,
Or sometimes in my hair.
I'd eat it with joy,
Like it was chocolate supreme.
But when Mum would see me,
She was always to scream.
"Oh Karla, what are you doing?
You can't eat that dirt, dear.
That's for the garden,
To help feed the plants all year."
At the time of that comment,
It really wasn't clear.
I loved that chocolate dirt,
Endless supplies year after year.
Best Buddy
My best buddy lives four houses from me. We visit every day. His skin is dark and mine is light. We do every-thing together.
Best Buddy
He was my best friend.
We did everything together.
We lived at each other's houses,
And we shared hugs to keep forever.
He was another nationality,
And I can't remember his name.
The color never mattered,
Because to me he was the same.
Maybe it was Michael,
That seems to ring a bell.
I wish that I could see him,
To see he's grown up well.
Katie
Katie lives in the house behind us. We are playing dolls. Sometimes we play dress-ups, too. I pretend she is my sister. She has long blond hair and a happy smile.
Yellow Quilts
There are two beds in my bedroom. They have yellow quilts with fringes hanging down. There are flowers and little people all over the walls and large windows.
Yellow Quilts
My room was very big,
And I had two matching beds;
One for a friend,
And one to rest my head.
I don't remember much,
Except that tooth under my pillow,
Those matching yellow quilts,
And a big open window.
Gumnut Child Care Centre
I go to pre-school now. My mummy has to show a special pass to show that I'm old enough to attend. My teacher has black bob hair cut. Her son is also in my class. Today they are taking the school photo. I have to stand on a stool near the teacher so they can see me. I'm half the height of everyone else.
Heathcote Day Nursery Pre-School
I love pre-school. Today we are having mashed potato wrapped in devon. I wish Mummy could make it like that. It's nice and salty. After lunch we are going to do a play. It is called "Miss Polly had a Dolly." I'm going to be Miss Polly. I'm the star. It's good because we don't have to have our sleep today. I hate sleep time. My cousin Simon and I whisper and tell stories. Sometimes the stories are funny and we giggle. Then we are sent to separate rooms. I love giggling with Simon. After Miss Polly, we will go outside and play. We have great equipment. There is a sink in the kitchen and a berry tree at the back of the yard. I love to pick the berries. There is a barrel near the front gate and I hide in there with Simon and giggle when it's time to come inside. They always find us.
I Hate Sleep Time
Pre-school was such fun,
And with my cousin even better.
We loved to play outside,
And chase each other forever.
I loved the tree out the back.
Its berries were so red,
I'd pick and hold them in my hand,
'til the berry was quite dead
Lunch was even better.
Mashed potato rolled in devon,
Sitting around those little tables,
Eating and enjoying it together.
I hated sleep time, though.
It wasn't fun for me.
I'd toss and turn or distract,
But eventually they'd see me.
Secretly talking to Simon,
We'd end up giggling with glee,
Then getting transferred to another room,
No longer allowed to be me.
Prawns and Beer
Today Smokey Poppy bought prawns with two dollars. He is showing me how to peel them. He drinks beer in a schooner. He has a cat called Smokey and she sits with us while we peel the prawns. Sometimes he gets me a glass and pours me some of his beer. It's nice. I love my Smokey Poppy.
Golden Toast
My Cindy Poppy has a dog called Cindy. He cooks the best toast ever. He never burns it. He flips the side of the toaster down just at the right time. I call it golden toast. We always sit at the table next to the back door. Poppy doesn't eat his crusts. He throws them out the back door to Cindy. I love eating breakfast with Cindy Poppy.
How Could We Sleep?
My brother and I are so excited. It's Christmas Eve. Santa came all around Heathcote East in his trailer today and gave us lollies. We had to have our baths and be in our PJ's ready to go straight to bed after we saw Santa in the street. Mummy always says, "You have to get to bed early otherwise he won't come." It's my favourite time of the year. I love putting out that bowl of water and the carrots for the reindeers. And Santa has his glass of milk and cookies. My brother and I put the plates right near our bedroom doors so that we can both see them. If we stay awake long enough we might see Santa and the reindeers. It never happens though, Santa is too clever.
Christmas Poem
We'd have a bath early,
Tonight he was to come.
Our adrenalin would be pumping,
Because the countdown of days was one.
I found it so hard to sleep,
I wanted to see him there.
Entering my room with presents,
And his long white fluffy hair.
Mummy's and Schools
Heather is one of my friends. She lives near me. Sometimes we play Mummy's. I love to play with my dolls in my bedroom. They all have names. Sometimes they are naughty and I discipline them. Sometimes I play schools. I put a book in front of each of them to be a school desk, and then I make sure there are aisles for me to walk up and down, just like a classroom. My favourite doll is Baby First Love. She has blond hair and green eyes like me. She is my daughter. I love my dolls. They are my dearest friends, and they comfort me.
Dolls
Dolls, dolls, dolls.
I loved them all so much.
I'd kiss and hug and play with them,
And it never got too much.
They were my true companions,
My fellow mates and friends.
We'd play schools, mummy's and dress-ups, I'd wish it didn't have to end.
My Brother
My brother stirs me every chance he gets. Sometimes he waits around the corner ready to scare me.
Darkness
The dark is so scary,
I'd turn on my light.
My brother always scared me,
And gave me a fright.
He'd be around the corner,
Waiting for me to appear.
I'd anticipate that corner,
For I could feel the deep fear.
He thought it was so funny,
But of course it wasn't to me.
As now I'm a jumpy person,
Who's insecure as can be.
Matching Belt and Dress
Cindy Nanny was so good to cuddle. I was only young when she passed away, but I can remember her Nana smell and those dresses, which had a belt, made out of the same material. I would snuggle up into her arms and just sit with her for as long as I could. I miss her a lot, but I know she watches over me.
Painted Nails and Stilettos
Great Nana lived in the city. Smoky Nana was her daughter. She would take me to see her whenever she could. I loved Great Nana; she was such an inspiration to me. Her nails were always painted red. Often when she wasn't even going anywhere, she was still done "up to the nines." She would always call me Lisa, my cousin's name. Sometimes I would just let her call me Lisa to make it easier for her. The funniest thing was her boyfriend. He was about 15 years younger than she was, and she was always "on and off again" with him. Great Nana was in her 80's and she still looked good until she passed away.
The Cooking Queen
Wow, can Smoky Nana cook. She makes the best baked dinners, pikelets and scones you have ever tasted. People from everywhere know Nana for her cooking. Every time we go to her house we can be sure that she had made something for us to eat. I've enjoyed so many outings with my Nana. Elcabalco Blanco is one that stands out to me. Nana has always been my number one cheer squad with my acting, she has always been so proud of me. She has never missed a performance I've been in and...
