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What’s going on with society?
Vic Barlow11/ 4/2007
I NIPPED into McDonald's today for a quick coffee. It was lunchtime and the only seat available was at a table occupied by a young teenage couple. They were most polite and happy for me to share.
"How's your mum coping with the baby?" the young boy asked.
"She keeps leaving it with me."
"Why can't your dad look after it?"
"My dad split from my mum years ago. He's got kids of his own now."
"Who with?
"A couple of different women."
The girl then asked about the boy's grandmother.
"Never see her now, she's got a new bloke."
"Do you still see your dad?" she asked.
"I did until he threatened to kill my mum."
"Why?"
"Dunno, but my mum never left the house for ages. She was too scared. She doesn't let me see him at all now."
There was no self-pity or bitterness in this matter of fact conversation but I was horrified at the way these two articulate and caring youngsters simply accepted their predicament as the norm.
- THE views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express.
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
12/04/2007 at 01:59
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14/04/2007 at 20:46