The Tricycle

Tricycle 

In our block of flats yard there were always many children playing. Homes were not comfortable as they are now, with TV and central heating carpet on the floor and a settee. We children were mostly outdoors learning social skills and anything else that would be available. One girl had a beautiful tricycle. I was totally amazed by its beauty. This must have shown in my face for the girl that own it allowed me to ride on it for awhile. Naturally, I loved it, I had never seen anything like it. My father´s bicycle was the nearest to it, but I could not climb on that, this one was my size. 

A few days later a photographer appeared with his camera trying to capture us in our childhood. He did not ask whether we wanted to be photographed, he just clicked his camera here and there. With the corner of my eye I saw the tricycle lying idle for an moment while its owner was fascinated by the camera and the flash. I instantly thought a golden opportunity had come my way to ("stardom") show off on the tricycle, and without further a do, I jumped on it and smiled. The end result you can see here (above).

My mother was not too pleased when the photographer asked her for the pictures payment, but the damaged was done, she could not resist the picture presented to her with my smile breaking through the paper.

Although I was now 5 years old and my eldest sister 20, my mother felt pregnant once more at the age of 43. These were difficult times and the stigma of an older woman, all be it legitimately, being pregnant, was frowned upon. My eldest sister could not look at our mother in the face. She actually though it was shameful and she herself would have difficulty facing her own friends with such a development.My mother was distraught , she did not want another pregnancy. 

Six months earlier, she had been through an episode of backstreet abortion and had almost died in the process. Her aim was to safe money to pay off the debts and recover her house. She had worked very hard and had made many sacrifices to build it. The pregnancy would make this task much more difficult. (she never recovered her house, and my uncle never recovered his investment as the house remained empty until it was sold in the year 2000)