The Phoenix's Quil

To think our grandmothers and great-grandmothers washed by hand, got up early to feed livestock, cleaned stone steps, made their own bread daily and most people complain about having to wait for a bus to take them three or so miles in the rain is an astounding feat in my opinion. Most women were working in the cotton mills in the nineteenth and early twentieth century within the lower classes and keeping house for their large families and yet today, people complain if they are asked to work an extra shift. Children attend school for six hours per day with continuous holiday periods while children one-hundred and fifty years ago were working and attending school all within an eighteen hour period. People complain today if they are forced to rise earlier than the birds while most children within farming England would have had to be up milking the cows and delivering milk for their families while collecting eggs all before six AM. What society have we in turn then created? A pathetic bunch of soft, mushy cotton wool balls if you ask me.

It’s all about, “Not pressuring the young” in exam situations, or “allowing everyone to win” within school competitions that have effectively been made de funk in this country because of the pathetic do-gooders who don’t want anyone to lose. Unless someone hasn’t told these bunch of nancies, the world is not fair, competition needs to exist, and pressure is more real than ever before in our high tech, fast moving society.

One of the reasons, in my opinion why there has been so many lunatics on the run, randomly shooting people and being so angry is because a lack to prepare our children for the hard life ahead. Kids don’t have to do chores, they whine and get whatever they want, the value of money is virtually non-existent because if mummy and daddy won’t pay, then good old British tax payers will pay for you to be a lazy bum and never compete to get a job. Because most of our youth and lacking determination and a competitive spirit, they perceive sitting home, feeling sorry for their “hard done by” asses while taking a weekly amount from the government will make everything OK. If you were poor during Victorian times, you went to the poor houses. And you could not keep reproducing if you could not afford a child, that would be sent to a poor house and do all the hard manual labour that our country keeps bitching and moaning about.

Society’s so soft and human rights has gone too far, it’s about time someone made everyone realise that life is hard you have to work to get somewhere in life.

And there are many things that are contributing to this “easy come, easy go” society. The benefits system needs overriding. Those willing to work, willing to train and volunteer should be helped in whatever way to ensure they can lead their lives to full time employment while the scrounging, “Good for nothing” bums should be left to live in squaller and bring back the poor houses. Stop all of these silly little boys and girls pretending to play grown-ups from having babies and unless they can prove they can financially care, take them away and adopt them out to families who can.

I am tired of hearing these sob stories from people who truly don’t know hardship. I am tired of listening to social services failings with children who are being neglected, ill cared for or abused by parents while capable disabled parents are automatically penalised for their disabilities. It’s about time this country takes care of the people putting the effort in and remembers that just because you are abled bodied and a bum it does not give you the right to have everything given to you on a plate.

When will society take responsibility for itself and face up to its own problems? Instead of blaming others, maybe you should take a long hard look in the mirror and question yourself for a few moments. It’s not necessarily the government’s fault you’re a lazy bitch with three or four kids by different daddies, claiming every benefit under the sun, close you’re freaking legs, get a job and pay for your own kids. Stop expecting other people to take care of your brood, while you sit on your ass, pregnant with children starving or wandering off by themselves. You’ll be the first to blubber when that child is abducted.

Society has changed, of course it has, sad to say for the worst. Bring back some of the old punishments and teach people some bloody respect. Putting some people’s needs above others is wrong and if you are throwing guide dog owners off of a bus because Muslim kids are screaming in fear, or you can’t help a wheel chair user onto a bus because you have a bad back, you need to question what is wrong with your life. Young people be respectful to the old man on the bus, stand up and let him sit down, chances are, he fought in at least one war. It angers me how no one communicates, appreciates anything anyone does anymore and there are far too few good deeds being done by others while despicable things are done by the rest.

And why is there no respect? Because there is no consequence. And why are disabled and the old discarded like old newspapers? Because there is no community spirit or respect within our society. And why are children being neglected? Because society is taking care of the wrong people. And why is there so much laziness and complaining? Because people don’t realise how good they have it and need to know the definition of hardships and real work. Until then, our society will continue down its soft and fluffy route unit it disintegrates into chaos and dust.

I’ve always perceived my blindness as a part of me but it seems as though society may have a very different view about what being blind is truly about.

A recent documentary shown on the BBC has made me think long and hard about how the “sighted” world views us as blind people. I know who I am and I’m comfortable with every aspect, I’m a performer, i’m a student, I’m a fundraiser, I’m a writer, I’m a woman, and I’m blind. It’s a fact of my life but when I walk down a street with my trusted guide dog by my side, what am I to others? The blind woman with the guide dog. And this does bother me.

As a blind individual, we are then categorised with so many stereotypes and the majority of us hardly come close to any of those bad habits that some blind people are guilty of. We are not all recluses, we do not all rock, and we do not all need someone to take us everywhere and do everything for us on a daily basis. There are a percentage of us who work, study, own our own homes, have families and live active and social lives without adhering to even one of the stereotypes the general public like to believe we are a part of.

I see some tweets from ignorant sighted people who believe we cannot watch movies, or should not be walking down the street, are shocked to see an attractive blind person or indeed that we are incapable of having sex. Those of us who are out in the world and are interacting with abled bodied people are forever questioned about our abilities and when those individuals are enlightened, utter shock seeps from their every pore.

Blindness does not stop us living our lives and yet still, documentaries are giving a very slanted view of what being blind is really all about.

The one positive point, I, as a blind person took from this BBC documentary, called “the blind me” is that it also represented the flaws of the sighted world and their treatment of blind individuals. Some sighted people patronise the blind, or think us to be stupid along with deaf as they walk away giggling about the blind girl who will not know they just left and I’m happy to say this is not true for all sighted individuals. But to those who have ever used a person’s blindness against themselves, shame on you. It’s not big and it’s not clever. Just remember this, most of us have sighted friends who can tell us about the rude gestures or even our own hearing can betray your rudeness and ignorance.

Just take a moment to think of how, if you are sighted, you perceive a blind individual, and if you are blind, do you really think the sighted world has an accurate assumption of what you as a person are all about? If you could dispel only one stereotype, what would it be? And is it fair for the sighted world to continue to make assumptions?

Personally, I believe there should be more representation of people with disabilities within different media outlets wherever possible and should definitely be more represented within soap operas that are meant to be close to representative of British culture as possible. And if those creators decide to develop a part, research should be done honestly and realistically instead of making blind people either into rocking wrecks or super heroes that can drive ten ton trucks.

I know how I see myself, but I also know the majority of the sighted world see me as a lesser individual with limited independence and desires and goals for my own future. Ah well, I’ll keep proving them wrong, shall I?

Thousands of soldiers fought for years to maintain our freedom of speech but it seems like it is not so much as a luxury as it once was.

A facebook group was set up last week after Northumberland police went on a man hunt for Raoul Mote, a man who shot his ex girlfriend and killed her new lover once he was released from prison. Mote’s motives are still unclear at this time and maybe we will never know why he did what he did. The facebook group called “Raoul Mote, the legend” has sparked much controversy as people seemed to sympathise with the killer for how he was treated by his ex girlfriend, the police and other friends and family members. People are angry because this group is allowed to continue and they do not believe Raoul Mote should be considered a “legend”. But isn’t life about opinions? Isn’t it about our perceptions and why shouldn’t these individuals, whether you regard their opinions right or wrong, be allowed to have their opinions?

Political correctness has gone too far and not allowing individuals, no matter what, to have their own opinions is getting beyond a joke. Even if a child is naughty during school, the teacher is not allowed to tell them so. They have to be so “PC”. And in a recent incident in Bernley in the North of England where a Judge told two youths that they were “scum” he was almost taken of the board of magistrates because he was not allowed to say that they were scum. Most of the general, law abiding citizens of the UK, would have called these two youngsters the same thing but to protect their “human rights” the judge was warned he could not permitted to use such “negative language” against the type of people who will be mugging old ladies before long.

It seems, nowadays, it takes negative behaviour to promote any reaction and we are more likely to support to negative actions than positive actions from anyone within society. Rewarding positive behaviour should be priority and we should scold the “naughty children” allow social network groups to have their opinions and quit all of this crap about protecting “human rights”. If we can’t retain the most basic human right of freedom of speech, then what is the point of having an act that deprives of us having opinions and the right to express those opinions?

I say, let the teachers have their opinions back in the classroom. Tell all of the scum the truth instead of babying them into committing their next crime and allow people to create groups about expressing their opinions of people they care about. Kiss the human rights act goodbye because its infringing our most basic human right of freedom of speech and the ability to think for ourselves.

Things of myths and legends have always fascinated me regardless if there was an ounce of historical value or they were merely fairy tales to tell children. The greek myths and legends have not escaped my fascination over the years from the stories of Hercules and the Gods to the ugly monsters that were said to patrol the greek landscape. I’d heard of Helen of Troy, “The face that sailed a thousand ships” and knew vaguely she was the cause of the Trojan war and how her beauty launched one of the bloodiest of battles between the Trojans and Greeks. But this was as much as I knew. I knew nothing of the love story, of the Gods perceived involvement and in truth, none of us will ever really know what happened, we were not there. However, it does seem there was a slight piece of history but who is to say how much of the facts are purely archaeological and how many of the myths have truth in their essence?

Without knowing the answers, many literary geniuses have attempted to tell the story of Helen and the destruction of Troy in poetry or pure fiction.

Margaret George is one of these story tellers who brings the reader forward from our twenty-first century modern lives back into ancient Greece and the lives of the Spartans, Greeks and Trojans. The story begins in Helen’s childhood and we travel along her life from start to end which is unusual in any book. We learn everything about Helen’s life and the lives of everyone around her from her childhood to adulthood and despite the book being long, it is well worth every word written upon each page. George brings all these characters, despite if they were once real or not according to history, to life and we begin their journeys and end their journeys alongside them.

The descriptions of the culture, the landscape and the in depth knowledge of each person we are truly brought into the book and get to know the lives of each individual. George manages to create a nice mix of all of the apparent legends and where there are patchy details she manages to create believable and real events that appear seamless within the narrative.

Despite whether you are interested in Greek mythology or care whether it is real or not, if you have a need to escape reality then Helen of Troy by Margaret George is a sure way to complete escapism from your every day mundane life and enter into a love story and bloody battles. A must read for everyone despite your normal interests. Go on Helen’s journey and meet good and evil and the supernatural creatures of myth legend.

If you disagree with this statement, I’d advise you to stop reading now as what will follow will probably displease you incredibly.

The way people are conducting themselves at the present moment in our society’s lifetime leaves a lot to be desired. My first gripe is with the English football team. Forget the fact that they may as well not have turned up for the world cup, displaying such Sunday league level performances, but when they lost, where was their passion? Looking at a variety of other teams throughout this tournament, you could feel the vibes of pride and passion the players had for wearing their country’s shirt and playing for their homeland. But England were a completely separate issue. You may have just informed them that an ice cube out of a bucket of ice had fallen on the ground and was making a slight wet area under their feet for the all the concern that was achieved on Sunday. Everyone remembers Paul Gascony famously sobbing his eyes out when his team lost but the squad against Germany merely looked nonplussed about the result. Their was no shame on their faces, no sadness beheld in their expressions and this lack of passion for their country seriously brings into question their ability to play internationally. Players should be striving to win at all games, no matter how terrible it may look on paper. The game should be played to the death but I am uncertain if England even showed up on Sunday at all.

People continuously debate if Cappello should remain manager, but my question is, should any of those players be consider for future internationals? Without the pride and passion needed, how can any of them hope to be picked again. But here’s the sad thing, they probably will be picked for the next qualifiers and make the first team without a question. And this is where our society is wrong. We allow terrible and disrespectful behaviour to continue unpunished while those who continue to try are hardly ever rewarded. Even as young as the six to ten year old age range, if they want to be competitive at school, they are guided away from their actions. Way to go for making the next generation of dispassionate, unmotivated, lay-abouts British Government. How the hell can a child learn self-motivation, self-responsibility, passion, pride and competition if they are told those activities cannot be taught in schools? For crying out loud, you cannot tell a child it has been naughty now because of the craziness of the system that dictates fairness amongst all. Fact is, life isn’t fair and life is about competition and if no one can learn these qualities then I dread to think of the future for this God forsaken country.

Another issue that has really got under my skin this week is the general self-righteousness of some blind folks in the UK. As standard, anyone who is registered blind can claim disability living allowance that is designed to help with costs that an individual may occur to their disability. I’ve heard several comments this week about from blind people that they believe this allowance is a God given right and that everything they need should be paid for by the government or such other organisations on top of this benefit. The first comment pertains to the fact that the government are planning to tighten up those who claim DLA. This, if done correctly should be carried out. Far too many are illegitimately claiming DLA and some who are not getting it really should be considered. However, the first comment I made, about it being a “God given right” came from someone who was attempting to be smart and possibly in turn scared a fair few people. They posted that the government was going to cut DLA, and at this present time, that is incorrect information. But the aspect of that comment that bothers me was that this person seemingly believes they should be getting DLA as a birth right. Wrong! Far many other countries do not assist their disabled people as much as the UK does so you should be feeling grateful it even exists.

Now, I studied away from home for two years and I know how expensive that can be. I also know that I was living on much less than many of my visually impaired counterparts as I didn’t have a lot of the benefits that I was entitled too. When I hear someone, who is on the benefits they are entitled too, including DLA, and also receive a student loan and a maintenance grant, [which was not available when I was a student], and are complaining about having to pay someone to label something, my blood begins to boil That is what DLA is for!
DLA is broken into two components, care and mobility. This labelling of goods is designed to be paid for through the care component of DLA. This attitude amongst the blind community of automatic right is beginning to get on my last nerve. Use the benefits you get for what they are designed for, if you can’t afford something, don’t do it. Student loans companies give you what you are assessed for to live on, feel grateful you have other benefits to live off of too. Your sighted peers don’t get that much money from the state.

Nothing is given to you, at least it shouldn’t be as in the case of our so called star players; You have to work for everything in life and if you are given help, use it to your best ability. Stop thinking the world owes you something, it really doesn’t.

The UK has been hit dramatically by the world wide recession the past two years, but with the recent emergency budget and all of its announcements, will it be the disabled population who in turn pays for the country’s debts?

On Tuesday the Chancellor spent almost an hour depicting the changes he aims to implement during the term of the new government, among which were a raise in VAT, which I personally expected, cuts to public services which was sadly inevitable, a freeze on child benefit and reduction in Child Tax credit and a change to disability living allowance. The new proposal will require each person to go under stringent medical tests to approve or refuse their application. On the one hand, this does need to be done to prevent fraudulent claims but how many of the disabled population will suffer because of these requirements, especially when it comes to disabilities that are invisible, I.E, dyslexia and mental health.

As much as I agree, testing should go ahead, but disabilities are not purely medical conditions. Someone who is blind may not need to visit the hospital or be in pain a lot of the time with their eye condition whereas they may struggle while trying to be independent in the outside world. Mobility is a primary concern along with living independently and although Ian Duncan Smith claims these new implementations will force those who do not need DLA back into the labour workforce, who exactly is he referring to? Is he talking about visually impaired people who are continually fighting alongside the deaf and physically disabled to gain jobs in today’s society or is e correctly targeting those who are fraudulently claiming DLA because they would rather not work? If it is indeed the latter, I’m all for this action but if not, then they are leaving people with disabilities high and dry.

People with disabilities who rely on the money pay for taxis as an alternative if they cannot get somewhere they need, I.E., a doctor’s appointment. Someone who is visually impaired and maybe the roads are bad or their guide dog is out of work, needs that assurance that they can pay to get to important appointments. Or someone in a wheelchair who is unable to use public transport would use their mobility component to use a taxi service. The care element can be used for a variety of reasons, buying essential equipment that they need to use in order to live independently with their disability. Without the money to support them, how will the disabled people of our society survive efficiently?

Many disabled people work or want to work and disability living allowance provides them with the financial support to work effectively and live independently. If these measures are indeed aimed at reducing the number of fraudulent claimers, then it’s a good move but if not, and legitimate disabled people are going to suffer and we will continue to block the advancement for disabled people throughout the UK.

Chapter 7
Jealousy

School started back on the Monday morning and Hope had butterflies. All weekend, all she could think of, was Zyre Portario. His handsome face had been distracting her frequently over the course of her weekend. She had visited Thorn prison and had been taught all about the legal system by Thawson, who had also insisted he needed to find her a personal warrior after what had happened in the Blackberry Woods.

“Thawson,” Hope had huffed indignantly, not losing her teenage insolence just yet. “I have a lot of protection at home and school, Lobo for example!” She had become extremely fond of Lobo who often visited her in her rose garden at home. She wished she could see more of him at school but the knowledge that he was still there was more than enough of a comfort to her.

“Hope, you need a warrior,” Thawson had told her as the huge iron gates clunked closed behind them and the many chains and barriers clinked into place to keep the one hundred and twenty three prisoners secure. “Every enchantress has a warrior. Someone to personally guard her.”
“How will that work?” Hope laughed as she stepped onto the slay, gently patting each unicorn as she took her seat. “Thawson, I am in school. What’s my warrior going to do, sleep in my room?” Laughing hard Hope turned and suddenly stopped at the look on her brother’s face. “I’m sorry, Thawson, I’m just trying to be realistic.”
“Stupid, maybe,” His lips edged into one thin line that made him look fierce with his black beard. “Hope, your protection is vital. Not just from witches and wizards but there are animals that don’t agree with your position. Some believe that Stigma should guard the magical world.”
“Especially stigma right?” Hope asked, feeling a touch defensive at these words. “Thawson, I want to do what is right but I’m also aware that I need help. I was just questioning how it would work. I mean, I trust your judgement, you are my general and my brother, but you have to remember, I’m knew, and desperately need your guidance.”

At this Thawson had smiled and hugged his sister. “And guide you I will.” Hope had quietened after that conversation, desperate to be alone with her memories for a few moments. Her sister had quizzed her repetitively over breakfast abut Zyre but Hope was giving nothing away. Zyre had a pull on her she had never known anyone to have before but her smile spoke volumes and caused her sister to fit into giggles over breakfast.

As she walked down the stairs to the dining hall on the Monday morning, she prayed she’d speak with Zyre. He had hardly left her side at the ball and she hoped beyond all hope he would not have changed his feelings toward her. Walking into the dining hall, she found Chelsea seated at the unicorn table, eating some toast.

“Better get ready,” Chelsea grinned at her and pointed to a huge board over their table. Hope looked confused and Chelsea sighed exasperatedly, her eyes flashing with subtle annoyance. “I knew this was a good idea,” She pointed to the board again and Hope looked at it. It read:

“First team:
Chelsea Hubbard–Keeper
Shannon Cabillion–Defence
Hope Midway–Defence
Deltra O’Conner–attack
Angel Wright-Attack
Second Team:
Chrissie Cauldron–Keeper
Caressa Philips–défense
Maude Jenington–Defence
Luna Midway–Attack
Candice Filton–Attack

“I made the team?” Hope’s astonishment caught some of the other students’ attention as she took a seat beside Chelsea a little sheepishly, she whispered, “I thought I was rubbish!”
“Well, you weren’t!” Chelsea grinned broadly at her. “You and Luna have fit in so well here, Hope, you should be proud!” Hope smiled warmly at her best friend and glanced a look of annoyance coming from Harmony Lupere.

“Are you OK?” Hope asked Harmony whom’s green eyes glowered with a menacing stare at Hope and Chelsea.
“Fine, not that it’s any of your business!” She snarled gruffly.
“Hey!” Chelsea snapped. “What is your problem, Lupere? Hope has never done anything to upset you. In fact, none of us have but you constantly snipe and gripe at us. It isn’t our fault none of the basilisks want anything to do with you and I have no idea why you were put in our form. You’re unkind, mean, and I know it was you who put the bat in Hope’s closet.”
“Oh, you do?” Harmony’s eyebrows frowned dangerously cockily at Chelsea’s assumed confidence. “How do you know that?”
“You didn’t help her!” Chelsea sneered back. “You stood there, Halley saw you, and let Hope be terrified of that bat!”
“She should get used to it, being enchantress and all,” Harmony stood up abruptly and pushed her way past a first year.
“What a vile creature!” Chelsea scowled after Harmony’s retreating back with a pure frustration etched onto her normally calm face. “What did you ever do?”
“I wish I knew,” Hope sighed defeatedly, feeling all cheeriness and sense of achievement drain from her. Despite Harmony’s vindictiveness, Hope knew part of what she had said rang true; Hope could not fear silly things like bats when she was Enchantress. Standing up, taking a piece of toast with her, she left the dining hall, leaving Chelsea to fill Marietta in on what had just occurred.

Taking a seat on the edge of Theodore and Hirmira’s fountain, Hope looked all around her. Their must be hundreds of bats lurking in this old castle, she needed to get to know a few. If she didn’t, people like Harmony would see her as weak and incapable. Hope wanted to prove them all wrong. Kicking a stone in frustration, and screwing up her face with concentration on where to start looking, she didn’t hear footsteps descending the main staircase into the courtyard where she stood amid her thoughts.

“Wow, she still looks as pretty in her school uniform!” A deep, velvet voice spoke and Hope turned to see the smiling face of Zyre Porterio.
“Zyre?” A smile she could not help unleashing spread across her lips. He looked at her shorter frame, dazzled against the background of the snow covered mountains and the dazzling sunshine reflecting off of the water beneath their school’s founders.
“What’s up?” He stepped off the last step and walked to stand before her.
“Not much,” She sighed. “Just a girl in my form giving me a bit of attitude!”
Oh?” He smiled intrigued. “Who?” He tapped the golden badge pinned to his golden robes and grinned.
“I don’t wanna get her into trouble…” She trailed off as he glanced at her warningly. “OK!” She sighed and his scowl relinquished into a kind smile. “Harmony Lupere has developed a sheer dislike to me. I don’t expect everyone to like me but she really hates me. Chelsea thinks she put a bat in my closet and,” pausing through embarrassment she wiped a hand across her face self-consciously. “She stood there and watched as I screamed like a girl.”

Hope was expecting him to laugh but he looked deadly serious.
“She’s a piece of work!” Zyre frowned then. “Wait, your half sister is Erida Midway and Harmony and Erida are bosom buddies,” His train of thought seemed to parallel Chelsea’s.
“Chelsea can’t read her,” Hope put in helpfully now as he seemed to thinking hard. “She thinks Erida has given Harmony a blocking potion.”
“Yes, that is possible!” Zyre leaned against the ancient stone of the fountain. “So, if Harmony is taking a blocking potion, then that means, she has something to hide. But what?” Zyre didn’t know Harmony at all but he frowned now. Glancing down at Hope he took a deep breath. “There are people in Los Oceana that don’t believe you deserve to be enchantress because of your blood status. I personally think that’s a load of frogs legs but anyway. Harmony’s dislike and her alliance with your half sister makes me think they’re plotting something.”
“You think Erida’s capable?” Hope had thought it herself but to have another, someone outside of her family suggest it made her uncomfortable.
“Yes!” He said with such definite tones it made her freeze on the spot. “Hope, my father is very well connected in Loso Tierras. He knows people who are good, and people who are pure evil. Erida is the type of witch who does not think allowing a half magical being in charge of Los Oceana a good plan. She has some horrific alliances with people both inside and outside of Loso Tierras. My father suspects she has broken the law of leaving more than once to recruit half beings that moved from Loso Tierras because of the increase of half blood status. Erida had never made it obvious she had two half sisters, Thawson on the other hand always raved about you guys coming home. My father talks a lot,” Zyre laughed at Hope’s astonished look at the information he possessed. “And if you ever met my father, you’d learn to listen.”
“So, does your father believe Erida’s capable?” Hope smiled at the thought of this boy being at her side.
“Yes, and he’s told Thawson so,” Zyre sighed heavily. “But Erida’s Thawson’s pure sister. He won’t have bad said of her. And obscure judgement in his position is very dangerous.” Hope nodded and stepped closer to him.
“So, if you and Chelsea are right,” Hope took a huge breath in, not willing to believe what she was about to say. “Then Harmony’s dislike toward me comes from an embedded hatred from my half sister. She, has access to me at school and Erida has access to me at home. So now I see why Thawson is so desperate to appoint a personal warrior.”
“He hasn’t yet?” Zyre’s eyebrows shot up in astonishment. His butter scotch eyes glowed with anxiety. “Hope, you are so unprotected.”
“I know,” She breathed and finally realised that if Erida wanted too, it wouldn’t just be bats that would be flying from her closet. Clapping her hand to her mouth, complete clarification dawned. “Erida, she must have told Harmony about my bat fear.”
“I would suspect so,” Zyre had already realised that so the shock didn’t cross his face as it had with Hope. He took her hand. “Hope, you will be fine.” As their hands clasped, electricity seemed to flow between them. She glanced up into his dark face and saw the same element of surprise lying in his brown eyes.

“What?” He pulled his hand away and the electrical feeling stopped.
“Weird,” She laughed and he nodded. This girl was special in ways he had no idea about just yet.

The bell rang as they stared at each other and Zyre smirked mischievously.
“Better get to class!” He teased and she laughed warmly feeling the tension that had built had been broken just by the warmth of his smile.

Heading up the stairs, he whispered:
“Meet me on the lawns at lunch,” And she nodded hurrying toward her first class.

That morning’s classes were filled with practicals. Hope didn’t mind them at all and it was safe to to say her magical ability was strengthening all the time. Professor Heartley was extremely impressed with Hope’s potential and kept telling her so during class.

“You are going to be a fine young witch,” Professor Heartley’s warm, emerald eyes glowed with a fondness as she spoke to Hope after Hope had managed to fill a goblet with water. “Your wand skills are amazing, especially seen as you have only been practicing magic a few weeks. Hope I am impressed!”
“Thank you, Professor,” Hope smiled bashfully, her blue eyes filled with self-pride. She had worked hard and to gain praise for it meant a great deal and only drove her determination to do well.

“She’s giving you really dirty looks,” summer muttered as Professor Heartley left their table. Hope glanced to where Summer was glaring. Sure enough, Harmony was throwing daggers her way.
“Oh well,” Hope sighed defeatestly. “You can’t please everyone.” And with that the bell rang to signal the end of class.

Combatment was a difficult class. They were learning shielding charms and Hope really needed to grasp this one. The constant picture of that bat in her dormitory drove her to work as hard as possible in all of her classes but especially combatment. She couldn’t risk Harmony or Erida getting to her. So when she finally managed to block Nathan’s jelly charm which sent the victim wobbly all over the place, Hope felt a sense of pure achievement.

“Nice job!” Nathan grinned his boyish grin and Hope gigled as his freckles flourished with his warm smile.
“You too!” Hope grinned at him. “Your quite the attacker.” They both laughed as the bell rang and Hope scooped up her books.
“Want me to walk you to the dining hall?” Nathan asked, his face turning a shade of pink with embarrassment. Hope smiled sweetly.
“Thanks, but I’m not going to the dining hall,” She glanced Harmony look over as she spoke and Hope decided to play this girl at her own game and glowered at her. ‘Is she spying on me for her?’ Hope thought as Harmony hurried out and headed toward the main staircase, Hope suspected to tell Erida of her new found information.
“Oh, OK!” Nathan bowed his head and Hope smiled gently. “See ya later!” He called and hurried toward the dining hall. Hope sighed and trudged toward the staircase. The corridors were filled with laughing and chatting students heading toward lunch and Hope wondered what she could do to protect herself. For until Thawson found her a warrior, she was at the hands of her half sister that clearly despised her and a roommate who could slit her throat whenever she slept.

“Star,” She murmured to herself. Of course! Her Phoenix! Where was she? She hadn’t seen her beautiful bird even at the weekend as she thought these thoughts, a gentle flutter was felt by her ear. Turning her head, her long blonde hair being tugged on for a few seconds, Hope spied the pink and gold feathers of her beautiful Phoenix.

“Hey you!” She smiled warmly. “I need you to do me a favour? Could you stay with me at night?” The bird’s golden eyes sparkled and she gently cooed. Smiling Hope kissed the warm plumage and Star took off. Hope knew instinctively she would be waiting in Hope’s dormitory.

“Good morn, Enchantress,” Dempi the elf that had shown Luna and Hope to the school for the first time stood at the top of the staircase leading to the courtyard, sprinkling fairy dust that acted like grit.
“Good Morning, Dempi,” Hope gently touched the tip of the Elf’s red hat as he bowed to her.
“Its safe now, Miss Hope,” He squeaked as he backed away and allowed her to descend the stairs. She thanked him and felt the cool breeze blow around her as she descended the marble staircase to the courtyard.Pulling her blue school robes around her shoulders, she crossed the large stone courtyard and headed down the slope to the lawns. Sitting there on a blanket was Zyre, with a picnic basket and a funny looking object that looked like an umbrella. As Hope moved closer she felt warmer and as she took a seat opposite Zyre she realised the umbrella like object was the source of the heat. It felt like a warm summer’s day in Tamorik as she sat there, not a snowy day in Loso Tierras.

“What is that?” She smiled as she crossed her legs, leaning against her school bag for support.
“It’s a weather shield,” Zyre smirked feeling rather proud of himself for thinking of it. “It has a dial on it and you can set it to defend whatever weather you like. So, if it’s snowy and cold and windy like it is here today, then you set it to protect you from that. If it is hot and sunny and you need to cool off, set it to do that. Cool huh?”
“Yeah, very!” Hope grinned and was thankful for his brilliance. “Why didn’t Violet use one of these instead of endangering our animals?” She questioned outloud.
“Well, they’re not cheap and they don’t fold up so carrying one around with you could be problematic.” Hope glanced up at the huge red umbrella that looked much bigger than your average parasol and concluded he was right about that.
“Zyre, this is awesome,” She said glancing at the picnic basket. He lifted the lid of the wicker basket and her smile broadened. Before her sat lots of sandwiches, a selection of cakes, some salad, pasta, chicken, sausages and some other foods she did not recognise.
“Wow! This looks delicious,” Hope smiled as she looked up into his dark face and felt butterflies flutter deep within her stomach. His eyes were pool of melting butterscotch that she knew if she stared into long enough she could get very lost in.
“Those are wand sticks,” Zyre pointed to dough like sticks that twirled at one end, giving the impression of a wand. “Try one!” He encouraged.
Gingerly she picked up the stick and nibbled the straight end. It tasted remarkably like cinnamon and caramel bread. Hope grinned at the taste and nodded her approval.
“Told ya they were good!” He picked up a cheese sandwich and they ate in silence for a few moments. Then a question occurred to Hope.
“Where did you get this?” Her voice was gentle and then she spied his eyes that danced with mischief.
“That Miss Hope is privileged information.” Hope smiled a winning smile as she leaned in.
“I will find out,” Hope’s blue eyes flashed with a sense of determination Zyre’s stomach jolted over.
“Of course,” he drawled defeatestly. “Your weapon of mind reading, also known as Chelsea Hubbard.” They both laughed and Hope drank gratefully from a goblet. This day was turning out to be a very pleasant one indeed. She was so happy and appreciative that she could spend time with Zyre and he wanted to do so.

“Where’s Drew? That’s your friend’s name, right?” He nodded and finished chewing his mouthful before replying.
“Drew has detention with Professor Midway,” Hope took this to be Thawson as most of the students she had come to learn, called Erida Professor Bitchway for two reasons, one for the implied intention and secondly to differentiate between brother and sister.

“I see,” Hope laughed gently. “Thawson doesn’t tend to give you and drew detention much, does he?” She was remembered how the girls in her form had insinuated that Thawson favoured Zyre and drew over other students.
“He was forced too,” Zyre smirked now with an air of insolence and arrogance. “Drew had a Basilisk stuck in the toilet as the toilet regurgitated everything it recently had digested.”
“Gross!” Hope exploded with revulsion as Zyre re countered his story of Drew’s actions. Zyre on the other hand was fitting with hysterics as Hope glared at him reproachfully.
“I’m sorry,” He howled with laughter as he wiped away a few tears. “But her pretty little head was cover…” But Zyre was unable to continue what he was going to say through his now silent giggles of amusement. Even Hope allowed herself a few giggles, not at the same thing he was laughing at but his laughter and smile were so infectious, she couldn’t help it.

“OH, Zyre,” she laughed and he buried his face into the blanket to finish his giggling fits.

Hope glanced up, amazed to see snow flakes falling and yet they were bouncing off of the invisible shield that the weather umbrella created Looking around her, Hope was amazed to see the trees rocking in the wind and yet she felt as though she was inside by a roaring fire. A crunching of leaves caused her to look behind her and she spied Harmony Lupere glaring at Hope and Zyre from the path that led to the green houses.

“Zyre!” Hope roused him from his now quieter giggles. “Look!” She whispered in a desperate tone. He looked up and saw the girl’s retreating back.
“I really think she’s up to something,” Zyre said, all amusement gone from his dark face. “She’s trouble, Hope. That I’m certain of.” As his last words echoed in Hope’s ears, the bell rang for afternoon classes.

“Cleanio,” Zyre pointed his ebony coloured wand at the picnic basket that began tidying itself. Hope stood up and thanked him for lunch.

“It was delicious!” She exclaimed as she stepped into the crisp air of Loso Tierras again and took the path toward the greenhouses.

“Later,” Zyre called, heading toward the castle. “Enjoy Professor Romolus’s class, he’s a great teach if there ever was one!” Hope thoroughly enjoyed the way Zyre spoke and smiled uncontrollably as she walked briskly toward her class.

Harmony was the only student sitting in the back of the huge barn where they had the animal portion of their magical biology classes. She didn’t even look up as Hope entered and was scowling at Professor Romulus who was already seated at his desk. It was cold in the barn, drafts flying from every nook and cranny of the ageing outhouse. Hope wished she had brought her cloak that was lined with fur but she took her seat, pulling her animals of the magical kingdom book from her bag and began flipping through to see if she could find anything to do with bats. She knew they were not exactly magical creatures but their alliance with the magical kingdom must bear something.

Almost giving up, Hope dropped the book on her desk and in her mind she thought,
“If only I could find more information about bats” and as soon as the thought had formulated in her mind, the book began to flip its pages and turned to a picture of a scaly black bat, eyes of red. Hope gasped at what her book had done and as she looked up she saw Professor Romulus standing over her smiling.

“Hope you have to remember,” His voice was gruff and yet somewhat soothing as he spoke quietly to her. “You’re enchantress. All objects must obey your command. You wanted to look for information on bats, this book possessed such information, and so it gave it to you.”
“But Professor,” She said almost in a whisper. “What if an object forms another alliance? Surely if it can obey me, it is capable of disobeying me?” Her blue eyes were alive with curiosity. How had this happened? She was suddenly thinking of objects capable of their own choosing.
“This is true, Hope. Objects are capable of disobeying you, but you will know if they are. A red glow will emit from them as you have thoughts such as the one you just had. But may I ask?” Professor Romulus’s eyes were filled with wonder as he stooped over the young enchantress even more. He was too aware of Harmony’s ears and eyes straining behind their conversation. “Why the fascination with bats?”

Hope turned her head slightly and Professor Romulus nodded with comprehension. “Well, Hope,” He began. “Bats are harmless creatures on the whole. Their blind eyes prevent them from attacking but they can often be used to an attacker’s advantage by means of disorientation. Many bats together can cause vision blurring and deafness.”
“Because of the amount of flapping wings and the high pitched noise they make?” Hope smiled feeling smart that she had concluded this answer after only a few weeks of magical training.
“Oh no,” Professor Romulus sighed and Hope’s feel-good feeling vanished. She had been certain she knew the answer to this question. Picking up the book, Professor Romulus read aloud:
“Bats on their own are harmless to human beings; almost helpless against them. But in groups more than thirty, they can cause blindness and deafness in a human. A pheromone given off during such a large grouping, which is very rare unless intended, will cause a mist to form against human eyes and a block on their sense of hearing rendering the victim disoriented and lost. Effects can last up to an hour after the bats departure if the pheromone is concentrated, usually in young bats.” He replaced the book and smiled at Hope. “So now, do you understand?”
“Yes,” Hope smiled and the Professor nodded as more students trickled in from the huge snow storm outside. As Chelsea plonked down beside Hope, she was in deep thought with many other questions she needed to find the answers too. To every question that she asked presented another few she needed to ask in return.

The week progressed rather quickly and Hope found herself spending more and more time studying and socialising than she had ever done at home in Tamorik. The lack of electronical equipment freed up more time than she ever thought was possible. Zyre helped her study Elementation which he was also good at along with combatment. They often were found after lunch or before dinner duelling in the combatment chamber. He was a good teacher and their time together was always productive. After dinner most nights, Hope would head to the library to study and complete her homework. And the final hours before bed were spent either in the student common room or the girls common room alongside her roommates and friends.

On Wednesday evening, after having had sonic ball practice, Hope was thawing out in the girls’ communal common room when Chelsea came running over. Stardust was sleeping on the chair arm beside Hope at the delight of most of the girls. Most of whom had never seen a real phoenix, let alone touch one.

“It came! It came!” Chelsea pushed a huge brown package into Hope’s lap and wiped a strand of her brown hair from her eyes. She had obviously just come from the mail room which was in an old empty classroom on one of the upper floors with no windows in it so delivery could occur. Everything from pigeons to unicorns delivered mail and the windows were huge to permit the delivery animals.

“What is it?” Luna was peering over her sister’s shoulder as she ate a pumpkin cake.
Hope hurried to rip the paper from the package and she pulled out a beautiful silver mirror.
“My micro mirror,” She gasped with excitement.
“Add me first,” Chelsea said eagerly, pulling her own mirror from her bag. Hope’s mirror was around the size of a small notebook and looking in her package she found the other things she had ordered from Teen Witch. A mini radialus and a new quil with coloured ink. Smiling, she handed Chelsea the mirror.
“Add new friend,” Chelsea ordered the mirror, holding her blue wand over it’s glassy surface. They other girls looked on with joy, waiting in line to be added to Hope’s mirror.
“Name?” The mirror asked in a smooth voice.
“Chelsea Lee Hubbard.”
“Mirror number?” The mirror’s crisp clear voice asked.
“Mirror number 825111.”
“Chelsea Lee Hubbard added,” The mirror informed. “Nickname for Chelsea Lee Hubbard?”

Chelsea looked at hope questioningly.
“Just Chelsea,” Hope smiled quietly and Chelsea held her wand over the mirror again and spoke:
“Chelsea,” She grinned and the mirror made a whooshing noise as it completed the task and Chelsea handed the mirror back to Hope.
“You add someone now,” Chelsea said eager to have her friend try out her new toy.

“You Summer,” Hope said as Summer took a seat beside Hope. Even stardust was curious of what was going on around her as she lifted her tiny pink head to look. The golden circle around her head, that looked like a crown shimmered in the reflection of the mirror.
“Add new friend,” Hope spoke clearly as she held her wand over the glassy surface. “Name?” The mirror commanded.
“Summer Jenkins,” Hope replied to the mirror.
“Mirror number?” The mirror commanded again.
“826324,” Summer said as Hope hovered her wand over the mirror.
“Summer Jenkins added. Nickname for Summer Jenkins?”
“Summer,” Hope told her mirror and grinned when the completed task noise was heard. She handed her mirror along the group of girls she knew and each of them added her own number to Hope’s mirror.

“I want to get one too,” Luna informed Hope. “I’m going to send for one from Teen Witch too.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“You should,” Hope told her and a loud crash was heard. All of the girls turned to see the mirror in chards at Harmony’s feet.
“Woops,” She said with a mocking apology on her lips. “Slipped.” She informed deviously.
“You.…!” Chelsea and Summer glared but Elli was standing between them. Glowering, Marietta stood in between Sumer and Chelsea and Harmony who was looking simply smug.

“Why?” Hope’s voice was high with fury. “Why did you do that?”
“An accident,” Harmony smiled sardonically as Hope stood up.
“I don’t believe you!” Hope snapped and turning to her friends she asked: “can I fix it?”
“I’m afraid not,” Ellie chimed in, being the quieter of the girls but by far the smartest. “Once a mirror is broken, it will never piece back together precisely as it was made. Not even with magic.”
“Then you can pay for a new one,” Hope told Harmony and with that the girl laughed manically and left the tower room. Summer, Chelsea and Hope made to go after her but Marietta and Ellie held them all back.

“She wants you all to get into trouble,” Ellie hissed as Chelsea struggled against her grip. “Let it go and tell Heartley about it tomorrow.” Hope relinquished her attempts and leaned back in her chair, all excitement gone. Even the shiny new quil didn’t look quite so glamorous now her mirror lay broken on the floor.

“She’s such a horrible piece of work!” Summer was ranting on the old blue couch as Chelsea glowered toward the door clearly annoyed she was not permitted to go and give Harmony Lupere a piece of her mind. Snapping her head toward Hope, she growled.
“You need to go to Heartley about her bullying!” Hope nodded feeling desolate and stood up collecting up her things.
“I know!” Hope said sombrely. “She was glaring at me all week during classes and when I had lunch with Zyre…” But Hope was unable to finished her sentence as Summer, Marietta and Ellie all chimed.
“You had lunch with Zyre?” Chelsea smirked knowingly. She of course knew this as soon as she’d seen Hope after lunch on that Monday but had not said anything to her friend.
“Of course you knew!” Summer sighed exasperatedly at Chelsea’s gloating look. Her small face erupted with light as she laughed.
“Of course,” she beamed victoriously. But Summer wasn’t interested in Chelsea at that moment, she wanted details.

“So…?” She turned to Hope with a look of eagerness that can only come from someone who’s dying to know more. She honestly looked like a dog that has just spied the juiciest bone lying on the ground, just waiting to be snacked on.
“So, I’m going to bed,” Hope walked toward the door and headed up the stairs with calls of pleading from her friends. The teenage girl part of herself glowed with triumph as she headed upstairs to bed.

Saturday was the first sonic ball game between Basilisk and Unicorn forms. Zyre had been teaching Hope a few tricks on the broom that very morning. His skill on a broom impressed her deeply as he soared around the skies above the sonic ball stadium.

“So, has Miss Lupere been giving you any trouble?” Zyre inquired raising a disapproving eye brow at his own question. Anyone who would give Hope hassle was automatically bad and deserved punishment as far as he was concerned but she was always by Erida’s side and so out of his reach. “She broke my new micro mirror the other night,” Hope said zooming past him and doubling back as he had showed her to do in order to distract players.
“Why?” He asked with aggression prevalent in his tone.
“She says it was an accident,” Hope rolled over with an applause from Zyre as she spoke. “But with all of the looks and stuff she’s been giving me all week, not to mention no word of apology, I know she did it on purpose.”
“I bet you she did,” He snarled glowering toward the castle. “Has Thawson appointed a warrior yet?” His eyes glowed with concern as she circled him ready to catch the ball.
“No,” She spoke gently. “I think your friend Drew has been keeping him busy in detention.” Zyre laughed his booming laugh and nodded.
“Sounds like Drew,” He nodded confirming his own response. “Well I hope he finds you one soon. You ready to head back?”
“Sure,” She soared to the ground and dismounted her broom. “Thanks Zyre,” Her stomach knotted as she looked up into his dark face as snow flakes began to shimmer in the bright morning air. He nodded and they both trudged up toward the castle for lunch.

Chelsea was stomping around the changing rooms as Hope wandered in dressed in her pink robes. She headed over to the rack of team robes and pulled her robe off to replace it with the sky blue robe with a unicorn printed on the back.
“Come here!” Chelsea commanded and as Hope approached, Chelsea pulled out her wand and emblazoned on Hope’s chest and back her name and position.
“There!” Chelsea stood back to admire her work but was quickly doing the same thing for deltra, Shannon, Angel and herself. Sitting quietly, each girl took their time to prepare for their first game. Chelsea and Deltra had done this for the past five years, having been on the team since their second year. Hope, Angel and Shannon were all knew to this and so their nerves were much more prominent.

Hope kept gripping her stomach that felt as though hundreds of snakes were alive in their. Angel kept twisting her hair repeatedly and Shannon kept rubbing the back of her hand. When the pre-game entertainment began which consisted of the school band playing the school’s song and the form tutors all giving a small speech of encouragement, in this case Professor Heartley and Erida, The team trudged out with their brooms to get ready. Snow flakes fell heavily as Hope stood beside Chelsea.
“How will we see?” She asked quietly as a huge bang was heard.
“Once in play the snow is directed away from the stadium by elementalists such as Professor Solomon so play can continue.”

At that moment the magical sports teacher blew his whistle and both teams rose into the air. Hope only just managed to look at they’re apposing team of green clad Basilisk students and saw to her dismay that Kady was on the team and snarling with delight at the sight of the unicorn students. As the whistle blew that the ball was being released, Hope felt the tension flurry inside her and the third whistle went off to indicate the start of play.

Hope and Shannon defended amazingly as Angel and deltra attacked flawlessly. Angel’s athleticism and Deltra’s tiny frame were a good combination to get the balls in the hoops. Hope blocked the Basilisk attackers which Kady was one of extremely well and laughed hard when Kady was fowled for almost knocking Hope from her broom. It was almost like the sound of the crowd wasn’t even in Hope’s ears as she watched Kady repeatedly attempt to throw Hope from her broom.

“Hey, Kady, thought you were supposed to be scoring, not trying to vault me off of the broom, isn’t that your defenders jobs?” The defenders on the Basilisk team were two scrawny third year girls that were incapable of very much. Hope wondered why they had even made the team. She found out later that their parents had bought the team’s equipment and contributed generously to school equipment. Erida obviously saw that a good enough reason to be on the team regardless of lack of ability.

Soaring around the stadium, blocking the ball and throwing it back to Angel and Deltra, Hope felt at home in the air and when Angel scored just before the ball erupted with a boom, Hope was sad to see the game over despite their two-hundred-10 lead over the Basilisk fifty-five points. Thundering to the ground, Hope felt elated and as the team whooped and hollered, she knew this was truly home now. Tamorik was a long distant memory and Loso Tierras held it all for her. This thought was only compounded as she looked up to see zyre and his shorter, chubby faced friend cheering along side most of the other students. She smiled up at him and headed off to change with a feeling of ultimate contentment.

Back in the girls’ common room, all the unicorn students were celebrating as the Basilisks kept removing themselves from the unicorn forms victory song.
“Unicorn kicked you,
O believe it indeed,
We are the best ever team,
With a symbol of a steed.
Don’t underestimate us,
You can’t pull us down,
Because when unicorn wins,
We cheer sonic ball loud!”

Constant repetition of the song drove all of the Basilisk students to bed and now Hope and Luna knew the words, they sang along as loud as everyone else.

They were just finishing yet another chorus of their song as Harmony stomped into the room and stood before Hope with a glowering glare upon her face.

“Just who the hell do you think you are?” She demanded with a dangerous tone in her voice.
“Excuse me?” Hope asked with bewilderment written all over her face and posture.
“You think your better than everyone else, just because you’re enchantress!” Harmony spat with venom filled in her voice. “Well, let me Tel you something Hope Midway, you are nothing but some jumped up teenager who got lucky!”
“Lucky?” exploded Hope. Her fists clenched ready for the fight. “The ancients chose me!” Red glowed around her protecting her from her own powers. “And if you question my integrity, you question theirs. I suggest you run off and keep your opinions to yourself. Unless Thorn prison was on your agenda of things to do!” As Hope spat the last word, the glow vanished and she took a seat, breathless from the effort.

Harmony was dumbfounded and retreated up the stairs as Summer, Marietta, Chelsea and Ellie, along with other girls looked on in amazement. Until Hope had been appointed, most of them had only ever seen the enchantress in pictures but they had just witnessed one of the enchantress’s most powerful gifts. The ability to warn with words and magic. Not only did the red glow protect Hope from her own anger, but it sent the fear of Theodore into those it was aimed at. Luna had been knocked from her chair with the force field that had been heading for Erida but Hope’s ability to manage her powers had grown considerably. The recipient felt as though they were in a vortex with Hope’s voice echoing dangerously in their ears with visions of whatever threat she was foreseeing for them.

“I’m sorry,” Hope breathed, lifting her head to look at her amazed classmates. I had to do something.”
“We understand,” Chelsea rested a hand on Hope’s shoulders. “She is one jealous…”
“She’s right,” Summer interrupted Chelsea. “Jealous as the green eyed monster. Ignore her Hope, she may go and crawl into a hole where true Basilisks belong.” And with that the girls laughed and resumed their celebrations.

An inky black sky overhead,
Begins to lighten in the east,
A shimmer of silvery, golden slice,
That threatens to conquer the darkness.
A sliver of light begins to grow,
Turning the darkness into grey,
All across the newborn sky,
A bird begins to sing.
Cloudless and cunning,
The greyness is defeated by the blood,
The tinges of red splatter everywhere,
With the rising of the morning sun.
A golden tinge on the horizon,
Begins to lighten the day,
And yet the solitary bird still sings,
Solemnity in its song.
Mourning of the darkness,
Triumph for the day,
The sun peaks over the horizon,
Its forthcoming foretold,
in a variety of ways.
The solitary birdsong,
The grey to red to gold,
The war of the darkness and light,
Forever proceed in a daily dance.
So until the next night should fall,
And until the next day begins,
The battle between light and darkness,
Will forever begin and end.

Respect seems to be a dying breed these days. And it’s not just the thuggish youths hanging outside of stores, trying to intimidate shoppers. It stretches far deeper than that unfortunately and I dread to think where it will end.

When you have a four year old child tell you that your dog “smells” and comment on his peeing habit in his own garden while you also have the knowledge that the same four year old child has called their mother a “fat pig” to no consequences, you fast realise that this child is the negative portion of our future generations.

At the risk of sounding as though I’m harping on about the “Good old days”, to which I would have often swore I’d never do, things were much more expected of us as children. The old phrase that my elders continually blurted on about when I was a little girl, “children should be seen and not heard” has a touch of glamour to it now. If I’d acted as that child had then my parents/grandparents or aunts, uncles and even friends of the family would have berated me and punished me for my lack of manners. I wouldn’t have dreamed of speaking to someone in such a negative way at any age, even now, “you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything at all” springs to mind but the children of today are far too bold for their own good.

Unlike the masses in our society, I despise bad behaviour and even more lack of good manners, and bringing in yet more cliches, “manners don’t cost anything” I can honestly see the good my parents and family on the whole did for me instilling decency into me as a child and young adult.
I do not think it cute for a child to be disrespectful and speak out of turn amongst adult company nor do I think it appropriate that this child was out alone without adult supervision.

Which brings me to my next point. Why do parents not watch their beloved little darlings while they are out “socialising” with those good and decent individuals of the world? Why are these hoards of children allowed to rome our streets tormenting us well mannered human beings and innocent decent smelling dogs? These children are never alone either. They usually have many siblings that are experienced in the art of torturing the good and decent people of the world with their bad behaviour and ill manners. And are never supervised. While the parents sit indoors gazing into the antisocial box of the TV world, their offspring are out showing off their talents in disgrace and disrespect.

We live in a sad society where good children are assumed to be disrespectful and badly behaved and ill-mannered because of the masses of irresponsible parents who would rather watch Jeremy Kyle than supervise the three or four children they have created purely for a means to an end.

I implore the government to put an end of this disrespectful society and enforce some discipline back into the generations of irresponsible and ill-mannered animals that patrol our world pretending to be human. send them to an Island somewhere or take away their benefits and put them in a sweat shop, teach them the reality of life and make them pay for their children’s bad behaviour and take responsibility for their shoddy parenting.



The attitude we have toward our lives has a great impact on how we live!

Whether you agree with that statement or not, a lot of people are living proof of it. This week, the newly elected minister for Education in the british parliament made a statement that insinuates poorer children do worse than children from more privileged backgrounds. But is this true? How much of our lives is down to fate, effort or where we were born?

My parents, as many others of my friends were working class families. Most of my friends have gone on to university and several have or soon will have high paid jobs. Many of us did extremely well academically but does that mean then, our parents were rich? Financially no, they were not. but their attitude toward working and education was inbred into us. I disagree highly with the minister’s comments. I do not believe class difference or whether your parents are pulling in fifteen thousand per year or one hundred and fifty thousand a year, how much your parents instill into you on the ethics of working hard and trying your best can be the same.

Children’s innate intelligence can help and yes, financial stability can improve a child’s education with private tutors etc, but does that mean then that richer parents will have more intelligent children? No, the ability of parents to be parents will help a child develop intelligently and their constant support and encouragement to do better for themselves will encourage a positive and ambitious attitude rather than the never aiming for anything and repeating the cycle of poverty all over again.

Giving children self esteem and the ability to be ambitious and strive for the best is what counts in their development. We lead by example. If our parents strive the best and encourage their offspring to do the same, it is more likely the children will succeed.

However, if parents, like many do in this country right now, sit on their backsides and show their children how to play the benefits system and allow them to truant from school, never encouraging for extra curricular activities while giving up completely on discipline, then the children will leave school with poor exam results and no ambition to be something worthwhile.

I don’t believe just because you are poor you are unable to be something better. The attitude you have is crucial to prosper. You don’t need money to be rich, and I know this from personal experience. Hard work, effort and determination is what gets people by in life, not whether they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth.