Other people

I was about seven years old and used to walk to school by myself. I found this to be like an adventure every day. The journey was not long but when I look back it was pretty far for a seven year old to walk. At first I did not notice all the people that stared at me on my way to school - my concentration was on getting to school and noting most of the things I came across on my way so I could speak about them when I got there.

However I did finally notice that I was receiving a lot of attention on my way there and from a vast amount of people I was walking past. It started to really bug me and I would get really frustrated and angry on the way back home some days I would come home go straight up the stairs and into my room. One day my mother noticed this recurring pattern and came up and had a word with me. At first I didn't listen to her, then the next morning she gave me a little pad and a pen and she said whoever stares at you I want you to write them your autograph. I found it very amusing the next couple of days I'd been handing out so many autographs and everyone was taking them with a friendly thank you, or a smile. It certainly cheered me up at the time.