The classes� first task that morning was to each draw a crayon picture of ourselves. I was lucky to able to hold a crayon. At six I could cook for the family and clean the house while mum was at work but put a crayon in my hand and I felt useless. Eventually I managed to draw a reasonable picture of myself, of which I was incredibly proud. This picture managed to amaze my teacher who couldn�t imagine why I would think that my hair was even remotely green. At this stage everyone, including myself were unaware how much I hated my red hair. I hated standing out in a crowd. People�s comments about my �Gorgeous auburn hair� made me very self-conscious when all I wished for was to be invisible. Unwilling to explain to her that having green hair was preferable to red I remained silent. I doubt if she would have understood anyway.
We worked rather steadily through the morning on various exciting new activities. It was getting towards lunchtime when all of a sudden my teacher seemed to start acting strangely. Another adult person entered our room and they started whispering. It seemed that suddenly everyone around us were rushing around, there was a sense of panic in the air that frightened us all. My class was told to pack our things neatly into our desks and then they were pushed against the wall. The room that a short time ago had held my attention with its contents was now very empty.
We were then all told that arrangements had been made for us all to go home. Not one of us was told why we had to leave so suddenly. I felt alarm at how I was to get home. �Would my Mum come and get me?� I wondered aloud to anyone who would listen. My question was answered when I was ushered into a car and given a lift home with someone I didn�t even know, apparently a classmate�s father.
The drive home was so terrifying, all around us the sky was red and there was smoke everywhere. You see that day; my first day at school was to be known as �Ash Wednesday� which turned out to be most disastrous bush fire in Tasmania�s history but I guess that is another story that needs to be told.
It was a strange introduction to school life for me on that first day. The whole day impacted greatly on my family and my future. My grandparents lost their home and treasures in that bushfire, we only just managed to save our family home. I carried with me a fear of school, subsequently from that day, thru the rest of my childhood. |
