Barbara E. Knight - Free Range Kids

Barbara Knight 2019

Cover illustration: Original artwork by Barbara Knight

Proofing and typesetting: Ryan Curtis and Julia Knight

Published by: Sculptural Images

Printed by: Ingram Spark

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to brother Bernard who was too young to share these free-ranging years and sister Jane who did.

My first clear memory is of waking in a strange large white room in a bed with bars all around it. I dont think I was all that frightened, but I was puzzled. There were two other beds like mine in the room, and I could see other kids asleep in them. I climbed over the top of the bars and landed rather heavily on a slippery, shiny floor. Thus began my life as a free-range kid.

Just as I was scrambling to my feet a lady, who I didnt know, came and scooped me up and deposited me back into the cage-like bed. She pulled the blanket up over me and said, Naughty little girl. You arent allowed out. Now just be good and Ill bring you your breakfast.

I sat there, wondering what I had done that was naughty. I also began wondering where I was, and why I was in this place. Where were Mummy and Daddy and my sisters, and why had I been put in here? I dont remember crying, but I think I must have been fairly upset.

The next thing to happen was another strange lady came to my bed carrying a tray. She put the tray on a little table that she pulled across my bed. Then she started trying to spoon porridge into my mouth. I felt quite indignant about this for I had been feeding myself for as long as I could remember, so I turned my head away.

Come on dear, she said in a cajoling voice. You have to eat or you wont get better.

Incensed I said with all the dignity a not quite three year old could muster, I feed self.

There ensued a battle of wills in which she tried to force the porridge between my firmly clenched teeth. She finally gave in and let me feed myself.

After she left me in peace I finished the porridge and drank a glass of juice, then sat there wondering what to do with the tray. Ages later the lady returned and said, Good little girl, and took the tray away.

Before she left I asked, Why am I here?

She put down the tray again and sat next to my bed and said, Youre in hospital because youre a sick little girl. When your Mummy and Daddy brought you in last night you had a very high temperature and a bad rash. You have to stay here until you get better. Now try to get some sleep.

Id just woken up and didnt feel like going to sleep again, so I climbed out of bed once more and peered up at the girl in the next bed. She was sleeping so I walked over to the other bed where a boy was lying very still. He had his eyes open so I knew he was awake, but when I talked to him he just stared at me. I thought he must be too young to understand what I was saying, so I wandered further across the room.

There was a big open door leading to an outside area and I went through it. It led to a long verandah where two big girls were lying on beds with wheels. They both had long wavy hair and nice faces. They smiled at me and one said, Look whos here. Whats your name little girl?

My name is Barbara, whats yours?

They both laughed and one said, Im Audrey and this is Gloria. I was thinking this could be the beginning of a nice, friendly talk when Gloria said, Where did you sprout from?

I didnt quite know how to answer this because I didnt know what sprout meant, so I just stood there.

Suddenly the lady who had brought my breakfast came dashing out through the door

You naughty little girl, she said, as she swooped me up into her arms. Youre not allowed out of bed. I was so worried when I couldnt find you.

She plonked me back in the cage bed and said, Dont you do that again. Youre a sick little girl and must stay in bed and rest.

I didnt feel the least bit sick, although I did feel a bit itchy. I lay back and pulled up my nightie and I could see that I had a rash on my tummy and legs. I thought this must be why they were saying I was sick, but I couldnt see why it meant I had to stay in bed.

I lay back down and tried to remember how Id got to this place. The lady said Mummy and Daddy had brought me here, but I couldnt remember. I just hoped theyd come back soon and take me home.

I think I must have slept for a while because the next thing I knew there was another lady with a tray. There were some sandwiches and ice cream and jelly on the tray and this lady smiled nicely and said, I hear you like to feed yourself, so Ill leave you to it.

After I finished everything on the tray this lady returned and said, Good girl. Now settle down and have a nice afternoon nap.

I thought she must have been joking. Id already had a morning nap and I never had both. I waited until she left the room and again climbed out of bed. Once more I headed out through the door to see the nice big girls Audrey and Gloria. I thought theyd be pleased to see me, because they had seemed so friendly before but Audrey said, I think youre too sick to be out of bed little one. One of the nurses will be after you.

I was about to say that I didnt feel sick when an angry looking lady, who I now knew must be a nurse, hurried towards me, lifted me up rather roughly and carried me back to bed under her arm. This nurse lady was not very tall but she was so wide she looked almost square, and she was quite frightening.

Now you stay there, or well have to strap you in.

I didnt like the sound of this, even though I wasnt sure what she meant about strapping me in. I closed my eyes and thought of my Mummy and my sisters and my little baby brother. This made me feel sad and I had a little cry. Id been told big girls werent supposed to cry so I didnt let anyone see me.

Later that day the nice nurse came and lifted me out of the cage bed and said, Your Mummys come to visit. Lets put on your dressing gown and Ill take you out.

I was taken through a long corridor until we came to a big room. The floor of this room was covered with shiny linoleum, and across what looked like an enormous expanse stood Mummy. She was dressed in a tweed coat and wore a hat that I rather liked because it had a feather in it. I went to run to her, but the lady who I thought was nice held me firmly and said, You cant go. Youre infectious and could give your germs to your Mummy.

I felt like crying, but Mummy knelt down on the other side of the room and said, It wont be for long Baby. Soon well be able to take you home. And Ive brought you some lollies and a book.

She threw the book and some paper wrapped lollies across the floor and I eagerly gathered them up. I watched as Mummy straightened up. Was she leaving already?

Be a good girl, she said. Ill be back tomorrow and will bring you a surprise.

As she disappeared through the door on the other side of the room I started to cry, even though people could see me. It didnt seem fair that Id been put in this place and I wasnt even sick. I yelled, I want to go home.

The nice nurse cuddled me and said, It wont be long before you can. Now lets take you back to bed and Ill read you your new book.

The next day was much the same as the first. Id climb out of bed and be put back with threats of strapping me in, but this didnt deter me. There wasnt anything to do in bed and I didnt feel sick enough to want to sleep.

In the afternoon Mummy came again, and this time she had a lovely surprise. It was a beautiful kewpie doll on a stick. My biggest sister had been bought one of these at the Hobart Show the previous year and I had badly wanted one too. The doll had a little round face and big blue eyes with long eyelashes. She was dressed in a pink lace ballerinas dress and had tiny pink shoes that you could take off. Straight away I loved her to bits, and spent the remainder of the afternoon happily in my cage because I had her to play with. That night I put her to sleep next to me on the pillow and didnt feel as lonely.