Confessions of a Free Range Prolapsed Catholic

It was 1955. I was four and a half. Catholic Parish school. Big intake of little “tykes” … too many for the classroom.

My big brothers and my sister were ahead of me in “steps and stairs” age difference. My friend Roberta and I could write the alphabet and numbers from 1 to 100.. Roberta had three steps and stairs siblings in the same classes as mine.

Roberta and I were ushered behind the blackboard, demonstrated our literacy and numeracy skills at the request of the Principal and we were accelerated to year 1.

Consequences? Too young to drive when everyone else was, too young to vote when everyone else did, running races in primary school always with the class below us or by ourselves – Roberta always won!

Eventually? Too young to be married but to quote the number 1 hit from 1971 ” what could they do? They (me and husband of 54 years) were gonna have a baby”!