Character chart

Desmerelda came to the decision quickly although she was usually more careful in her decision-making. This time she knew that she had to leave and take the two children with her, and while he was at his doctor’s appointment was the time to do it.

Hurriedly, she retrieved the small suitcase she had hidden under the bed, threw a few more clothes into it and then went up the staircase to the boys’ room. Making it a game, she encouraged them to pack a small backpack each with some clothes and favourite toys.

Watching the clock and hoping that the medical centre was running as late as usual, she collected the children and the bags, gave the cat a small bowl of food and let herself out the front door.

Fortunately the car was parked close by in the busy street and it took only one trip to get the boys settled in the car and the bags in the boot. Remembering to breathe in an attempt to still her racing heart, Desmerelda drove down the one way street and quickly lost herself in the automatic actions of city driving.

(Creative Writing 01.06.12 Exercise 5 )

Describe the most significant moment in your character’s life. Explain what it was/where/when and how.  (10 minutes)

I remember

I REMEMBER when I was five years old and I started school. I had to go on the school bus and I hated leaving my family. Dad would drive me to catch the bus and my heart would sink when I saw the bus coming around the corner. 

I used to cry a lot and to make it right I told Mum that some of the kids on the bus teased me; Geraldine Davies was one of them. But I don’t think they really did tease me, I think I was just plain miserable at having to go to school. 

Then I remember having some happy times at school, especially when the School Inspector, Mr Lake, came around and I got to read for him in front of the class. I loved to read and didn’t realise that other people had trouble making sense of the words on the page. 

I also remember in primary school having to trace a map of Australia and then cut it out. Obviously my fine motor skills were not up to scratch as I caught the headmaster throwing mine into the fire. This memory has stayed with me for some 55 years! 

Toothache was another problem because our school was so remote and if you had a toothache during the school day the headmaster would give you Oil of Cloves to relieve the pain. Friar’s Balsam was the universal antidote for all manner of cuts and scrapes. 

When we had school photos taken the photographer arrived unannounced and we had to tidy ourselves up for the photo; I still have that photo with my hair standing up on end.

I remember sewing classes with Mrs Skelton who was a cranky lady, the wife of the headmaster, almost certainly a smoker as I can still smell it on her.

(Creative Writing 18.5.12  Exercise 3 )
Free Writing – free write for 10 minutes beginning with the words I REMEMBER. Don’t stop and if you get stuck start the next sentence with I REMEMBER again.

My swing

My dad made me a swing and wrote the date on it with his welder. The frame was painted silver with a heavy chain and a wooden seat, and the date Dad made it – 1954 - engraved on the top bar of the frame.

I loved to swing for what seemed like hours and hours, making up songs as I swung. I used to be afraid that I would swing so high that the chain and seat would go over the frame. When my sister was big enough I was allowed to swing with her on my lap.

We moved to Goulburn in 1961 and the swing came with us. It was always there as part of our play. The swing moved twice more as Mum and Dad moved house and as my children grew up I delighted in seeing them enjoying my swing. All the grandchildren had fun on that swing.

When we were clearing out Mum’s house we found that the swing could not be moved out of the backyard; the neighbours had built a shed in the past 12 years that blocked our way of moving the swing. So we had to leave it behind and I hope that there are still young children enjoying the use of my swing.

(Creative Writing 18.5.12 exercise 4)
Write about a favourite possession from the past. (10 minutes)