A Writer's Wonderland [PDF] - University of Portsmouth

een ignored the whole of my school life. Miss
Johnson took an interest, and actually cared. She
wanted to help, not just ignore my presence.
No, not a sexual interest. I mean she let me talk,
she was there to listen when I was ready to speak.
He should be the one in this box, not me!
(Pointing at MITCHELL.)
Why do you think I needed someone to confide in in
the first place?
Miss Johnson was trying to persuade me to speak out
about him. Mitchell Harrison is a nasty piece of
work.
No, I know this isn’t about him. But as I’m here I
might as well get this out in the open.
Please, Your Honour, just let me say this.
I have been beaten up by my father weekly, if not
daily, for the last five years. My sister is six
years old. She often misses school because she is too
bruised to go. Mum knows it’s wrong because she knows
they will ask questions if they see the bruises! But
she doesn’t do anything about it does she! The reason
that we’re here is because he can’t control his
temper. He needs locking up. Miss Johnson is
completely innocent here. A mate took a joke too
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