Cranford Review 2021

My Point of View
FIRST STORY
#
‘You’re craving attention by showing those
shoulders, don’t you lie.’
When I just saw a shirtless boy walk by.
Boys will be distracted by the shortness
of my dress.
But tell me, can’t they just stare at me less?
‘You’re overdressed, stop trying so hard.’
‘You’re underdressed, now try harder.’
I’m hearing their voices, not taking it in.
My patience has scraped thin.
‘You’re a woman, don’t you raise your voice.’
As if speaking my opinion can’t be my choice.
I try to speak normally but I’m just not heard,
I get pushed away and told it’s absurd.
Put yourself in my shoes,
Remember everything women go through,
Having to deal with people like you.
Please, just look from my point of view.
Into the Linguistic Loophole is an anthology of new writing
by the First Story students at Cranford Community College
who took part in creative-writing workshops led by Writer-in-
Residence Ross Raisin. First Story believes there is dignity and
power in every person’s story, and here you’ll find young
people expressing themselves in their own unique voices.
Featuring writing by:
Adelaide Samgi•Aliza Abbas•Angel Aibuki
Anjali Bhambra•Arwa Umar•Kimran Virk•Mahira Butt
Manav Vivek•Maryam Moeen•Nadra Hassan
Raisa Hassan•Syed Jaffery•Tara Rooprah•Zena Rehmamn
Into the Linguistic Loophole
The First Story Group at Cranford Community College
INTO THE
LINGUISTIC LOOPHOLE
An Anthology by the First Story Group at
CRANFORD
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Maria Ferreira (year 10)
Edited by
ROSS RAISIN
Unravelling
‘First Story is an inspiring initiative.
It’s a joyful project that deserves as
much support as we can give it.’
ZADIE SMITH
Author of White Teeth
and Swing Time
The trees have life again.
Nature crawls out from the shadows.
The blazing hot sun blesses us with its power.
Baby foxes scurry out of their dens.
Daisies sprout out of the ground.
Busy bees buzz around the emerald grass.
The sky covers us with its turquoise painting.
The smell of barbecues comes from
neighbours’ gardens.
Hedgehogs unravel from their hibernation.
Spring looks like merriment.
Azhar Abdi (year 10)
First Story 2020 Open House:
Delving into the Linguistic Loophole
On
Cover design by First Story
www.firststory.org.uk £10.00
Wednesday 4th November 2020, the
First Story cohort 2020 were finally able
to share their anthology readings at the First Story
Open House in the Cranford Suite. This was a long
awaited event, originally planned for July 2020 but
through the challenges of the pandemic, like many
other events it had to be rescheduled. But the wait
was definitely worth it.
The event was attended by students, parents and staff.
Together we ventured into the Linguistic Loophole
witnessing an array of diverse storytelling full of
imagination, creativity and empowerment by their
own authentic voices.
Ross Raisin, resident author, reflected on the schools
continuing support and encouragement for Cranford
students to be part of this wonderful initiative. He
spoke of how these writings reflected Cranford’s
continuing inclusive approach, fostered by staff and
the Executive Headteacher Kevin Prunty, since its
first cohort.
It was certainly an afternoon of inspiration, humour
and imagination as together we delved into the
Linguistic Loophole.
Aisling McConville (First Story 2020)
75