excerpt from 'The Hidden Roads: A Memoir of Childhood' pp. 122–123 (148 words)
excerpt from 'The Hidden Roads: A Memoir of Childhood' pp. 122–123 (148 words)
| part of | |
|---|---|
| original language | |
| in pages | 122–123 |
| type | |
| encoded value |
We were allowed ‘out’ three times each term: twice for a Sunday, once for a whole weekend. […] After my very first outing from Swanbourne, I pressed my mother to stay for Sunday evensong. First she said no. Then, against her better instincts, she said yes. […] My mother stood near the back of the congregation and I took my place in the choir. Then Mr Evans, who looked almost as much like a giraffe as a human, announced ‘Hymn 25. The day Thou gavest …’ ‘The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended …’ The one day between now and half-term, three whole weeks ahead. Almost one month. As I sang, my throat tightened, my eyeballs grew hot, and then two fat tears lolloped onto my hymnbook. Later, I sneaked a look at my mother, and she smiled and nodded. Her eyes were bright with tears. And she never stayed for evensong again. |
| appears in search results as | excerpt from 'The Hidden Roads: A Memoir of Childhood' pp. 122–123 (148 words) |
| reported in source | |
|---|---|
| documented in |