An RAF Childhood

Published by Perri Dodgson at August 4, 2023

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Cheeks burning hot, she knew they would be bright red making her freckles even louder than usual.

Opening the classroom door, thirty pairs of wary eyes watched her quietly walk over to the teacher to introduce herself. Her gaze focussed on the floor. She wished she were invisible. Who is this stranger? Is she a new girl?

In the middle of the day, the middle of the week, and the middle of term, when friendship groups and pecking orders were already established, for a painfully shy twelve year old, it was all so embarrassing. And, in her bulky hand-knitted school cardigan and Start-rite shoes instead of the trendy platforms, she was instant fodder for the class bully.

This was the life of a child born into an RAF family. You had the fun of travelling, yes, but each posting only lasted one to three years before you moved on again. Cyd was never a confident child and didn’t understand why she never really fit in anywhere. It was only as she got older that it became clear: she had never had the chance to make proper friends.

The teacher checked his register and, after much grumbling, found her name at the bottom of the boys’ list. Sidney. Sniggering came from the class behind her and someone sneered, “Oh, Sidneeeeee’,” as a pencil hit the back of her head.

“And here we go…” she thought.

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Perri Dodgson

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Perri Dodgson was born into an RAF family, which meant travelling extensively and receiving a disjointed education. Her first job was a layout designer for a publishing house, then for twenty years she worked in the care sector, looking after the elderly and mentally ill. Now retired and living in Wellingborough, England, and after joining a writing group, she discovered the joy of writing. She has had features published in magazines and online literary magazines and been ‘highly recommended’ in a national competition. She also explores interior design and embroidery. Currently she is researching for her book which will be a biography.