To be a child again...

Collective Inspired...


Times were different. How times have changed. Fondness induced, reality suppressed. A little afro headed chap, small and black, little baseball cap - cheeky smile, and that was that.

4pm was the golden time, the slot. Home from play group or school; eager to watch your loved shows. Television on, best time and only time - for a kid to be concerned about. To sit and process images. Mini snacks. Your favourite programmes, so many to recall.

To be a child again. Toys and fun, groovy lunch boxes. Lego was the one. McDonald's mats. Playing with figures in the sink with my best friend. Same bath as your sister, supposed it saved water. My younger accomplice in the pursuit of happiness. Imaginary and inventive games. Usually nonsensical. To be a child again.


Play mates and Mum, yes boss! Sometimes I was naughty - little smack on the bum. Dictating what you could do and what needed to be done. You had no choice but to listen - hence having my hair cut with scissors. Gulp! Actually; I thought it looked quite cool. Watching younger sister crying when having her hair braided. Those days...

Misbehave and you have to deal with Papa.

Asking permission for friends to come and play, maybe even stay the night. What an exciting prospect. House phone ringing, communal phone. Parents liaising and ironing out the staying over details. A beaming smile; my friend will be staying for a little while.

Scalextrics in the night. Woosh, woosh - Look at them go! Little cars with lights whizzing around in a dark room. Bunk beds. Impromptu drama shows. Teddies and dolls the props. Midnight feasts, 12am was so late. Matching pyjama set. Silly novelty slippers. Cosy dressing gown. Fresh and clean - the only way to be seen.

Times of not being quite ready to go to bed. You best keep those fancifull thoughts in your head. It wont wash - Off you go! The grown ups staying up late to watch TV that you wished you could have been watching.

To be a child again... Favourite foods and sweets. Cakes and treats. Themed parties. Plastic colourful cups and twirly straws. Blowing bubbles into drinks with youthful poise. Money box, mainly full of of pennies. Coded - mini fort knox. Pocket money increasing as you grew a bit older.  Ice cream vans making that familiar distracting noise. Dashing out for your 99. Yep, that will do me fine.

Sweet days, normally on a Friday. Conscientious parenting. Happy spending all of your coins, a little sum of money to go to the shop alone. Sugary sweets and stickers. Space invaders and twist and squeeze. No Snickers. Can I have that, and that...yes please.

Bits of Independence granted. You felt big and proud. To be a child again...

Laughs and giggles. Somebody said booby! How naughty! Tickles and play fights. Football in the corridor. Caves and dungeons. He-Man tent. Superman outfit. The imagination runs amok. Duvets and dens. Sliding down the banister. It looked cool. No cares.

An existence not saturated by technology. Things being more innocent and simple. Worries not grand - hold my hand, time to cross the road. No such thing as Facebook. He or she did not add me - more likely, that he or she did not want to be a friend in real life. Living in reality - rather than behind a screen. Why are they not playing with me anymore. Why are the kids at school calling me a sponge 'ead and asking me to chase them because I have a chocolate face...how mean.

To be a child again... Walking, running and playing. A little height chart. A life pursuing pleasure. Not always getting your own way. Small moods and strops. "Do you want me to give you something to cry about?!" A little red go-cart, favourite shirt. Escapades, climbing tree's - getting stuck up them. Needing help to get down. Causing parents to frown.

Riding a new bike. Stabilisers no longer needed. King of my back yard. Little plastic paddling pool. Disney tapes and read along books. Graduating to the front of the house. Aware of not going too far. Big scary dogs. Dinner will be ready soon. Look at how fast I can ride - Zoom Zoom!

To be a child again. Noddy and Big Ears.Wide eyed impressionable and not loud. Quiet and a dreamer. Um Bongo. Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl. Books from the library - feeding an absorbent mind. Stories and adventure. Secret 7, Famous 5. 

To be a child again. Hesitant of older people who were not familiar. Stood by your mums side, not wanting to speak - shy and timid. Not knowing your rights, not knowing about things before your time. An older woman wanting to kiss you. Making you recoil and scream. Akin to Godzilla

Sunny days, laughter and sun setting haze. Memories and tears. Bragging about the amount of gears on your bike. Or how late you say you went to bed.

It hardly matters now; but it did back then.

To be a child again...


Submitted by Demola, The Collective