Wednesday 28 February 2007

To Mangle or Not To Mangle That WAS The Question.......



Ok............ something weird flashed into me head today, a set of coincidents.... always a sign to me.....

Last night I watched that telly programme 'My Name Is Earl' its well funny, its about this bloke that decides to put right all the things he has done wrong to people in his past..... its one of me favourite funny programmes......

Anyways I didnt think much more of it UNTIL this morning........ I was dropping nippers off at school when I heard someone shout 'Oye Martin'...... with in seconds I had a flashback and was transformed back in life more then 40 years......... it was real strange (I expect me nut nurse friend would have a field day with me and me mind lol)....

Martin..... Martin....... Martin Bennyworth, well I never, after all these years, Jebus do I owe you an apology..... yep I do big time.....

Martin lived at the top of our road, he was an only child and quite spoilt by our standards, but it was not that he was spoilt it was that he was a smug up his own arse kid.......

Everyday dead on 6pm an ice-cream van would ding and stop at the top of our road..... Martin ALWAYS had a lolly off the van, something that I could only dream of.... I would watch the kids queue up and hand over their money and rip the wrapper off their goodies and lick and lick....... I use to say, when I was grown I would buy my own van and eat lollies all day LMFAO

Anyways, I was about 8 and me older brother was about 10..... and this one day, Martin not only bought his daily lolly from the van, but he bought a double chocolate Walls Feast.... now back in those days that was like the bestest money could buy........ he well gloated at me and me brother and was really teasing us and saying not nice things........

Soooooooo me brother turns to me and just said 'The Mangle' and shame upon me I just nodded...... even knowing it was wrong and we was old enough to know better........ but you see, it was NOT that Martin had the lolly, good on him, but it was the teasing and the smug words...... he had sealed his own fate LOL

The following day when we got in from school me mum was not in....... so it was a good mangle day.... we was never allowed kids home to play, but mum was out and so me brother went and called to see if Martin wanted to come play at our house, so for him it was a novelty and he jumped at the chance........ we use to play with him out the front and would win all his marbles off him, ok we did cheat, but still, we was kids.......... anyways...... me brother comes in with Martin....... not in the house, but around the back gate........ well, in those days we didnt have a washing machine or a clothes spinner or new fangled stuff like in Martins house....... me mum use to have this big copper boiler where she would boil up the clothes and sheets etc and then scrub them in the big kitchen sink, and it was then my job to put all the washing through the mangle, which squeezed most of the water out, and then it would dry quicker on the line......

Whilst me brother was getting Martin, I climbed over MrEarls (yep, another coincident) fence, he was the bloke that lived next door, and I nicked a handful of his blackcurrents of his bush and climbed back over into our garden, I then squashed the blackcurrants through the mangle BIG MISTAKE in the end LOL.....our mangle was out the back in the cold scullery.....

So Paul me brother comes back with Martin and he says, lets play the mangle game...... mums not in we can squash what we like through the mangle...... Martins eyes lit up, he had all mod cons in his house so to him this was fun....... 'oh he said' when we stood next to the mangle with grasshopper in hand..... 'whats all that red stuff' - oh its blood me brother says - whose blood says Martin - oh its the blood of that kevin in the next street, he wouldnt buy us an ice-lolly so we put his fingers through the mangle, and if you dont buy us a lolly from the van we are gonna put your fingers through the mangle and then your head, and your brain will pop and your brains will drip into the bucket and your mum will be sad - (hanging head in shame now at this point :( ) - so I says.... yep its true..... (there I was a part of the evilness with just those few words) - so me brother grabs Martins hand and pushes his fingers towards the mangle as I turn the big handle....... lucky for Martin the rollers had been set wide apart to fit the thick blankets that had been mangled the day before.....

So Martins fingers didnt get squashed and crushed but he did cry, then he punched me in the side of the head, so me brother jumped on him and punched him, just as me mum walked in the back gate........

Jebus, we brother dobbed me in to me dad when he came in from work, he said it was all my doing, now me brother knew me dad used any excuse to give me the beating of me life, and sure enough thats what I got that day....... beat me to within an inch of me life...... couldnt go to school for well over a week, and wasnt allowed out the house incase someone saw me........

The following week, when I was out the front playing, I heard the ice-cream van ding its tune, and Martin was in the queue....as was my brother, cos he was now allowed an ice-cream for being a good boy LMFAO...... Martin walks up to me as Im sitting on the gate and hands me a lolly and just says 'sorry' I remember looking at him and taking the ice-lolly and saying 'sorry' ... it was like he understood me far better then I understood meself or me brother for that fact.......

Sooooooo MARTIN 40 something years late........ but I truely am sorry for the mangle and the blackcurrants and the squashing of your fingers...... I hope it didnt affect your life in such as way as you couldnt eat blackcurrant pies or bite ya finger nails...... I TRUELY AM SORRY........ :)

Enough Twaddle for one day..

x

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

(GINORMOUS SIGH)

Oh Mel...

This tale, like others, is wonderful, warm and funny. Like some of the others it is also sad, heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing these parts of you. I cannot describe how much it means to me and how much I appreciate your heart.

It feels good to connect with you. When you talk, that's what happens. You are a gift in my life.

It pains me to hear you were so beaten you had to be "hidden". I have an extremely low threshold of tolerance for child abuse (why I don't work with such populations--I can't enough emotional distance, I just want to harm the perpetrating shits) and I ache for that part in you that sustained and endured such crap.

Man, I'd better shut my yap or I'll be thinking about "Orange" again and you know how this goes...next thing, I'll be calling Peanut and we'll be on the next flight.

Hmm...where's them squirrels I had...


Have a good one, dearie.
xxoo

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Anonymous said...

Oh, yeah, about synchronicities (those meaningful coincidences)...

we know don't we, girl, we know.

;)


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The Fool said...

Your neighborhood as a child sounds as whack as mine was. We definitely had our own world going. There's so much to your story. There are a lot of elements that folks can relate to. Been there too, from the playful cruelties, to the sibling betrayal, to a dad breaking yardsticks on my butt.

Thanfully, things do change. You don't have to take up the sins of the father. My kids are extremely loyal to each other, and I've never hit my them. The playful cruelties still eek out at times though. I guess two out of three ain't bad...

And Doc, the child-ab is the toughest part of my biz. I have come close to throttling a parent...

MarmiteToasty said...

~Wendy~ cripes..... I aint never been a gift before LOL ya daft cow....

And it was what it was ....me parents must of had their reasons why they carried so much hate towards me......and I sometimes wonder without that element in me life, would I of turned out the person I am today.......I think I probably would of.... I knew from a very young age, whom I was and what I was about.... and I like the me I am.......

Maybe I shouldnt put those little snippets in me posts..... maybe just leave them bits out, even though they are all part of the real picture..... maybe just maybe they aint for here....maybe they aint for sharing... xxxx

~Fool~ wow you have yardsticks in alaska lol....... googling yardstick.....

My lads are all very close and lo and behold anyone that messes with any of them.... we only have each other..... just the 5 of us...... so we have to be close, we have to care about each other....... cos no other bastard is gonna.... you sound like a great dad Fool, I take me hat off to you.... you give me hope... xx

The Fool said...

No Marmy, the yardsticks are on the east coast. It takes way too long to whittle a yardstick out of a birch tree, so we're short on 'em up here (other folks import them though...damn).

Playful cruelty story. We are a family of puddle stompers. When the kids were young, and whenever it rained...we'd put the boots on and go dance in the puddles together. My eldest son had a habit of always going in too far, above the top of the boots and beyond. To save on laundry one day, I told him a story about "scuba bears" that lurk in the deep spots of puddles waiting to nip the kids who go in too far. He actually bought it. He eyed puddles very carefully for a spell. Later, he was peaved he'd been taken, but thoroughly amused (it's now family lore). Years later, after lil brother arrived on the scene, he attempted the same ploy on his sib (dad couldn't bring himself to do it twice). His little brother basically looked him square in the eye and told him he was nuts - which did nothing to bolster his constitution. Good thing kids are resilient.

We share similar sentiments on your final note. No bastard or bitch is going to mess with mine either. Uh-uh.

;)

JBelle said...

freakin' Martin had it coming.

Agent Scully said...

Marmie, huge hugs to you. What PT said first. It hurts my heart to see that you were so mistreated. The punishment did not fit the crime. Please know that you are loved by many. You bring great joy.

Love, Dana

MarmiteToasty said...

~Fool~ Im thinking a yardstick is like what we call a 'cane' a thin bamboo cane thinner at one end...... they was legal in our schools over her until I was about 13.... me parents had one hung on the back of the kitchen door lol

Lovely story you told your son :) dont ya love doing that to them - I know for one I did it to me lads and they believed stuff for years.....and I find meself doing to me minded kids LOL....... and no doubt they will all in turn do it to their own kids......... x

~JBelle~ LMFAO hahahaha yeah bloody martin the up his own arse little git, did have it coming to him :) oh we did much more to him over the years then that little tale lol... x

~Scully~ Hey I didnt type those things as a moan or a groan or a whinge....or for sympathy cos thats NOT what Im like.. it was what it was......... I have storys that would make you soil ya pants as you sit there LMFAO...... it was what it was....... its how you deal with it in your mind as to how you grow as a person....

I shouldnt of maybe typed that little snippet of information and if ya ask PT she will tell ya Im quite a private person..... but it just flowed off me fingers, cos it was part of the day... oh and aint me blob naff LOL x

In future I will try and keep those bits where they have always been, tucked away in me head lol...... I so didnt mean to upset anyone - sorry LOL

oh and hush with the loved bit will ya - jebus christ....

x

Lora said...

Beautiful day in Dorothyville Mel !! Fly over and storm chase with me.....:-)

MarmiteToasty said...

Maties, welcome me friend lora from Kansas....... yes I know the less said about that place the better, right? lol Lora is me specail trusted dear friend, be nice to her lol

~lora~ ya know I would love to do that..... I will get there, I will surely as I have a wart on me bum :) xx


OK maties, I aint feeling to great this evening..... totally exhausted, so Im gonna try and drug meself up to ease this pain and snuggle under me duvet..... I know, I know its not even 9.30 here but I just cant survive on only 2-3 hours sleep a night an function proper........ so you know the rules.....

last one up, off with the lights and pull the plugs and shove the cat out.......

loves ya and fanks for popping by today......

x

Spilling Ink said...

Hi, Marmite! It seems that I never make it over here in a timely fashion because of the time difference. This was a good story and I like the way you told it. I'm sure many people can relate to this. The punishment rarely fit the crime in my house, either and I too, had times when I had to conceal the evidence from others. Hopefully you had a way to heal and put this into perspective. In some cases it can have a horrible way of staying with a person into adulthood. You know what, Marms? You've made a great blog and I really love the way you go about describing things.

susan said...

I don't know what to say.

At first I was going to talk about the song that Eddie Murphy did in his standup along time ago about when the ice cream truck came and he would get some ice cream and he would look at some of the poorer kids and dance while singing, "I got some ice cream. I got some ice cream and you don't got none, 'cause you on the welfare. You on the welfare."

This song cracked me up so hard. I was too young to be watching Eddie Murphy on cable, but I totally related to this song.

But then you talked about your beating. I am so sorry. I don't know if you want sympathy or not, so if you do, it is here, and if you don't then I just want to say that my feelings are with you today.

Sophmom said...

It's all been said. Thank you for shsaring that. It was beautiful. We all have sad, don't we? If you can do it, so can I.

OrdinaryShark said...

Sod it all! I just sent a bloody long post that was zapped into cyber dust! Suffice it to say, Marm, you story was brillant and the dark bits were an important part, especally if they were rolling off your fingers. Your writing has depth, humor, color and truth. Clearly you have a style that is appreciated by many. Write as it comes. It is every bit as good as his Bobness's twaddle, except it's Yours! That's why were here.
So with that I'll say welcome to Lora and hope you, Marm, are feeling better in the AM. Rest well and we'll see you later.
Now where is that light switch? Anyone here? Maybe I'll just give this bulb a little twist...ow!...

Agent Scully said...

Marmie, you are simply DA BOMB.

I know you weren't looking for sympathy and I do know that the worst of situations can make the best of people - like you.

You say whatever you want to - this is your blob. And don't worry about upsetting anyone. Your truth is your truth and that's good enough for me. Besides - we're tough. We can take it. Heh heh.

Oh and BTW Marmie...

iloveyouiloveyouiloveyouiloveyou!!!!

So there.... pppptttthhhhhhh....

ROTFL....

MarmiteToasty said...

ok, listen you lot......... first of all I didnt put the bit in about the thrashing for any other reason then that it was a part of the day.... its not an ugly memory, it dont disturb me, it dont play on me mind, it dont and has never been anymore then what it was.....a part of that day, just a memory like all the other memories in life.. it was what it was.... it was a part of life....... if I had let some of the most horrific things that have happened to me, affect the way I live my life now, then I would be a blithering loon....sorry I didnt mean that in a nasty way, cos everyone deals with things differently.... I would not beable to function as the person I am today..... from a very young age, I knew I had such a strength of character, and that things in life WERE NOT gonna drag me to a place where I didnt wanna be..... So the thing that knocked me socks off after crimbo (those that know KNOW) was completely out of character for me... but its been dealt with and stored LOL

So I think ya missed the 'post' for what it was..... it was suppose to be an apology to Martin, ya know that bloody little tosspot LMFAO I wander what he is doing now in life?

I didnt write this story from my past for sympathy or for anyone to feel sorry for me or sad about what happened....... it happened and that was that.....

Maybe I'll leave those snippets out of me posts..... it was what it was, I AM WHO I AM.... its as simple as that :)

~Lynn~ always welcome, no matter what time of day ya get here lol - ya see me and you have A LOT more in common then I think you or anyone could realise ;) xx

~Susan~ hugs hugs hugs :) oh how lovely to see you here..... sorry it aint up to much lol..... I aint one for intelligent words and good grammar and deep knock ya knicker off posts LOL..... its just a little twaddle thats all...... and no, no sympathy needed, thats NOT what this post was about....... please stay or at least pop over once in a while..... if anything it will bore you to sleep LMFAO xx

~Sophmom~ :) fanks for stumbling in the door..... you are more then welcome, and theres no saddness here :) xx

~Shark~ :) always my pleasure to see your words..... dont ya just hate it when ya type and ya get eaten alive lol - well Bob was intelligent funny amazing where as this is poorly written bad spellings and grammar, but if I proof read I know I wont post, so I just type and click publish lol..... and it comes out in a mess *giggling* - fanks matie xx

~Scully~ oh shut ya gob lol dont make me bann ya..... I think I have the power ya know.... if only I can work this place out........xx

notice I sussed out how to put a picture up though :) mega chufted or what...

Fanks all for your comments and for stopping over....... slater

x

susan said...

OK then, no sympathy ;P

If I ever come up with a copy of the Eddie Murphy video I will send ya one.

And I think it is good to not hide pieces of your life. It is what it is. I think it is good that you can talk about it in normal terms as just part of history. That says alot about you, and it also says alot about you that you didn't let history repeat itself. I think you are one of the good ones.

green libertarian said...

Wow.

Just Wow.

What have I done, encourageing you to have a blog?

This one post an comments had me laughing and crying for an hour?

You think I have that kind of time to spare?

Have a heart, for godsakes...

Seriously, wonderful stuff, Mel, just amazing.

green libertarian said...

Wow.

Just Wow.

What have I done, encourageing you to have a blog?

This one post an comments had me laughing and crying for an hour?

You think I have that kind of time to spare?

Have a heart, for godsakes...

Seriously, wonderful stuff, Mel, just amazing.

MarmiteToasty said...

**What have I done, encourageing you to have a blog?**

~Chuck~ yep what the bloody hell have you done lol....... I know it aint posh or anything.... but I just let me fingers do the work.... I dont get much say on the matter lol.......

x

IBsusie said...

Your Sooo Baddddddddd. LOL.. I LOVE it.. IBsuz

MarmiteToasty said...

~((Suzie))~ it was a good bad though lmfao....

x