Nov 12th, 1994. It was my eighth birthday. The house had a strangely clean smell about it after being meticulously vacuumed and cleaned by Mum. The table had been set with food that I couldn’t quite make out because my eyes blurred at the sight of so much chocolate. I did notice that it was not wise to place my Ghostbusters birthday cake at the edge of the table, as it leant precariously towards me. Mum was wearing her special occasion clothes while adding last minute touches to the balloons, ribbons and various bits of coloured string placed around the room. I had been packed away into ironed beige trousers with matching shirt and bow-tie, and was placed at the window in preparation for early arrivers.

The doorbell rang. A quick glance back at Mum and I opened the door to George who was wearing a blank expression and held a toy monkey in one, pudgy hand. I didn’t particularly like George but Mum said we had to invite him because his mother was,” a kind old dear.” After a half-hearted battle between Batman and his Space Monkey, relatives and friends began arriving thick and fast along with presents of all shapes and sizes.

“Why are you holding an inflatable woman?”

The colours of the night inverted to dull monochrome tones, barely visible to my eyes. Tall adults shrank to depressed men and women with insignificant problems. Everything changed that night. My front door sped towards me and I realised I was running. I fumbled for my keys; to be back inside, away from the night that once comforted me, away from the homeless man. Thinking back to that day, I don’t remember it by my eighth birthday, or the inflatable woman. I remember it as the day I grew up.

“Nothing,” I said as I eyed the numerous cuts and scars on his overlarge hands.

As he spoke his grip tightened, making his companion’s head swell slightly.

Some topics in this essay:
Mum Dad, Past Tesco’s, Starburst Strawberry, Lady Tramp, Space Monkey, George Mum, inflatable woman, starburst strawberry flavoured, strawberry flavoured, inflatable woman”, birthday cake, eighth birthday, front door, starburst strawberry,