Diary of Samuel Winchester

Monday, May 6th, 1991

It was my 8th birthday last Thursday. I asked Dad for a party so my school friend could come, but he said Uncle Bobby was going to look after us cos he had to go away on business. He left Thursday morning and he said he wouldn't be back till Tuesday.

I wasn't very sad because I like Uncle Bobby, and he makes my brother do all the chores so I can read him stories.

It was better than a party! My brother had to wash Uncle Bobby's car. He didn't moan or argue or anything, but he didn't look happy. I saw him carrying the bucket of water outside and I felt bad, cos it's not his fault he's the oldest. I asked him if he wanted me to help, but he said I'd only get in his way cos I was too short. He's like that sometimes, always making sure I don't get hurt by getting under his feet.

Sunday wasn't so good. Uncle Bobby said we should go to the park and get away from the books and cars and normal stuff. So we went. It was ok till he went to get some hot dogs. My brother was talking to some other kids that were taller like him, so I thought it would be fine to climb the tree. We've been past the park before, but never went in. I've always wanted to climb this tree, so I did.

I got up pretty high and it was fun! Then when I went to get down, I slipped a bit and fell down the tree a way. I sat on the lowest branch and when I saw the ground I knew I couldn't get down by myself.

I knew I was stuck. But when I looked over at my brother talking, I didn't want him to come over. I wanted him to help me, but I didn't want him to stop what he was doing. He's always stopping his stuff to help me, and I didn't want to make him stop talking. He was smiling with the other kids, and he don't do that much.

So I thought I could wait till Bobby came back with the hot dogs. But there were these three boys coming to the tree, and they started calling to me. They said some horrible names - well I think they must have been horrible, cos I didn't know them, and Bobby says I don't know any bad words cos I'm not old enough.

And then everything went bad. I knew it would. Everything always goes bad when I'm not with my brother.

He was talking to his new friends, and then he heard the boys shouting. I knew what was coming cos after he looked over to find me, his face went kinda red and kinda dark. He left his new friends to come over to the tree.

He shouted at the boys and I knew he was angry. I didn't hear what he was shouting cos I put my hands over my ears. I was really scared cos there were three of them. I wanted to get down and run and make my brother come with me, but when I made to get down he shouted at me to stay in the tree. I don't know what they had said to make him so angry. It was really scary cos I've never seen him like that.

One boy said something and my brother pushed him. He fell over and then the other two boys pushed my brother. He fell down and they jumped on him.

I nearly cried cos it wasn't fair. But Dad told me once that boys only cry on the inside, so I didn't. I wanted to be brave.

I heard some more shouting and Uncle Bobby was coming over with hot dogs. He looked really mad. I thought it was cos my brother was underneath three big boys. But when I looked, my big bro was rolling around with one of the kids. He was bashing the kid in the head and the other two were lying on the grass. They didn't look like they wanted to fight anymore.

Bobby shouted at them all and yanked my brother's arm, making him get up. The boys ran away, but Bobby kept shouting at my bro, asking him why he'd started fighting. He wouldn't say, and I thought Bobby was going to give him a beating. But then he just ignored him and looked up at me in the tree.

Suddenly he wasn't angry, he just put his arms out and smiled at me, telling me to jump.

I did and he put me down, but he took hold of my hand real tight. He said we should go back to the house so I could watch TV.

We began to walk but he told my brother to get in front where he could see him. When he got in front of us, Bobby slapped the back of his head and told him he'd been bad. I tried to tell him my brother was only looking out for me, but Bobby wouldn't listen.

When we got back to the house, I was allowed to watch TV but my brother had to go to his room and not come out. Bobby said he wasn't going to get any dinner, too. It made me sad.

I waited till after dinner and then I went to my brother's room. I don't like this new house we're in this year, cos we have separate bedrooms.

Anyway, I banged on his door and he opened it. His eye was going this funny dark colour and I think his lip had been bleeding. I tried to say I was sorry for making trouble but he said it wasn't my fault. He was really miserable, like really down, you know?

I asked him what the boys had said to make him so angry. He just said they were jerks and to forget it.

I will always remember his face, cos it was all so unfair, the whole day. And then he was happy cos I gave him the pizza slices I stole from the kitchen.

He let me in his room and we played something called 'poker' with matchsticks till Bobby caught us. Then I went to bed.

We got kept home from school today - I think cos Bobby knows it's test day, and he's worried that my brother can't do them. I can though - last time I got an A and Miss Bailey was real nice to me, giving me a gold star and everything.

That's it, diary, I got to go cos Bobby's coming in a minute. I'm going to read him a story from the big book of Grimm stuff.

Hope my brother's ok next door. His room's been quiet for an hour or more. Wonder if he ever keeps a diary? Don't think so - he always says he hates talking to anyone that ain't family. I don't think he should say 'ain't' - I asked Miss Bailey, and she says so too. But I don't want to tell my brother, he might get angry. He always gets angry when I know spellings and he doesn't.

But he did show those boys not to pick on me today.

I'll check on him before Bobby gets him up for school tomorrow.

'Night.