Breaking Out

by Allison Symes

black tea

When the going gets tough, tough! Or that is what my old PE teacher used to tell me. Never a great one for the kindly word and encouraging tone but then I survived an inner city school in the 1970s where the award for Best English each week went to whoever spelled the swear words correctly on the walls.

As for the language… you weren’t going to find anything remotely refined at my alma mater. But the fact I can come out with expressions like that should tell you I broke out.

And my old PE teacher? What happened to him?

I am now his care assistant!

He doesn’t remember me, dementia has got to him poor sod, and yes I treat him decently, far better than he treated any of us at that wretched school.

If there is one phrase I have come to believe in over the years is that what goes around does come around. Most of my fellow pupils who would not treat him decently.

Unlike them, I am conscious that what goes around applies to me too. I want to be treated decently so I treat others that way. So far it’s worked. I’m in gainful employment, never short of things to do, the missus and I met at college. Celebrated our silver wedding only last year. Our two kids have turned out okay and they had a far better education than I did. No horrid PE teacher shouting abuse at those who were not at all sporty.

Still I pity him now.

I know I’ll be walking out of here at the end of my shift. He cannot.

About the author 

Allison Symes is published by Chapeltown Books, Cafélit, and Bridge House Publishing amongst others.  She is a member of the Society of Authors and Association of Christian Writers.  She adores reading and writing quirky fiction. Her website is https:\\allisonsymescollectedworks.com and she blogs weekly for online magazine, Chandler’s Ford Today, often on writing related topics - http://chandlersfordtoday.co.uk/author/allison-symes/



Allison's story is based on a prompt from the Prompts 2020 book.