Startpage Joan Lingard - The Twelfth day of July

Sadie writes into her diary why she decided not to join the march on July 12th

Dear diary !

Sometimes it seems, as if everything is wrong in the world. Yesterday evening my brother Tommy and I decided to go for a walk with our friends, to watch the other bonfires. Of course, ours was the best!
But soon I had the feeling that it weren't really the bonfires we were interested in...
We came near the Catholic area...  Some other children followed us, they seemed to be interested in looking what the other side did on this day, too.

Well, dear diary, it was very exciting.
When we arrived at the street which is between our Protestant area and the area of the Catholics, we were able to see that we were not the only ones who didn't want to stay where they belonged to..

On the other side of the road stood a crowd of young Catholics. Also, Kevin and Brede stood there. Suddenly one of them threw a stone, one of us started to throw a stick, and in less than a minute a real fight had begun. It wasn't planned, but it was a fight with a terrible end. Brede was just standing behind the group. She didn't throw anything. But one of us, one of the Protestants - and it really does NOT matter WHO it was - threw a big piece of wood in Brede's  direction.She ducked but wasn't quickly enough.The stick touched her head badly and  poor Brede fell down on the ground. Why just Brede?!?
I never expected that I could have something like feelings of friendship for a Catholic. But I really was shocked and thought: You have to help her! So I went through the crowd  although somebody screamed that I shouldn't go on the other side ,"they would kill me". But  that  wasn't  interesting. The other children, Steve and Linda, too, and I'm very angry about them because  they let us down so badly, ran for their lives. The only persons who were left were Kevin, Tommy, the injured Brede and of course I. The police came and Kevin called an ambulance.
When we sat in the hospital I felt as terrible as I've never felt before. I knew that these stupid fights between Catholics and Protestants HAVE to end. Catholics are not our enemies. Brede was my friend...
Thanks godness that she survived !

And of  course I didn't join the march. Although our parents were very angry, Tommy and I stayed at home. The 12 th of July wasn't a day  for celebrating for us anymore.
In the afternoon we visited  Brede in hospital. Kevin was there, too. I was so lucky to hear that the operation had ended well !
Tommy, Kevin and I spent the rest of the day together at the beach. And  we all knew that next time we'll take Brede  with us !!
One thing I know: If I have children in some years, I will NOT teach them to hate people whom they don't even know. Sometimes also your so called "enemies" can be your friends, if  you get to know them. And I've also learned that parents don't always teach their children the right things...

That was all for today, I hope next time I'll be able to write about some good news...

                                                                                                             Sadie                                                  

© Class 10d Gymnasium Ulricianum Aurich - July 1998