Calling Major Tom

by David M. Barnett

Ellie says, ‘My mum’s gone. My dad’s in prison. My brother’s being bullied. My nan’s losing her mind. I’m holding down three jobs on top of school just to make ends meet. I have no friends. I never go out. I’m trying to keep the family together but I wonder if it’s even worth it. I just want to go to sleep for a day. A week. For ever.’ But she says none of these things. Instead she looks at her scruffy shoes again and just mumbles, ‘I’m fine, miss.’

I read this thing that Einstein said once. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.

You might be drunk, he might be crackers and I might be losing the plot, but if we stick together we might be all right. That’s what makes us strong, right? Sticking together.

‘It’s one-hundred-and-six miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark … and we’re wearing sunglasses.’

Loved that movie!

We’re not trapped by mistakes, Thomas, whether they’re ours or other peoples. We learn from them.

It’s almost funny that it took for me to leave it all behind before I could realise that.’ He pauses. ‘The thing is, I only remembered the bad stuff. It blotted out the good stuff to the point where I didn’t even know it had happened. There was good in everything. In everybody. I just chose not to see it.’