An Important Step



Higher – Script 1

Writing Exemplification – October/November 2010

Level: Higher

Genre: Creative

An Important Step

“What’re ya doin' mate? What's the point of working when you can get paid to sit at home?”

Why couldn't they understand? They were going nowhere and their lives were rapidly disappearing as they just lolled about like useless slobs. But to them it seemed like the obvious career, a professional layabout oblivious to how their lives could be if they only had the motivation, or more importantly guts to do something for themselves. They pretended to be contented, but surely that's impossible, false pretences to subdue their inner consciences and prevent themselves doing the unthinkable and breaking away from the slum-like conditions to which they had become accustomed.

I stared for a moment and filled my shallow lungs with the crisp, clear air. I noticed my fists were so tightly clenched that my knuckles were beginning to turn a deathly white. As I slowly uncurled my fingers I could feel the blood running through my veins and I felt alive for the first time in my life. As I breathed out I noticed my breath was freezing into a cloud of magical white smoke. I realised it must be a cold morning as the empty pavement sparkled with the frost and the dry autumn leaves crunched beneath my feet as I walked. However, I felt anything but cold, all I could feel was an incredible energy, something I had never before experienced or imagined. I was my own, new person and I was free.

I jumped as I was startled by a sudden grating and screeching noise coming from across the desolate street. It was a shopkeeper, opening up a small bakery. I caught a drift of the smell of warm, freshly baked bread and the steam it produced in the chilling air was almost visible as it wafted over the road towards me. I glanced at my watch for the first time in hours – ten to six! That would mean I had been walking for almost 9 hours. Why wasn't I tired? The smell of the bread reminded me of the flat. Eat, eat, eat, that was all they did all day – well apart from watching telly! Just thinking about them now made me so angry – well not so much angry, more frustrated. It was strange but now I had left my old life behind I felt like I had never been a part of it. From dropping out of school with not a qualification to my name, to that tedious, repetitive job as a shelf-packer. It was all in the past now.

I approached a wrought iron bench – the kind I had graffiti’d as a kid. Its shiny black seat suddenly seemed appealing and as I subsided into it, my legs suddenly began to throb and I realised I was beginning to pay the price for my midnight marathon. I regretted my rebellious behaviour now. Why hadn’t I studied when I had the opportunity? Maybe my parents were to blame. They had always been in the background, observing me from a distance and had never been supportive, let alone encouraging. I think they were more relieved than anything else when I told them I was leaving school and moving into the grotty flat with my three counterparts. It meant they were freed from the burden of my upkeep and were no longer under any obligation to be concerned or interested in my life. They were also hasty to inform me how delighted they were that I was going to go straight out into the big wide world and not indulge in any useless or more importantly to them, expensive further education courses. What would they say if they could see me now, no longer the withdrawn, insecure child they had raised, but an ambitious, motivated young man.

“Paper, Sir?”

I was brought back to reality with a jerk and my eyes focused on the grubby faced newspaper vendor who was looking enquiringly down at me. I said no thanks and as I emerged from my trance, began to look frantically around me, wondering how the deserted street had suddenly become filled with bustle and confusion. People rushed here and there – from high paid executives in suits and carrying briefcases, to the street’s permanent occupants who ranged from stray cats and dogs to the homeless people who were rolling up their sleeping bags and settling down in their regular doorways for the day. As I looked more closely, the street became more and more unfamiliar. I concluded that I must be right over the other side of town, far away from everything I knew.

I wondered if they had noticed I had really gone yet. I was positive they didn’t expect that I would really leave. Storm out in a bad mood for a couple of hours maybe, but not really leave – not for good. I had wanted to leave since the day I had moved in. It wasn’t my scene and I had always pictured something more homely and permanent. It had been hard for me to leave. According to them, only rich people and snobs bothered with college or university — they didn’t even bother with a job! However, now I had made the decision I had no regrets. I knew I was doing the right thing. I would never forget where I came from, but right now my priorities in life were to get a decent education, job, home and hopefully in the future a family. I saw a woman struggling down the pavement clutching a toddler under one arm and holding her young son by the other hand. I couldn't imagine any of my friends bringing up a family — that was far too responsible and too much like hard work.

I rose slowly and deliberately from my bench, which I realised to my surprise I was now sharing with two others. I jostled for a space on the now throbbing pavement and became submerged in the constant stream of people, all going about their business so hurriedly and so blinkered. I felt privileged to be able to look down on my life and to know so clearly what I wanted to achieve. The street was now filled with noise and bustle and I could smell the coarse fumes from the street and the many pungent aromas drifted from various cafes and bakers. Buses screeched and hissed as they stopped briefly to allow the queues of people gathered under the plastic shelters to scramble on board.

As I turned the corner I found myself in a far more tranquil environment. I mounted the first of a long flight of steps and was filled with the now familiar, relentless energy which carried my exhausted body to the top of the stairs. I turned to face the street for the last time and as I closed the college doors on the noise and hubbub, I felt refreshed, as deep inside I was aware that I was taking a far more important step than ever before and one which would lead me to my future and my future happiness.

[1179 words]

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