Mother courage

the long walk home

Tess Wheeler
Sep 7, 2018 · 6 min read
Ratiu Bia, Unsplash

Other kids seemed to have nice mothers. Kind mothers. Mothers who met them at the school gates with a smile and a favourite scooter to ride home on. Mothers who hugged them tight and asked them how their day had been.

My mother never met me at the school gate. My mother didn’t even get up out of her armchair to say hello when I walked in the door.

Keep the story going. Sign up for an extra free read.

Tess Wheeler

Written by

Writer, editor and English teacher. Reader and beach-walker. I used to live in Hong Kong and London but now I’m back home in the North East of England.

The Junction

The Junction is a digital crossroads devoted to stories, culture, and ideas. Our interests are legion.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade