short piece
WRITTEN:
1984, 17 years
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
More mindless drivel. It's about sitting in one of the first three General Studies classes I attended in Year 12, with Mr Renshaw, the kleptomaniac "heart-throb" teacher (I never sent him those love letters, Mrs Burnett, I swear! It was those devious little Year 7s!) ranting about a) how, if our class was to be suddenly swept up and dumped on an alien planet, we would probably possess sufficient skills which, when pooled, would enable us to survive; and b) the Australian constitution and system of government, neither of which I have ever been able to comprehend (blame my mother for always insisting I ate my crusts - I can't think of a better excuse).
So this is a crappy piece of writing and it's only included for the same reason every other crappy piece of writing has been included: namely, for completeness.
The eyes hurt and I desire to sleep, but I am not where sleep is allowed. Someone talks, of governments and political dealings. I try to listen, to pay attention, but the pain of the eyes overrides my powers of concentration.
I sit between people. Some listen to the speaker; others, like myself, are distracted. A person to my left holds a book away from the view of the speaker, reading. His distraction is silent.
There are others, listening to the speaker, who have no difficulty in controlling their powers of concentration. It is these whom I envy.
Sitting naturally in my seat, I appear to listen. I listen, over and above writing, but I will have no later recollection of what has been said. It causes no concern, however, as I will gather the necessary information from someone who knows.
Some of my distractions are by no means pleasurable. For example, tonight I must receive a visitor. The visit will be both pleasant and unpleasant; there are things to be reconciled. Things must be spoken of, discussed, analysed, disected, reassembled. A nasty business.
The speaker talks of death and poses the question, Does anyone deserve to die? Arguments occur. (What is material prosperity? What is "right"? What is "wrong"?) No agreements are reached.
There is a lack of leadership. No-one follows: there is no-one to lead. Consistent. We have pseudoleaders, but they don't stand up under strain, don't stand the test. Propaganda incites prejudice (a well-realised fact).