In those day,it was usual for extended family to look after each others children.I had two aunts and two uncles who lived close by,and two aunts who lived at the other side of town.My sister and i spent nearly as much time at aunt annie's,who lived just around the corner,as we did at home when we were very young.As i was the youngest child,my sister and cousins would go off to play,leaving me behind.They were always telling me i was too little,still too much of a baby,so i couldn't play with them.I would just sit on the back door step with chip,my aunts dog,and he would lick away my tears.Chip and i would then play with his ball,until aunt annie allowed us back indoors.My sister and i were often looked after by our uncle Jerry,mothers youngest brother.Debbie and i liked uncle Jerry sitting for us.After we had our bath,we would curl up on the sofa all cuddled together,and he would tell us stories,or about his dog.You could say he was like a substitute father,when dad was away.
I was only three,maybe four when the abuse first started.Dad was working away,and mother had gone out.My sister and i were in the bath,when uncle Jerry told Debbie to go downstairs and get dried by the fire.He said i needed washing properly,because i was still dirty,he washed me all over,then said we were going to play a game.He said he was going to tickle me,but i mustn't laugh.He started tickling me,I tried not to laugh,but i couldn't help it.Jerry said i had broken the rules and would have to be punished.He pushed his hand between my legs,and his other one down his pants.A burst of pain tore through between my legs,as he forced his finger inside me,again and again.I screamed,uncle Jerry slapped me,told me to shut up,it was my own fault for breaking the rules.He was breathing funny,and making a strange noise,i started crying it hurt and i didn't like it.Jerry pushed my head under the water to shut me up,i was scared i didn't like this game,and i didn't want to play anymore.He dried me off,then took me downstairs saying i couldn't tell anybody what had happened,because they would know that i had broken the rules.Uncle Jerry gave me some sweets for making him happy,then carried on as normal,having a cup of tea and a cigarette,and talking about his dog.He started touching me at every opportunity after that;i told him i didn't like it,that it hurt,but he just laughed and said it had to be done,it was for my own good.I started crying and clinging to my mother every time he sat for us,but she would just push me away,telling me to stop been such a baby.I tried to tell mother what was happening;man she went beserk-shouting and screaming at me,hitting me about the head and arms.Mother then dragged me by the hair to the dreaded punishment cupboard;saying i was evil,and i should never speak such horrid lies ever again,unless i liked been punished.I was probably only in the cupboard for a couple of hours,but thats a hell of a long time to a kid of just four.