1973 School Magazine

WOMEN'S N,TEERAT{ON _ WHO WANT'S TT? Wake up, wake up! I open my eyes - the room is dark still, a few wanton rays sneak througli the closed venetians and stripe the finger-printed blue wall' Just another five minutes - I couldn't face the day without these few moments of quiet reflection. I lie, putting off the moment when I must face the reality ofday, but I am haunted by thoughts of my existence. trn my mind, I go over the motions of my daily routine. I raise myself and with an automatic action, reach for my dressing-gown, then the slippers, a quick glance in the mirror and I comb over my ruffled locks. Off to the kitchen - there's tne breakfast to prepare and the children to get off to school, then theie's the shopping to do, and a Parents' and Cit2ens' Meeting at one b'clock. What a busy day - I won't have time to think about how bored I am, how free I was just a few years ago. Of course, I was young then, living in a flat with other girls, going out every night. I'd arrive home from work, eat a hurried meal, shower and dress. I used to love that. I spent most of my salary on make-up and clothes. Then one boy- friend or other would call, we'd go out somewhere- good times. I didn't have much time to think then either - funny, now that I remember it. My dates, so- considerate, treated me as fragile, lavished on me all the things a true woman desires. So different now' Then I was looking for a husband, Every time I had a date, I'd imagine myself as his wife, test out his name with mine, imagine myself living with him. All that dating was to try to gain what I have now' Ha. I shouldn't have wasted my time and money. Think back further, further. Was there a time when I never thought of marriage as my fate? I can't remember it. LittlJ David from across the street proposed when we were both in pre-school, and since then I have never thought of myself as having another future. My mother's overheard conversations: "Jane Rob- inson, why she's twenty-three and not a beau's in sight. In a couple ofyears it'll be toa late. She'll be an old maid soon." Too late, too late, old maid, old maid, alone, alone, alone, Of course, I was always popular - there was never any doubt that I would catch a husband. Mother had great hopes for me. She thought I'd make a good match. She was right, of course. I married a doctor, very respectable, comfortably off with a promising career in front of him. I won't ever have to work - Bill says that he can provide for both of us, and there's no reason to get a job. People might think he couldn't afford to keep me! and then there's the house to look after and Bill needs a hostess for dinner parties, and then there's the children...He needs me so much, he couldn't do without me. Lots of women are envious of me - the doctor's wife, you know she's got it made: a beautiful home, two cars, holidays at Surfers' Paradise. Why, why is it then that I am so, so bored? Why do I hate myselfl Why do I hate life? I am a hater now, once I was a lover...wasn't I? I was free once.,.

L'futxTe.r

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