For the Love of Ann (I will type small amounts of this..

at a time -- eventually we will have this whole novel read...



by James Copeland based on a diary by Jack Hodges

Chapter 1

A Child is Born


Mayor Street, Salford, was narrow and ugly. The houses all had brab uniformity that made each indistinguishable from its neighbour. They were the worst reminders of the industrial revolution where family crowded on family. In each of those dozens of identical streets men, women and children had lived, loved and died for generations. it was the area that became Walter Greenwoods's Hankey Park in Love on the Dole.

To Jack and Ivy Hodges No. 28 was far from the ideal home home they dreamed of when they married in 1947, but it was a palace compared to the flat in whichthey had started married life. Besides, with the war just over they were thankfull to at least have a place they could call their own. Jack brought paint and paper and they soon had the little two-up, two down house gleaming. All they wanted now was to settle down and bring up a family.

For Jack, so recently out of the Army, Mayor Street was a haven of peace. He had survived the horrors of the Italian campaign and nothing could upset him now. They were both Salford born and bred and they had witnessed the appalling effects of poverty. Jack's own father had been on the dole throughout the hungry thirties and he was determined that the same thing would not happen to him.

He was an enginner and with the country beginning to boom again he was in full employment. Life at No. 28 Mayor Street was good.

In October 1950, Ivy presented him with a son. They christened him Leonard and he became the apple of their eye. They both loved children and often discussed what size family they should have. They would like two boys and two girls.

And so on a bitterly cold day, on January 10, 1952 the girl that was to change the course of their lives was born at No. 28 Mayor Street.

As Ivy's time drew near Janck was ushered out of the house by fussing neighbours and the midwife to kick his heels for the next couple of hours at his mother's home in the next street. When he was told that the baby was born he rushed over the frosted pavements to haze at his daughter. She weighed seven and a half pounds and was completely bald. But as Jack gazed down at her he felt that he was looking at a beauty queen.

The birth had been uneventful, but one incident that morning was to torment them in the harrowing years that followed.

While the midwife was attending to Ivy she left the baby on the end of the bed without any covering. In the to-ing and fro-ing someone left the street door open. Within minutes the baby was thoroughly chilled - "blue with cold" one of the fussing women said. When Jack arrived Ivy was in tears and neigbours weresmearing the baby with olive oil and wrapping her up in warm blankets.

The incident was soon over and Jack felt he could safely leave the house, gather up a few friends and announce the baby's arrival in the traditional fashioon at the local pub.

His heart was singing. He had a home of his own, a wonderful wife and tow lovely children. Although work was hard and he had to put in long and exhausting hours he felt that life was good and he was determined to improve his little family's lot in every way he could.

Ann was a good baby. An exceptionallly good baby. She cried when she was hungry -- and that was all. As the weeks rolled by EVERYONE remarked on just how good she was. She would lie in her pram for hours at a time and it was easy to forget whe was even there. She was developing perfectly, took all her feed and was putting on weight at a normal rate. But she appeared to take very little interest in the things around her.

However, Jack and Ivy weren't oo worried to begin with. They just thanked their lucky stars that they had been blessed with such a good baby.

Her hair was growing - a golden blonde- and the cedided to let it grown untill it was long enought to plait. The loved little girls with long hair and the knew how the otgher little girls in the street loved their long tresses. They spent hours discussing what sort of dresses they would buy her when she was walking. They talked of dolls and prams - and of little girls growing up.

But as athe weeks rolled on the niggling boubts began. Ann didn't gurgle and coo like other babies. She didn't make a sound except when she was hungry.

Now she was sitting up by herself and yet not once did she put out her arms to be picked up and cuddled. Nothing. She showed no recognition.

Nights became alarming experiences. She would lie staring fixedly at the light avoe her cot for hours on end. Jack decided to fix a paper shield over the light. But as soon as he did that Ann started to cry. No tears. Just a dry crying soulnd that eventually turned into a horrifying scream, and the shade had to be removed to get some respite.

Jack and Ivy Hodges had been subjected to the first bout of screaming that was to become part of their daily lives for the next fourteen years.

By the time Ann was six months old it was obvious that she resented anyone picking her up. When Ivy took her out of her pram to get her ready for bed the crying and screaming would start and continue though bathtime untill the baby was back in her cot - and staring at the light.

Those first niggling doubts were taking on an aura of horror. No matter what time night they went in to her, she appearred ton be awake - staring at that light. Weaning her was also proving virtually impossible. Every time they tried to spoon-feed her she screamed until they gave her back the bottle. One particluar bottle and teat. she would entertain no other.

but after months of heartbreaking effort, they scored a minor victoy.

They managed to get her to suck semi-solids from a spoon. but only by giving her the bottle to suck between mouthfuls. Each mealtime became a marathon mind-shattering experience for Jack and Ivy. The bottle had become the child's centre of affection. Part of her very life. It went everywhere with her. And that bottle - eventually nickname "dollly" by the family - was to be part and parcel of Ann's life until she was seven years old.

by the time she was ten months, Ann was showing signs of walking and Jack and Ivy began to breathe more easily. At least there was nothing wrong with her limbs, and anyway, perhaps she would soon get out of these tantrums.

But it was impossible not to compare her to Leonard. He was a strapping little boy, full of fun, chat and mischief. A loving child who would throw his arms round his parents for a hug and a cuddle and prattle away to them. Ann would sit widce-eyed, seemingly unseeing and uncaring.

Now her walking was brining unmetionalble fears. She had boundless energy and would run around the house for hours on end, bumping into furniture, falling and fumbling - and never showing any sign of hurt or pain. If anyone tried to pick her up she would start those peircing screams and fight to get away.

But worst of all she made no attempt to talk or communicate in any way.

++++ still more to chapter 1 but Thomas just woke up))))