Running away from home (was Re: toliet training help)

[Guest guest]

I ran away from seminary ( known as " sem " , Jewish theological girls

college) one day when I was 16.. I was very homesick (it was in

Gateshead) and it was a free day, so I just went to Newcastle Station

and took the train to London. At the station I posted a letter to the

seminary dean telling him I felt mistreated and was going home to

where I'd be properly looked after.

This was in 1964. Would you believe, by the time I arrived home in

London, the dean had received my letter (!!!) and had phoned my mum

who was waiting for me with a face like thunder. Apparently she'd

been told that if I turned around and went *straight* back to " sem " no

more would be said or done about it. I had a quick snack, phoned my

Dad at work (who was also Not Impressed[tm] and she took me back to

the station.

The dean was waiting for me at the station in Newkie, and in a

mistaken attempt to " make me feel more comfortable " he had my

room-mate in the car with him; a Dutch girl I detested. My real

friends all rallied round me and made me feel OK about my stupid

behaviour, but some of the girls I had thought of as very religious

and holy showed their true colours and were really bitchy about my

escapade. " Had to run home to Mummy did you then? " kind of thing.

I still cringe whenever I think about that day.

Ruthie