I was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk. We lived in a good house with a garden, There seen many trees outside the house. My father had named our house-The Rookery It was becanese, the rok, a hind had made nests in all the trees in our property.
After my father's death and just before I was born, his aunt, Betsey Trotwood visited our home. Many things were about to change. Aunt Betsey gave her opinions and expected all to listen and obey. My life was now to begin.
"My nephew, David, was a good man but a bit silly."
My usually shy mother told Aunt Betsey in a firm voice that she did not want anyone to speak about my deceased father in an unkind way.
Please Aunt! I would not like it if you spoke in this manner about my late husband. My husband David, was a good man. He was honest and had a kind heart. If my baby is a son, I will call him David after his father I hope that he grows to be like him."
ROOKERY
Aunt Betsey stared at my mother. "Of course, the baby will be a girl. I will be her grandmother and she will be called Betsey after me. She will not make any mistakes in her life, mistakes that I have made."
When Aunt Betsey had come to our home the first time, she knew that my mother was carrying me. My young mother was a widow and had only one servant by the name Peggotty.
Aunt Betsey had said that she had come to our house to help my mother care for me.Aunt Betsey was harsh towards males. This was due to the problems that she had with her husband who had ill-treated her. They had separated. She now considered all men as silly and wicked who only made the lives of women difficult.
But when i was born a male, she was is a state of shock. She left the house and then we were alone again. Fortunately, Peggotty was more than a servant. She was like a friend to my mother and later to me as well.
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We were happy and made the most of our life together. My mother would spend her evenings and wet days with Pegotty in the parlour, chatting, singing or reading. At those times, they would rock me, a baby in their arms till 1 fell asleep. Then, one of them would put me in bed. On Sundays, we went to church and to my father's grave. I felt safe knowing that he was close to us.
I had many such tender memories of my childhood. I do think about them and laugh at those pleasant times Peggotty's plump and red cheeks that looked like apples. So that every time she went out I told her to be careful else, the birds would pluck her cheeks thinking them to be fruit. Those were peaceful happy times.