For The Defence

So refreshing to hear
her enthuse about
the quality of her day
at school. So accustomed
have I become to
this woman-child's
constant recounting of
misery and disgruntlement
at her nasty experiences
that I can hardly credit
my ears, when informed
the day had gone so
very well. This is a
girl whom her teachers
take the trouble of informing
her mother they are so
pleased to have her
in their class. It has
always been so, despite
that she questions the validity
of their teaching methods
straight out - they value
her fearlessness, her sense
of inbred justice. Her
grandmother, on the other
hand, knows her for her
fall-back declarations, both
noughty: "not my fault",
and "it's not fair!". She is
intent on her school work,
seeks outstanding marks,
determined to find a place
in her future for practising
law, defending accused in a
court of law. Meanwhile, she
defends herself.