Born a Crime

It was my first year at H. A. Jack,
the primary school I transferred to
after leaving Maryvale. Valentine’s
Day was approaching fast. I was
twelve years old, and I’d never done
Valentine’s Day before. We didn’t
celebrate it in Catholic school. I
understood Valentine’s Day, as a
concept. The naked baby shoots you
with an arrow and you fall in love. I
got that part. But this was my first
time being introduced to it as an
activity. At H. A. Jack, Valentine’s
Day was used as a fundraiser.
Pupils were going around selling
flowers and cards, and I had to go
ask a friend what was happening.