“Yoursonwilllikelyfacethestares
andridiculeofothers...andI’m
sorrytosay,MrandMrsFulton,he
maywellbebulliedatschool.”Mum
andDadsatinsilenceandthenMum
askedthequestionthathadbeen
botheringhersincethedoctorhad
announcedthenews.
“Whenit’stime,shouldI send
Iantoaschoolforspecialneeds
children?”
“Absolutelynot,MrsFulton.Apart
fromhissize,yoursonisperfectly
normalineveryotherway.”
Inheav ysilence,MumandDad
trudged back down the steps of the
doctor’sofficeandoutintothecold.
Whentheygothome,Mumputthe
kettleonandslumpedonthecouch,
wonderinghowshe wasgoingto
breakthenewstomybrotherand
sisters.SheheardDadwasheading
towardsthebackdoor,hishatin
hand.“Whereareyougoing?”Mum
asked.
“Toseemyfamily,”Dadsaid,and
slammedthedoorbehindhim.
“Whataboutme?”Mumheardher-
selfsayquietly,hereyesmoistening,
butDadwaslonggone.
Hearingthedoorslamon that
day in 1964, my three siblings
The Fultonfamilyin 1967 inLaunceston,Tasmania.Fromleft: Jill,
Louise, Ian, aged about three, Mum and Mark
PHOTO: FULTON FAMILY COLLECTION
119
“My Life in Short”