Mummy sounded out the vowel he had chosen. Having spent the last two and a half years watching me use my spelling board, Will was decisive in his choice, but now he paused, uncertain.
Then Mummy offered: ‘“i”. Or it could be an “I”.’
At which point Will continued with, ‘don’t want to go home.’
Thus I witnessed Will’s first free conversation with the board; his first words, his first ‘I love you’ to his mother, aged 13. Will can’t be the last. But the last words of my story will be his:
‘Give the spelling to more people.’
Going Home
Go my soul and go my eyes,
Onwards, onwards through fateful times,
Lift me, lift me home.
I must travel on.
Travel on.
Beckoning, calling, summoning, coaxing,
Drawing me homewards.
Homewards.
Travelling time on the wings of hope.
Fly my soul. Fly.
Anticipate home, yearn only for home,
Traversing on, voyaging on, journeying on.
Soar my soul, soar,
Steady my eyes. Steer steady.
Alone with Him in my heart,
Over the youngest years, through the
sleeplessness,
She my soul-mate joins me.
Together, our souls glide on.
Glide on.
Eyes sickening, body weakening, lungs dying,
Be strong my soul.
Be strong.
Falling, failing, fading…
Eyes glimpsing home.
Safe, warm, free, secure,
Soul’s rest.
Eyes discerning, eyes burning,
Dragged back, hauled back.
Next time.
Silence.
Soul’s suffocating silence.
Eyes searching onwards, upwards,
Trapped.
Until, until…
…I look out and see,
Eyes discerning, fingers pointing, letters
spelling,
Break free my soul,
Break free.
Onwards, eyes dancing soul’s beat,
Dance on my eyes.
Beat on my soul.
Home is calling, beckoning,
Soul’s yearning home.
ABOUT TEACH US TOO
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Jonathan Bryan’s Teach Us Too charity.
Teach Us Too hopes to further the aims of Jonathan’s ongoing petition, which he presented to the Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families at the Department of Education in 2016 – to promote the teaching of literacy to all children regardless of their label. Following that meeting, the department commissioned and published some research into literacy support for children and young people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The task is a big one and requires a shift in perceptions of what is possible, but with Jonathan as Teach Us Too’s patron, the charity is determined to make a difference. Jonathan has driven this campaign, and his charity will surely be his lasting legacy.
Please visit www.teachustoo.org.uk to find out more about the charity, its aims and how you can support it.
Two weeks old and on my way to the MRI scan.
In intensive care at three months old. Cuddles are the best medicine.
Photo by Alasdair Kirk
Playing peekaboo with Daddy.
Excited about my first day at pre-school.
With my oldest friend, Alexander.
Will and I at the park.
My Jemima’s first day at school – all of us at the same primary school.
Baking with my Susannah.
© Tom Pilston
With my spelling board.
A selection of nouns on my writing word board.
My writing board.
© Sugar Films Ltd
Meeting Edward Timpson, who was at the time the Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families.
Courtesy of Carmel King and The Diana Award
Receiving a Diana Legacy Award from Prince William and Prince Harry.
Courtesy of Carmel King and The Diana Award
Mummy delivering my speech at a reception at the House of Lords.
At the premiere of the CBBC My Life programme with my primary school friends.
© Sugar Films Ltd
Two writers meeting – Sir Michael Morpurgo and me.
Photo by Diane Vose
Surrounded by my favourite girls.
Eye Can Write Page 10
