The Nipper

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Title : The Nipper

Author : Charlie Mitchell

ISBN-10: 0007292597
ISBN-13: 978-0007292592

The heartbreaking true story of a little boy and his violent childhood in working class Dundee

Okay, novel of the week is “The Nipper” by Charlie Mitchell. This novel has been written based on his real life story. Since from his early childhood, the author had been abused physically and mentally by his father. “Dad has pressed a burning teaspoon on my face and he’s holding in there long enough to get a result – he’s scored a goal and he grins because he can see that I’m in agony as I’ve started screaming out in pain…..And it has only begun”.

I couldn’t tell you how it is felt like when I read his terrifying experiences. “Dad and Mum broke up when I was ten months old..” Poor Charlie who screamed in agony asking his dad to stop, yet it triggered his dad to give him more and more. It can long last for hours and he would just stop when he reached his goal. No one could help him because it was just him and his father in that house. “They are sometimes twelve-hour interrogation sessions, with nipping, bitting, poking in the eyes, and pulling clumps of hair from my head.” 

Charlie’s dad is expertise in manipulating others plus having different personality when he is sober; sometimes he could be funny and telling jokes. Charlie made the decision to stay with his father because his dad has toxicated his pure mind with such facts that his mum much worse if Charlie decided to live with her. 

Even he is just a kid; Charlie knew how to deal with his personal life. “When I’m at school and free of my jailer I put up a front to protect myself..I clown it up”. No one ever knew that deep within his veil, he is just a lonely child and living hell everyday with violence; pain, agony and blood.

“He drags me from one side of the room to the other, stamping on my head and picking things up from the table to hit me with, stopping every ten minutes for another drink.” “The punches are coming from all angles; kicks and knees are then added, and a few toe punts in the balls nearly finish me off..” Over and over again, Charlie got beaten; abused by his own dad and it continued for years. I wonder how Charlie managed to survive when there is no love; just fear, anger and pain.

When he grew up, drugs and drink became Charlie’s choice, and the violence that followed was caused by his decision to take them, as they would trigger memories of his childhood. “I don’t want to be in the negative limbo land of drugtaking and violence; I don’t want to be running all my life from a father whose anger has infected my mind and whose sickness has eaten into my soul; I don’t want to see that blackness behind the eyes when I stare into the glass.” His terrible childhood experiences devastated Charlie’s life where his Dad still has a strangehold on his soul. Anywhere he went and even in every action and decision that he made, that strangehold would affect Charlie. “So much for my new start, my new dreams, my new hopes, my new life…”

“I don’t feel guilty for saying what I said the night I walked out of his house when I was sixteen, when I told him I didn’t care less if he lived or died. When I was less than four years old I was in a tug between my mum and my dad. I told the judge I wanted to be with my dad. It was a bad choice, but then again, four-years-old kids aren’t very good at multiple-choice tests. And besides, I paid the price for my bad choice for years and years to come. But hey, that’s life.But that’s all in the past. I’ve got my life back and if there is such thing as karma – and I believe there is – all debts have been paid. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Charlie together again. But Sophie did.”

Finally, Charlie settled down with Sophie who he still believe that she was sent to him from heaven. He really glad and grateful that Sophie has came into his life and turned everything around. “One thing I know for certain: I will never treat my children the way treated me.”

When I think about him now I think he did love me, but that he was twisted, so any love he showed me quickly turned to hate, probably because he hated himself.

"Life is too short to be holding grudges or thinking about the past, and anyone from any walk of life can turn things around if they want it badly enough." Mitchell, C.

Interested? Check the nearest bookstore or buy online on AMAZON, ACMAMALL, MPH ONLINE, TIMES BOOKSTORE and BOOKXCESS
Another suggestion, just go to the nearest library.

Credit to my sister Jess for this book review :)

Xiao Hao, 3 Years Old Supersize Toddler

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Desperate mum Xiao Lin has begged doctors to help her shrink her supersize toddler - who is already tipping the scales at a massive 60kg.

Three-year-old Xiao Hao already dwarfs his petite mum and has been banned by several local nurseries in Guangzhou, southern China, as a health hazard to other youngsters.

'He means no harm he is just big and likes to play. I take him swimming for exercise but it is hard finding trunks to fit him and even the rubber rings are too small,' sighed his mother.

Some medics believe he may have a growth hormone disorder while others say he is a victim of China's Little Emperor syndrome where the families are allowed only one child - who is then spoiled rotten by doting relatives.

'He is not just overweight but very tall as well so we may be able to treat him if it really is hormonal. But he cannot remain like this or his heart will never stand the strain,' said Dr Lu Hong from the Guangdong childen's hospital.

Source : Metro UK

Related Topic : Kanak-Kanak 3 Tahun Seberat 63.50kg

Seriously, he is so adorable but he needs help. That kind of weight is not  a good sign for his health. And now, he is banned from attending nurseries. That is so unfair... 

My Story

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I am a young boy,
I live in a Kampung.
Everyday I woke up with the birds singing
on my window.
After a quick and simple breakfast,
I grab my lastik and run to meet my friends.

The forest is our playground.
We love to sink ourselves deep inside its rich color.
It is a good place to play hide and seek.
When we bored, we will climb a tree to peek inside the bird’s nest.

In the evening,
we spend our time playing in the river.
Sometimes swimming, sometimes fishing.
If we caught a fish, cheerful cheers will thunder
make the breeze giggling and softly pinch our cheek.
We only went home when the sun pull down his curtain
and wave goodbye to the day.

At night,
the marching sound outside beat gently into my ears.
What a perfect event to end my day.
I sigh, close my eyes and thanked God for the day,
and wish for another beautiful day tomorrow.

(My Story ~ by Jane, Joan & Clinton on 17 Oct 2009)

A Precious Gift

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Don't you want to loose yourself beneath their laughter?

Don't you want to be the one who put a smile on their face?

Don't you want to be the one who shed away their tears and fears?

Don't you want to love and to be loved by them?

Children...

A Precious gift from God.

The face of tomorrow.

(A Precious Gift, Sumandak Kinabalu 2007)

I Believe I Can Fly

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Deborah : If I can see it, then I can do it
 

Yung Yung : If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

Deborah : I believe I can fly
 

Yung Yung : I believe I can touch the sky
 

Deborah : I think about it every night and day
 

Yung Yung : Spread my wings and fly away
 

Deborah : I believe I can soar
 

Yung Yung : I see me running through that open door

 
 

Deborah and Yung Yung : I believe I can fly (3x)

Street Children

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Yesterday, we went to Tanjung Lipat and I couldn’t believe what I saw!

A group of children were ransacking the trash bin, looking for food. I was like OMG, who are these children? Where are their parents? Maybe they were the street kids that once plaguing the state, where the issue has been repeatedly raised but in the end went cold. 

:: Street Kids, picture downloaded from Google ::

I looked closely and realized that they are not locals or they could be Sabahans but it was hard to identify because they are so filthy. I didn’t mean to insult anyone about cleanliness but that what I saw. 

:: Street Kids, picture downloaded from Google ::

Illegal or not, children should be given education and love. But street kids issue is very complicated. The locals want them to be sent home. Like I said, the problem is not that easy to be solved. DNA proof is one thing. After proving that the child was come from Country X, do you think Country X will agree to take the child just like that? NO. Soon they will demand this and that papers. Papers, documentations, papers, documentations…after the long and hard works, in the end the issue is still there. Full stop. Noktah. 

Additional reading... 

Sabah Forum : Most Want Street Kids Sent Back

Street Children - Malaysia

Insight Sabah : Public Disgust, Media Apathy 

 

 

:: Downloaded from Google ::

So, who is to blame?

:: Downloaded from Google ::

It broke my heart thinking about these children. I believe that life as children suppose to be a happy one…playing, laughing and went to school. Not ransacking the trash to survive life. They need guidance and love so they won’t end up becomes criminal.        

Sorry, I cannot capture the children pictures because my fiancé won let me take even one snap. He said, “we are here so you can lessen your stress, not adding it up” (because he knows how I love beach, I guess he doesn’t want me to mess up the moment). OK boss, whatever…      

~ Quite a view, isn't it?? ~

  

Girl, 3, Battered To Death

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I nearly choked with my own coffee this morning when I read this NST Online Girl, 3, battered to death
Seriously, what is going on with the human now days???
How could you abuse a child? A child is a precious gift form God and it is your responsibility to give them love and life.
Not to take their life like a coward!!