The Over the Top with Jim Album

Chapter 7 Annerley Junction Was a Dangerous Place

After trying to avoid the cuts from the nuns all day, I had to avoid the State School Kids on the way home. They didn't like Convent boys because we wore a uniform with a tie, while they wore bare feet.

They yelled out that we had dirty knees, and when I said: "Catholics, Catholics ring the bell while you State School Kids go to Hell," they chanted: "Catholics, Catholics sit like frogs, in your Holy Water." It was scary for me when I was alone on the streets. I could be fired on with shanghais. Or ambushed with arrows on Ipswich Road from the hedge that was clipped in the shape of a kangaroo and an emu. Or, worst of all, someone would pick me and I'd have to fight him while the others watched.

Because I was what Olive called a Palooka, my tactic was to lie on my back and kick out while screaming "you're lucky Jackie's not here yet". Jackie was the best fighter in Annerley Junction: except maybe for Johnny Dunn from Junction Park State School.