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When Mum came up to Otley last year we saw a little girl fall from the monkey bars.
For her size it must have been a great height - thank goodness it was onto the bouncy stuff they use now.
Before she dropped she called out to her father, but there was no-one within hearing range.
I was unconcerned; after she fell she looked to see if anyone had seen and walked away, shaken but seemingly unhurt. Mum wanted to get involved though, because she might have had unseen injuries.
But what can you do? We were on a path that skirts the top of the playground and could not have made it down in time to catch her. I glossed over it, but I know Mum thought about it for quite a while; she brought it up later that evening.
Mum was very protected as a child, not allowed to play "out" until after my Uncle came and claimed all of Nanny's attention.
I was allowed the freedom she never had, because I had my sister and our next door neighbour and the only rule was we stuck together and never, ever separated. And never, not ever, went off with an adult even if it was a friend's parent. Mum said, "If they think you've been rude I will explain it to them later, just come home and tell me or your Dad."
I did wonder about that girl afterwards. But she bounced. That's a good sign, right?
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