Took my nephew to the park yesterday. It’s quite possible that children have evolved into a new species of human. I don’t remember running in gangs of three, throwing and chasing balls, twisting up the swings till I fell over dizzy. I don’t remember the easy laughter, the games of one-upmanship. Did I forget these things as an adult? Did they ever happen for me?

Reading a couple of psychology books about bullying among girls. Perhaps I’m trying to understand my growing years. Odd Girl Out claims that the biggest fear girls have is one of isolation, and that this fear makes them do terrible things to each other. I don’t think it quite applies to me. I don’t remember people laughing at me; they mostly ignored me. Increased isolation would have required everyone else in my school to be kidnapped by aliens.