clothes in the wardrobe, closed the door and made my bed again with a new pile of clothes, this time just under the window. My mother, if she
came into the room, would walk towards me so she might not discover the wet carpet. The smell was the only giveaway Briscoe 74.
One day, Eastman and Clare have a real bad fight. They are both close to
the window on the ground floor and as they struggle, Eastman catches her chin, pushing Clare’s head through the glass. However, at her age, twelve, Clare knows
how to deal with the situation. She knows the right actions to do. She then gets her coat, and leaves the house to meet her father, George. That night Clare decides to
stay with him. Then, she goes to the court in the next morning to report for the abuse done by her stepfather. She knows what steps to take in facing problems in
her life. George took one look at me and went to the cellar to retrieve his axe. He
put it in the car and asked me what happened. I told him that Eastman had had a fight with me and pushed my head through a window. I then said
that I was going to deal with it in the morning and it was not necessary for him to get involved. That night I stayed with George.
The next day, Monday, I asked Dad to drop me of at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court. I entered the building …
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘What can I do for you?’ ‘My stepfather keeps abusing me and I was just wondering whether I
could take out some action against him’ Briscoe 134. From the discussion above, it can be concluded that Clare is smart. It can
be observed through direct comments, character as seen by others, her thoughts, and her reactions.
3. Confident
Clare is a confident person. She is very confident in stating her opinion and her own ability. She is always certain about her own abilities. Besides, Clare
also has enough confidence in doing actions. In her personal description, it is
stated that Clare’s outside appearance shows her confidence. “Then there was me – Clear, Clearie, Clare, born 18 May 1957. About five feet three … Completely
confident on the outside” Briscoe 9. On the day attending the court, Clare makes her own way there. She does
not ask anyone to accompany her. She is very confident that everything will be all right. Even when her father asks whether she is all right, Clare answers
confidently and states that she does not want him to come. She knows exactly that she does not need any helps. Clare believes that she will be able to get the hang of
it by herself. She believes in herself that she can handle all the things. On the Wednesday I put on my school uniform and made my way to the
court. My father was waiting outside. My sisters had told him what was going on.
‘You all right, Clearie?’ he said to me. ‘Yes, I am and I don’t want you to come in.’ I was about to get into trouble
and if my mother thought that I had attached a plan with my dad, I would be in trouble big time. This was between me and Eastman Briscoe 136.
Once Clare works in the cafeteria in Vassall Road, the boss, Greasy Beard,
asks her the reasons for working there. Confidently she says that she gets a job and to be paid. Clare explains that she will work in the kitchen to cook sausages
and make tea. Moreover, when Greasy Beard asks her whether Clare can cook, once again in a very confident way she says yes. Clare states that cooking is very
easy. She is very certain about her ability to cook. Clare is very confident to say and to show her ability.
Greasy Beard returned on his own. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘why do you think that you are here?’
‘I’ve got a job,’ I said. ‘I’m going to get paid. I’m going to be working in the kitchen cooking sausages and making tea.’
‘Do you know how to cook?’ ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It’s easy-peasy’ Briscoe 155.
On one occasion while she is away from school since she has very serious infection on her face, Clare begins to watch a courtroom drama called Crown
Court at One. After watching this drama for several times, Clare then decides that she will become a barrister just like the characters in the drama. She has an
intention to find out all about it when she goes back to school. Clare believes in herself that she is destined to become a barrister Briscoe 239.
When finally she goes back to school, Clare makes an appointment to see the Career Advice tutor. She tells the tutor that she wants some advice about her
career after leaving the school. Her tutor offers Clare such jobs as a sales promotion girl and a sales representative. She refuses those kinds of jobs.
Confidently Clare states that she wants to be a barrister just like the characters she watches in the courtroom drama. She believes in herself that she can be a
barrister. ‘No,’ I said. ‘Miss, I want to be a barrister.’
‘A barrister? Now who put the idea into your head?’ ‘I’ve seen on TV, miss. That’s what I want to be.’
‘Well, it’s good to aim high, I’ll give you that. But this is Sacred Heart, pet. You failed the eleven-plus, that’s why you are here. You have to go to
university to become barrister, and we don’t turn out university material here.’
‘I didn’t fail the eleven-plus, miss,’ I said. I’m here because my sisters were here before me. I wanted to go to Notre Dame’ Briscoe 240.
Although the tutor doubts her, it does not change her mind. Clare finally
decides to find the qualifications needed to be a barrister in the library. She tells the librarian that she wants to be a barrister when she grows up. Once again,
another person doubts her. However, she still sticks on her decision. No one can change her mind. Fortunately, the librarian gives her a leaflet containing
qualifications needed of becoming a barrister. It is written in the leaflet that after gaining a university degree and a year’s training at the Inns of Court School of
Law, she will need to have a pupilage with a pupil-master. Fortunately, Clare and the whole class are due to go on a school visit to Knightsbridge Crown Court. She
then decides that she will find a pupil-master there Briscoe 241. After watching a case of boys stealing purses, Clare begins to realize that
she gets attracted by one of the barristers called Mr. Mansfield. When the students and the barristers are having lunch in the canteen, Mr. Mansfield begins his chat
with the teacher and the students. In this occasion, Clare pips up and with full of self-confidence she says that she will be a barrister. Furthermore, Clare also asks
Mr. Mansfield whether he wants to be her pupil-master when later she qualifies as a barrister. Clare is very confident in stating what she thinks and wants.
‘I want to be a barrister,’ I piped up. ‘I’m going to university and I will study Law and then I am going to the School of Law, and when I have
done that I am going to find a pupil-master in London.’ …
‘My name is Clare, Clare Briscoe. Mr Mansfield when I qualify as a barrister, do you think that you can be my pupil-master?’
‘Sure, but you’ve got a long way to go. Stay in touch and when you qualify I’ll give you a pupilage.’
‘I’ll hold you to that Mr Mansfield. A promise is a promise’ Briscoe 243. Even though her teacher doubts Clare’s dream, she is still confident that
she will qualify as a barrister. Her teacher tells Clare that it is good to have dreams, but they have to be realistic. Clare is supposed to dream of something that
she can achieve. However, all the things said by her teacher do not burry Clare’s confidence. She still believes in herself that she can be a barrister one day.
I did not understand that, but then again it was not really necessary to as it sounded like a load of rubbish. I would qualify as barrister. Mary and I
knew that I would keep in touch with Mike Mansfield and he had promised to be my pupil-master. All I needed were my O-levels, A-levels
and a degree. Easy-peasy Briscoe 244 It can be seen from personal description, her speeches, reactions, and
thought that Clare is confident. She is confident enough to state what she thinks and wants. Besides, she is also very confident in stating her ability and skills.
Clare believes in herself that she can be what she wants to be.
4. Tough
