Each month, I will introduce a character from my upcoming books. This month it is the turn of Maddie Hamilton, a cheeky Eastender from London, UK.
From the lips of Maddie Hamilton
Oi, let me tell you about me, Maddie Hamilton! I was born and bred in London, right in the heart of the East End, within earshot of the Bow bell's. Growing up, life wasn’t all tea and crumpets; it was a bit more like pie and mash, if you catch me drift. My mum was a proper East Ender, and my dad worked his fingers to the bone to keep food on the table. We lived in a flat above a pub, the sounds of laughter and arguments below like the soundtrack to me childhood.
Now, I ain't saying it was all rough and tumble, but it sure taught me how to stand me ground.
When me mum won the lottery, she decided to send me to one of them posh schools, where the girls had posh accents and wore frocks that cost more than me lunch money. I stood out like a sore thumb, and not in a good way. The other kids would giggle at me Cockney slang—“What’s all this then?”—and I soon learned to use me fists to defend meself. The school may have had its charm, but it didn’t stop the bullies from giving me a hard time. But I wouldn’t let ‘em get to me; I was raised to protect the underdog, you know?
Then came the big move across the pond. Dad got a job in Mississippi, and just like that, we packed our bags and hopped on a plane. I remember lookin’ out the window, thinkin’ I was off to the land of opportunity, but I had no idea what was waiting for me. The accent here? Blimey! Everyone sounds so different, and I felt like I was speakin’ a foreign language. But one thing I knew for sure was how to look after meself.
At me new school, the bullies were a bit different, but their games were still the same. With me Cockney grit, I stood up for those who couldn’t defend themselves. No one messes with the Cockney girl who grew up in a pub! I may be far from London, but I carry that spirit with me everywhere I go. And while I might miss me fish and chips and the cheeky banter of home, I’m makin’ me mark here in the States, one day at a time. So, whether it’s dodging bullies or finding the best spots for a cuppa, Maddie Hamilton’s just gettin’ started!
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