Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Effrontery – definition: shameless or impudent boldness : barefaced audacity

Whilst deciding on my response to this word, I came across this wonderfully brave blog post.  http://lovebeloved.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/the-audacity-to-be/

I am quite a contradiction – possibly because I’m a Gemini, but who knows. From early childhood among family and people I knew I was out-going and sociable, but take me to a new environment and I became a clam. A meek little mouse. I’ll give you an example of each ‘personality.

At home and with my friends, I was always into cycle and go-cart races and building camps in the woods. Yep, I was a tom-boy, first degree. When we built camps a rival gang would smash it, then we would smash theirs. An on-going battle so to speak. Then one day the rival gang got hold of my younger brother, Simon. Well, you might as well have taken a tiger cub from its mother. I found a piece of chain (don’t ask me where I have no idea!) I was on the war path. I confronted this gang, swinging the chain and demanding they release my brother or else. As you would expect they complied. Decades later my other brother, Jon happened to meet up with one of these boys in a local pub. This grown man asked if Jon was my brother. He said yes. The next statement is word for word. “Mandy was so scary, we were all afraid of her.” Now to give you an idea of the background of these boys, most of their fathers were in prison – tough may be but not when faced with an angry girl with a chain.

As the eldest, I fiercely stood up for my brothers and sister and my friends. A trait I still have.

In complete contrast when I began secondary school (age 11) I was the shy, silent pupil in the class. Keeping out of the way of everyone. Trying to be invisible. Back at home, after school though, I was the former personality. In new situations I am still shy and retiring until I feel comfortable.

Do you have opposing traits in your personality? Have you written a character with a split personality?