There was an eerie tone over our lounge room that evening. Though we trusted God that He would be with us, there was still the reality that a death was hanging over our household. Very soon a little princess would be without her mother and we would need to start working on a more permanent situation for her.
However, in the space of a week, we had warmed to Margot’s ability to love the limited time of her life that she was having. She had warmed to us and our lifestyle, while watching Mary play teacher or mother to our two year old. Also, Margot enjoyed listening to our peaceful and soothing Christian music that played on our stereo constantly. She had never heard lyrics of such heavenly-led tranquillity. They seemed to lift her spirit to a garden beyond her wildest dreams. Dale and I had come to love the gentle tone of the Maranatha Singers, and Margot had also warmed to their spiritual euphony and harmonizing voices.
After Dale had settled the other kids to sleep for the night, he entered the lounge room and sat down on the couch to prepare us for a time of prayer.
“Okay,” he began. “We need to ask God for the right words and that Mary will understand.”
We all bowed our heads and closed our eyes, seeking The Lord’s strength through us as Dale led us in prayer. There was a stillness about us, a silent tone bearing a peace beyond ourselves.
“Father, we ask that you send down your Holy Spirit upon us and upon Mary to help us talk with her about what will happen to her mother. Comfort us and comfort Margot and counsel us with your continual peace. Give Mary your arms to feel your protection, especially after her mother goes to be with You. Your love for the innocent is great and we praise you for that. Give us your love and your words of peace now as we go in and talk with Mary. We ask this in our Saviour’s name, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
We stood up and moved slowly to Mary’s room to find her clutching her doll as she laid in her bed. The eerie mood had quickly blended into an atmosphere of divine calmness, delivered over us by God’s Holy Spirit. We knew Jesus was right there with us. We felt Him.
We all sat down around Mary while facing her. Mary turned her eyes to us.
Margot paused as she struggled with the words. “Sweetheart…Mary? We’ve got something to tell you, Darling.” Margot stumbled on her first words. “Dale, will you start it for me, please?”
“Mary, I’ll tell you a story,” Dale said.
“Maybe if she sits on your knee, Dale..,” I suggested. “..it will help her feel relaxed to listen.”
Dale stood up and lifted Mary from her bed, then carefully sat her on his knee.
“Once upon a time…,” he began, “…there was a beautiful princess. She lived in a country cottage with a beautiful garden, full of roses and azaleas, and beautiful green trees hanging over the cottage. She was very happy in her garden. One day a big storm came and shook the house. Soon the garden was being destroyed by the storm, and the princess was very frightened. Suddenly, the storm lifted the house off the ground and it flew into the air right away from the nasty storm and do you know where it landed?”
Mary shook her head.
“It landed in Heaven, with Jesus. Heaven is a very peaceful place where there are no storms or people getting hurt, and the garden is the most beautiful of any garden. The princess loved this garden because she didn’t have to pull out any weeds or dig the ground over and over. There was no work to do at all in this garden because it was perfect, and she enjoyed it forever.”
“Darling…,” Margot continued, struggling for the courage to express what she needed to. “I…I shall be going into that garden very soon. I’m going to be with Jesus, and one day you will come and see me. But you will have to grow up first and become a woman like Mummy before you can come and see me.”
Mary gazed over us. An edge of alarm had entered her eyes.
“I’m going to be with Jesus very soon,” Margot repeated awkwardly as tears came into her eyes. “I won’t be alive for much longer. I have a bad sickness in my body and it’s going to kill me. I will always love you…you know that. You will see me again one day…after you have grown up into a lady first.”
Mary became teary, coming to realise that her mother was going to leave her. She started to cry reaching out towards her mother. “Mummy...Mummy!!”
Dale lifted Mary up and onto Margot’s knee, then we left to return to the lounge room, leaving Margot to some time alone with her daughter. Margot held her child close to her, crying in the heartbreak of losing her darling little girl. The tragedy that was about to be brought upon them was unbearable. Very soon they will never see each other again and the short time that was left was getting harder.
Dale stood by the mantelpiece deep in thought.
“I’ll make some tea,” I suggested quietly, then moved into the kitchen. Margot approached him, weeping. She drew closer to my husband and immediately fell into his arms for his comfort.
“Margot, we have the Lord’s assurance that she will be fine,” Dale consoled her.
“I know,” Margot sniffed, lifting herself off his shoulder. “But I’ve never been so frightened in my life. Facing death is so much easier than telling a child that her mother won’t be around for much longer.”
“I know.”
******
The next day was New Year’s Eve. Our street had been already in party mode by ten o’clock that morning, setting up their houses with all the extra trimmings that hadn’t been put up by Christmas Day. Some parties had already started with their pool side gatherings and pre-party drinks out on their verandas. The festivities about Ferngrove Road had already reached their climax.
However, this new year’s eve appeared very different to any other. It would be the last decade of the twentieth century, heading towards a new Millennium. Technology was constantly changing our world, and us along with it.
I was doing up Margot’s face in the kitchen to get her prepared for the big moment when the new decade would arrive. She hadn’t had a facial treatment for years and I was really wanting her to look her best. I had collected everything I could find to touch her up and make her into a star. At least, at number four, Ferngrove Road.
“Now, do you have sensitive skin?” I asked as I sifted through some containers beside me of different facial creams I had on hand.
“No, I mainly use a light moisturiser when I’m home,” Margot replied.
“Let’s see,” I said, looking closely at the label on one of the containers. “I think this one should be good. I bought this one last year. It doesn’t do much for me.”
Just then, Dale entered the kitchen and sat down at the table with a chuckle. “What’s going on here?”
“Never you mind,” I replied.
“How do I look, Dale?” Margot asked.
“Stunning.”
“You’re just being nice.”
“That too.”
“Where are the kids?” I asked, dabbing some of the cream onto Margot’s face.
“The boys are at the park,” he answered. “They just about live there. Mary is playing with her dolls with Julie in the lounge room.”
“Margot, just keep still while I put some of this eye shadow on,” I gently interrupted. “This one is called Fancy Rose.”
“Fancy Rose?” she laughed. “Sounds like a fashion statement.”
“Dale, what do you think?” I asked, inquisitively studying Margot’s eyes closely. “Does that look good on her?”
He chuckled with surprise. “You’re asking me?”
“You’re pretty good at recognising mine when you want to,” I smirked. “Does that colour suit her, Dale?”
“I suppose so.”
“Men! You can’t live with them and you can’t live with them. It’s a bit of a worry that. Now for some blusher.”
“I’m into more peaches and salmons,” Margot commented.
“You don’t look like a salmon to me, Margot,” stated Dale blankly.
Margot started to laugh.
“Mr. Expert will be in the sauce pretty quickly if he doesn’t watch himself. It’s a blush colour.”
“She blushes up very well.”
“Honestly, Dale, you have a real wit,” Margot said.
“When it behaves itself,” I added. “Now, for some lipstick.”
“I’ll stick with your lips, Van,” smiled Dale.
“Just ignore him, Margot. I’ll be fixing him up later on, I can tell you now. Now, let’s see...this one is Cheerful wine.”
“I might wake up with a hangover if I have that.”
“Well, it goes well with your peachy cheeks.”
“I feel like a fruit salad.”
“A dessert fit for a king,” said Dale.
“Mr. Wisecrack!!” I remarked, finishing off the end touches on her makeup. “There! Dale, what do you think of Margot?”
“Do I need to say anything but tell you I’m speechless?”
“It might help to keep things peaceful around here.”
“Honestly, you two are the end,” Margot laughed.
I looked closely at my husband. “And your end is coming up, Sir Smart Alec, I can say that as sure as eggs.”
He smiled back at me.
I started to clear the table. “Now, Margot, we’ll need to find something for you to wear.” I returned to look at my husband. “You can mind the kids.”
Dale smiled, then stood up and moved to the lounge room to do some reading while watching the girls play on the floor beside him.
Just then, Lindsay and Jordan entered the house from their time at the park.
Lindsay approached his father. “Dad?”
“Yes, mate.”
“Can I ride my new roller-skates?”
“Sure, but keep off the road, won’t you?”
“Oh, Dad!” Lindsay whined.
“Lindsay, you are allowed to ride your roller-skates on the footpath because it’s a lot safer than on the road at the moment. If I hear that you have been riding them on the road, you will be answering to me.”
Dale watched him seriously as Lindsay turned and went away disappointed.
All he was wanting was to be a normal boy like all his friends. He was a normal eleven year old now, so why couldn’t his father let him do normal things?
******
Midnight had finally arrived. The bellowing sounds of celebrations exalted from the street parties which surrounded us. We just wanted to enjoy the quieter time while listening to music and chatting away the evening.
Then, a song appeared on the CD that was the perfect accompaniment for an intimate moment with a dying lady.
Dale stood up and offered his hand out to Margot. "Sweet Lady, may I have this dance?”
“Me?” she exclaimed, puzzled while eyeing me cautiously. “But, Dale,..
...you’re married?”
“I would be honoured if you would dance with me.”
“Make the most of it, Margot,” I smiled. “He doesn’t dance with anyone.”
Dale helped Margot to her feet and the two began to dance with the tones of a really close, genuine friendship.
I was so happy and proud for Margot. She was being treated like a princess, more than she would ever care to remember in her entire lifetime. She really looked the part on this night, most likely being her final new year’s eve. Her doctor guessed she would have six to nine months left.
She danced well for a woman with AIDS, though she struggled to hold onto the strength she had. She was very slow and breathless, but it looked like she never wanted to let go of the moment. I was willing to allow her this time with my husband for as long as she needed it. She told us she had never felt this close to anyone before, not even to her parents.
Margot was always the shy type, didn’t mix too well with people. She had been a sickly child herself, catching bug after bug through her years. Then, she had met a boy in a bar one night and he took her home to romance her into having sex, the result on the arrival of Mary. A year later she contracted HIV after she had gone to see her doctor to inform him she had stepped on a needle in a children’s playground. Her tests proved positive to the AIDS antibody and it wasn’t long before she developed full blown AIDS. Gradually, day by day, she had been on a course road, a dying mother of a young child.
“This is weird,” said Margot. “I’m dancing with a married man, and right in front of his wife.”
“He’s saving his best to last, don’t you worry,” I grinned.
“Did you charm many women like this before you got married?”
“No,” Dale replied. “Vanessa was the only one I had eyes for.”
“I still better be,” I chuckled. “He called me an ironing board the other day.”
“You better dance with your wife before she divorces you.”
Dale smiled as he peered into her eyes. He lifted Margot’s hand to kiss it. “Thank you for the honour of dancing with me.”
“I am charmed. I had better go to bed so you two love birds can be alone.” She kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Dale.”
“Goodnight, Margot. Sleep well.”
We watched as Margot slowly moved to her bedroom.
Dale turned to me with his hand out to me. “My queen, I’d like you to accompany me in this dance...if you will.”
“I certainly will.”
******
It was a week into the year 1990 when we were driving up the Hume Highway into the start of our two week holiday stint in Sydney. We had booked a two bedroom holiday unit at Manly that looked onto the beach. Though expensive as it was, we really wanted to give Lindsay an experience with some wonderful memories that he could look back on, and we had our holiday savings prepared for this time.
We had left Terese to stay and watch over Margot and Mary while James was spending his summer break up at Romsey. If the neighbours became too inquisitive, which we had expected, we had told her to tell them that she was minding our house for us, which she was. Then, it wouldn’t arouse any suspicion. We made sure our plans for Margot and Mary were a hundred percent safe while we were away, and that God was watching over them.
******
We arrived in Wodonga, a town on the Murray River on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, our halfway stop to Sydney.
The boys were excited as punch when we entered our motel room.
“This is my bed,” Jordan said, claiming rights to his first choice of sleeping furniture.
“This is mine,” Lindsay added.
“Boys, don’t mess up the beds, please,” I told them.
Dale entered our room carrying the suitcases. “Lindsay, I need some help with the luggage, please.”
“Oh, why can’t Jordan do it?” complained Lindsay.
“Because I have just asked you to.”
Lindsay reluctantly followed his father out to the car.
“Jordan, you can help too, please,” Dale added, bringing in the food box and placing it on the table. “There are a few more smaller bags to come in.”
“What’s for dinner, Dad?” Lindsay asked.
“Your mum is better at answering that.”
“Thanks,” I returned.
“Can we have McDonalds?” asked Lindsay with anticipation.
“No, we can’t afford to eat out all the time, Lindsay,” I responded. “We’ll need enough to keep us going in Sydney.”
Lindsay whined. “Oh, Mum!!”
“Lindsay, enough of that, please,” Dale rebuked.
“Phooey!!!”
I delivered a hard slap to Lindsay’s leg, then pointed to him. “Just watch yourself, young man. If you are going to test us on this trip, you’ll be facing a lot more scenes. Go and have a shower now, please, then dinner will be ready, soon.”
******
Dale was writing out his diary at the table when Lindsay exited from the bathroom after his shower.
Dale raised his head towards him, seriously. “Lindsay, come here, please.”
Lindsay approached his dad.
“What’s on your mind, mate?” asked Dale.
“Nothing,” the boy replied sadly.
“So, how come your behaviour is starting to worry me?”
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“You will not be behaving badly on this holiday, Lindsay,” Dale said sternly, “Or you will be in serious trouble from me.”
Lindsay lowered his head.
“I just want to make that very clear to you. If you start behaving in a manner that upsets us, I’ll be leaning to follow through some serious actions, understand?”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“That’s your final word of warning, son.”
“Can we watch some television, please, Dad?”
“Sure,” Dale replied. “As long as there is no violence and bad language, it’s fine.”
Lindsay went over and turned on the television, then quietly sat down on the bed to watch the program.
******
We arrived in Sydney the following evening. It was a magnificent view from our front veranda looking down over the beach and tourist friendly business of Manly. We had the shopping mall down on The Corso where I could browse around for a few souvenirs. We had the ferries and some national parks nearby as well as some good sights to explore, all within our convenience.
On our first morning in Sydney, Dale took the boys down to the beach while I stayed back in the unit to rest in the cool with Julie. It was Lindsay’s first beach experience and to feel the soft sand between his feet was a new and exciting sensation for him. Dale sat close by watching his sons flicker around in the frothy ocean waters, thoroughly enjoying the waves and having the time of their lives. Lindsay would watch the other kids around him, then copy those actions with his brother.
As Dale was supervising over their safety, he heard a man’s voice call from a near distance. “Dale?”
The man approached him. “Dale? Is that you?”
Dale turned his head to look up towards the familiar voice, then stood up quickly with a pleasant surprise.
“Greg!” Dale exclaimed, shaking his old school friend’s hand while Greg’s daughter, Sara, stood beside him. “What are you doing in Sydney?”
“I live here.”
“You live here!” Dale echoed.
“Moved last year. Mainly for Sara. She wants to become a teacher for the deaf. What are you doing up this way if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Holidays,” Dale told him. “I’m on my three weeks annual leave.”
“Boy, this is a small world,” Greg said.
“It sure is.”
“Do you remember Sara?”
“Sara!” returned Dale. “Your daughter?”
“She’s fourteen now.”
“Wow! She’s a young woman.”
Just then, Lindsay and Jordan ran up to them, dripping wet from the water. They grabbed their towels and wrapped them around their shoulders.
“Do you remember Jordan?” asked Dale.
“Yes, he’s growing up,” Greg stated. “He was just a baby the last time I saw him.”
“And this is Lindsay. Our adopted son.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Lindsay stared back at Greg, wondering who this strange man was. He wasn’t sure of meeting new people.
“This is Mr. Powell,” Dale told his boys. “I used to go to school with him.”
Sara turned to her father and tapped him on the chest, speaking in sign language. “Dad, can I go and meet Jenny?”
“Yes,” Greg nodded. “Do you remember Dale?”
Sara turned to Dale with surprise. “Dale?”
“You’re a young woman now,” Dale signed to her.
“You have a moustache!”
Dale smiled. “No, you wouldn’t have known me with a moustache.”
“It suits you.”
“Hides the wrinkles anyway.”
Sara pointed her finger to Lindsay. “Jordan?”
“No, this one is Jordan.”
“He was just a baby.”
“Yes, he was just a baby when you saw him last. This one is Lindsay, our adopted son.”
“Bye, Dale,” Sara signed to him. “I’m meeting a friend.”
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“You, too.”
Sara left her father.
“Where are you living?” asked Dale.
“Over at Rozelle.”
“We’re staying at the Manly Holiday Units for two weeks,” Dale said.
“Would you and your wife like to come for dinner some time,” Greg asked.
You can meet my wife, Jill.”
“Sure,” Dale replied. “I’ll have to ask Vanessa first. We can ask her now if you like, if you’re not busy.”
“Fine,” smiled Greg. “Sara’s with her friend all afternoon now.”
“Where’s your wife?”
“Shopping with her mother in the city.”
“Okay, let’s head up to the unit for some refreshments and we can talk,” suggested Dale. “Jordan and Lindsay, grab your things, please. We’re heading back now.”
“Oh, can’t we stay, Dad?” whined Lindsay, while Jordan turned to immediately collect his gear. “We just got here.”
“We have plenty of time to spend at the beach, Lindsay. Do what you’re asked, please.”
“Crabapple!!” Lindsay snapped.
Dale stopped and turned around to Lindsay, firmly. “If I am back answered in that tone of voice, Lindsay, you can forget about the beach for the rest of the day.”
“Yes, Dad.”
******
It was a huge surprise to see Greg in Sydney. He had always been a real Melbournite, blending his favourite Aussie Rules team, ‘Footscray’ with a middy of beer and a meat pie in his hand. Yet, here he was, mixing it with the rich harbour dwellers of Sydney, a completely different world to the culture of Melbourne.
“This is such a surprise,” I commented, as we chatted over coffee at the table.
“It sure is,” he chuckled. “Who would have expected to see me up here? Not even my parents expected me to dwell amongst the mansions that lay about this harbour. But it’s for Sara. I want her to reach her potential. She wants to teach the deaf and this city has some great institutions that will help her succeed. How’s your job going, Dale?”
“It’s busy, but I enjoy it.”
“You’re the Chief Librarian there, aren’t you?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“Don’t you like being the boss?” asked Greg inquisitively.
“Not really,” Dale shrugged. “The work is okay. I just don’t like giving orders.”
“You never were the bossy type at school,” Greg recalled.
“But he is now,” I quickly remarked.
Dale dropped his head and shyly smiled.
“Yeah?” Greg said, turning to me with surprised eyes.
“He’s a real Major Lyons when he gets cooking.”
Dale shyly laughed.
“Dale? Shy, quiet, would never pick a fight? Are you sure you’re talking about the same one?”
“He’s not that bad,” I added with a cheeky grin. “I’m only stirring.”
“Did you know that Mr. Winsome passed away on New Year’s day?” Greg announced to us.
“No, I hadn’t heard that,” Dale answered. “He came to see me last year at work. He told me he had cancer.”
“Sara’s mother sent us his death notice from the paper. He suffered a heart attack.”
“No, I hadn’t heard,” Dale repeated sadly.
“It was a big funeral,” Greg told us. “I rang a few of my old mates and they said it was massive. They couldn’t fit everyone in the church. He was a well respected teacher for decades. I suppose it was better for him to go out quickly than suffer the drawn out agony of cancer. Remember when you got the cane from him?”
“Yes.”
“How did you feel about what you did, Dale?”
“Pretty scared.”
“Well, why did you ask for it? No one does that.”
“Personal reasons,” Dale responded. “I felt it was the right thing to do at the time. That was seventeen years ago anyway, Greg. It’s in the past.”
“I’ll never forget it,” his friend continued, shaking his head in disbelief. “I still think about that. It shook me to a pulp. I sometimes have nightmares over it.”
Dale was shocked. “Nightmares!!”
Greg opened up his feelings. “It really rattled me, Dale,...watching you ask for the cane, when I was the one giving you the hard time. It was like you were taking my punishment. Like you weren’t afraid to take the wrap for something I did.”
“Greg, you don’t need to worry about the past anymore. We were kids back then, struggling to find ourselves. Even me. I only asked for the cane to help something I was struggling with at the time.”
“What?”
“Fear. I was afraid of life. I was afraid of the world and everyone around me. It was just something I felt I had to do at the time. I wasn’t trying to take your punishment, even though it may have seemed that way. I’ll try to reassure you. Don’t let the past take over your enjoyment of today. It’s too important.”
“It’s easy for you.” Greg sighed disheartened.
“Why is it easier for me?”
“Because you’re Dale,” Greg stressed. “You see goodness in everything. You can take all the bad stuff and turn it into good. There’s not one bad bone in you and I wish I could be like you. I wish I could make a difference like you do. You seem to be able to do that so easily. I can't see the things that you can see. Every time I try to think like you, I get knocked down and it’s so hard to get up again. Let’s face it, I’m a loser and always will be.”
“Greg, just enjoy what’s in your own life today,” Dale advised him. “Enjoy your wife, your daughter, and your work, and everything around you, not feeling envious for me. When bad memories start taking over your driving, you can’t see the road ahead. If you keep on looking back all the time, then you won’t see what wonderful things lie ahead for you.”
Greg seemed to be still bearing the scars of guilt because of his friend. His initial encounter with Dale six years before exposed the shame from the ex-school bully’s spirit, yet nothing proved that he was moving on in getting over it.
******
By that evening, I wanted to face my husband with a few home truths of his own.
I sat down next to him on the couch. “Dale, I want to ask you a direct question.”
“Yes, Van.”
“Is your past taking over your driving?”
He turned his head to me, puzzled. “Huh?”
“You were telling Greg not to dwell on his memories. Is your past taking over your driving?”
“No, why?”
“You want to go and visit that house again,” I reminded him. “Where you were abused. You are going to go over all those reminders again of what happened, and relive that month of your childhood. Tell me that isn’t taking over your driving.”
“Van, I can assure you, it’s not taking over my driving,” he replied. “I’m not dwelling on any bad memories. It has been suggested that it may help Lindsay and myself in the long term, that’s all. I’m only reviewing it. I’m not living it. There may be something I haven’t discovered that is causing some hold up in my life, like getting over my fear of being an authority. I’m certainly not reliving my past in any way. I need you to trust me with that, Van.”
“I guess I’m just worried how it may affect you later, that’s all. You simply left us, mentally and emotionally, after you got kidnapped. I remember when I visited you in hospital, you didn’t want to see me, or any of your family.”
“That doesn’t mean I’ll be like that this time,” he answered me. “I don’t know what I will feel, but God will be with me.”
A pre-notion laid a condition on my feelings against the idea. Though it was Dale’s decision and I trusted God that he would be fine, I was still his wife. I still had the inkling that his past’s retaining thoughts would breathe more questions that he needed answers to, and I felt he had enough to worry about.
******
Terese quietly entered Margot’s room to get Mary’s pyjamas for her bath time, while Margot was laying on the bed, resting. A pricket of temperament was edging it's way into Terese’s charitable zest. It was starting to become a wearisome chore for Terese. Her initial zest for helping others was wearing down, but she couldn’t suddenly change her mind. She was already committed.
Margot aroused over the slight disturbance, then turned her eyes to Terese.
“Oh sorry,” Terese said, turning to her apologetically. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Margot lifted her head. “What time is it?”
“Nearly seven. I’m just about to put Mary in the bath.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s finishing off her dinner, then I’ll be giving her a bath. I’ve got your meal ready when you want it.”
“I don’t feel like eating, Terese.”
“You have to eat.”
“I’m so tired,” complained Margot, as she lay her head back down onto the pillow. "I hate this."
“Well, what about something light?” suggested Terese. “I could make some soup or a light salad. ”
“Okay.”
Terese turned to leave the room. “Okay, I’ll be back soon.”
“Terese?”
“What?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“What changed your mind?”
“What about?” asked Terese.
“When I first met you, you called me ‘one of those’’,” Margot recalled. “Now, you don’t mind being in the same house with me, eating off the same plates. You even help me to the toilet. ”
Terese didn’t say anything for a minute. She didn’t want Margot to know her thoughts. Instead she found herself offering her a half truth. “I was angry with Dale for keeping you secret from me. It had nothing to do with you. I am his closest working colleague. We’ve shared a lot with each other. He’s been there for some of my really difficult times. Then, you came along. I felt I was being thrown on to his scrap heap. It was like he didn’t trust me anymore, with anything. You understand that, don’t you?”
“You called me ‘one of those’.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Terese said shamefully. “I know I shouldn’t have said that and I’m sorry.”
Margot lifted herself up a little again and cried out in distress. “Terese, I’m going to die. It’s going to wear me down to nothing and I can’t stop it. So, why doesn’t anyone care? Why do I have to hide myself in other people’s houses to protect myself? It’s so humiliating.”
Terese couldn’t answer her. She was aware of Margot’s innocence, but she still felt the gremlin of prejudice about the whole thing, like most of the community. “Look, I’ll just give Mary her bath, then bring you something to eat.”
Terese closed the door behind her quickly.
Margot was conscious that she was being a burden to those caring for her and Mary, all because of some pathetic little drug user.
******
The next morning, I was lazing around in bed, enjoying the luxury of a good sleep in, something that was a rare event for me. The kids had been up early and I could hear them watching some television in the lounge room. I stretched myself out in the bed, feeling the freedom of the bed sheets, joyfully realising I didn’t have to get up and make breakfast or get the kids off to school.
Dale exited from the en-suite after his shower and begun to slip on his shirt.
“How’s the shower?” I yawned.
“Great.”
“What time is it?”
“Seven thirty.”
“You’re not in a hurry for breakfast, are you?”
“I’m not, but the kids might be.”
“What are we doing today?”
“Whatever we feel like doing.” Dale smiled. “We might visit the Sydney Zoo tomorrow. The kids will enjoy that.”
“Can we leave them there?”
“You wish,” he smiled.
“Yeah, I wish.”
“I’d like to visit the State Library while we’re here as well,” he told me.
“Why?”
“Make myself known...in a business sense,” Dale answered. “Also, I want to see what they’ve got to help Margot.”
I yawned again. “I suppose I should start to get up and have a shower. I don’t get to say ‘suppose’ that very often. I’m usually forced into it against my will.”
“I’ll take the boys down to the beach later too.”
“I feel like being totally lazy today,” I commented. “I don’t seem to want to do anything, but I have to make the most of the sights while I’m here. Otherwise I’ll regret it, I’m sure.”
“I’ll make some coffee so you can think about it,” Dale smiled.
“Yeah, right. Think more about how additionally lazier I can get than I already am. You’re out to cook me, I know it.”
“Not me, Van.”
“And all the fish in Canada said so, right?”
“Right.”
******
Later that morning, we took our first ferry ride across Sydney’s dark blue harbour. The boys were rapped with all the different styles of boats and yachts that gently floated by us. Our ferry glided past the mansions that dwelt on the water’s edge, while the people of Sydney went about their daily lives, as if life could not be better than this.
“Look at that one, Dad,” announced Lindsay, watching one ferry speed past us like it was on a mission to kill.
“That’s called the Hydrofoil,” Dale told him.
Soon, our ferry moved into Sydney Cove which sat comfortably and proudly beside the famous Harbour Bridge. Being so close to the Bridge, our eyes were drawn upward to it’s magnificent steel structure, an experience to remember.
Lindsay was thrilled with this new adventure. “Wow!! What’s that big face over there, Dad?”
“Luna Park.”
“Can we go there, Daddy?” Jordan asked his father.
“Can we, please, Dad?” begged Lindsay.
“We might not be able to afford it,” Dale replied, “But we’ll see, okay?”