Cyclone
As I sit here on a bright, clear, beautiful morning in the north east of Victoria, cyclone Larry is raging up north.
My thoughts are with everybody all the way from Townsville to Cairns and surrounding areas. And with all the people who live on the islands along the coast.
It’s so frightening to be caught at the mercy of good old Mother Nature. So hard for many people to imagine the force and ferocity this old earth can unleash at times.
When we were getting ready to fight the fires that surrounded us on New Year’s Day this year, we had a taste of what it’s like. You do everything you can, and then you sit and wait for the worst to hit. You don’t “fight” these things. You ride them out. You survive.
Many people asked me afterwards if I had this item or that packed up and ready to go.
The answer was no.
The important things are what you think about. Life. Saving ourselves and the animals we love. That’s all we thought about — do what we can for our house and belongings, but preserve life above all.
It was only after the danger passed that I thought of all the silly little things I would have lost that mean so much to me. Like photographs and mementos. But we would have been alive, and so would our animal friends. Possessions are only things after all.
Hurricanes are not like fires or floods. The noise is what haunts you.
The noise of a hurricane bearing down is indescribable, relentless. It rages on and on and on. Then there’s the eerie quiet at the eye of the storm. We use words such as eerie, spooky, weird, but there’s no real way of describing that either. It’s more than just “eerie”. It’s ominous, dangerous… You know the horror is about to begin again. It’s like a cruel glimpse of normality amid the destruction. Like nature is saying: “This is what it was like yesterday, what it will be like tomorrow, but today I’m angry. Today I’m showing you how small and insignificant you really are compared to me.”
Today, I’ll look up at a perfect sky of blue and enjoy a perfect day of 29 degrees Celsius. I’ll walk around my farm and enjoy the sounds of birds, cattle, dogs, my footsteps swishing through the grass.
Today, I’ll spare a thought, a prayer, a tear of sorrow and a heartfelt hope for strength, endurance, and a great deal of old fashioned luck, for all those riding out the fury of Larry and the cyclone that’s following close behind him.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The Tree Friends
The Tree Friends
By: Brittany Kingston
© February 2006
Don’t look at me. Go straight past. Don’t see me. Don’t look at me. Go straight past. Sarah only glanced up after the attendants had dragged the newcomer through the common room and along the passage to the vacant room across from hers.
Old Napoleon cackled and swished his tongue around his toothless lips. “New friend for you, luv.”
Sarah slid into the chair opposite him. “Is she mad, Leo?”
“She sure ain’t happy,” he laughed. He cocked his head to one side and closed an eye in concentration. “No, luv, she ain’t crazy. When she shakes off those meds, you go talk to her. I think you might have a lot in common.”
Old doubts and insecurities crowded in on her. “Maybe she’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Only one way to find out.” He studied her for a lucid moment before his eyes took on that familiar far-away look. “Man those cannons lads! Nelson’s on his way.”
Nurse Cawley and an attendant raced over to make sure Napoleon wasn’t about to set sail on another battle raid.
Sarah slipped outside and ran down to the big oak tree at the far end of the garden. It was spring again and bulbs were bursting from the ground in carnivals of colour and scents. Sarah inhaled their beauty and wished she could grow wings like the bees that visited the pretty blooms.
“Another year gone.”
She knew that quiet voice and smiled as she turned to find Jamie sitting on the lowest branch of the tree. He donned a face-splitting grin and jumped down.
“You’re back!” She embraced him.
“Yes, but you’re the one who’s been gone a long time.”
Sarah stared down at her feet fighting shame, guilt, fear. He was right. She hadn’t visited. “After you left, there was a security lock-down. Everyone had to do therapy.”
“I hope you told them all kinds of weird stuff.”
She gazed into his deep green eyes, thankful not to see any resentment in them. “You know I’d never do that.”
He sat down with his back against the tree and patted the ground for her to join him.
As she snuggled into his embrace, Sarah breathed in the fresh, earthy scent of him. “Where do you go when its cold, Jamie?”
“Nowhere. I just stay inside until it gets warmer.”
She swivelled her head to see his face. “Do you like being Jamie?”
“Sure. Unless you want me to be someone else.”
“I like you as Jamie, for now.” Sarah nestled her head against his shoulder. “Tell me about the things you’ve seen. I love hearing your stories.”
Sarah could listen to his quiet, musical voice all day. In fact, she hadn’t realised how long she’d been with him until the dinner gong rang out into the still evening air.
“See you tomorrow, Jamie.” She waved and raced back towards the old bluestone building hoping to enter through the kitchen unseen. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain to Nurse Cawley where she’d been and why she’d missed lunch. Cawley was one of the nicer ones, but if you said anything interesting she’d report it to the shrinks.
The coast was clear. Sarah slipped into the dining room and took her place at one of the window tables. She focussed her attention on the table cloth and waited.
“Sarah?”
She glanced up to find David standing with his hands on the newcomer’s shoulders.
“Sarah, this is Fleur. I was hoping the two of you might like to meet.”
David the attendant was a bit like Cawley. He was okay unless you said or did anything out of the ordinary, then he’d go running to the shrinks to tell tales.
“Hi Fleur.”
“Hi Sarah.”
Fleur sank onto the chair and David left. The meal was served and they ate in silence, eyes down, hair concealing their faces.
“Sarah?”
She looked across at Fleur’s thin, mousy features. “Yes?”
“Been here long?”
Sarah nodded. “I don’t remember being anywhere else.”
Fleur’s features saddened and it looked like she was about to cry.
Sarah felt a pang of sympathy. She knew what it was like to be abandoned in a strange place where most of the people were old and everybody did strange things. “It’s not so bad here, Fleur. Really. I like living here.”
The girl looked at her with large, dark eyes. A spark of hope momentarily lit them and she managed the flicker of a smile.
Sarah smiled back, then glanced around nervously. Don’t see me. Don’t look. “Just remember, keep your head down and keep quiet. That way you can pretty much go where you like and do what you want in your free time.”
Fleur nodded and they finished their desserts without speaking again.
The next morning, a very different Fleur made her way across the common room to where Sarah sat with old Napoleon. The meds had worn off and she was more alive. There was no sign of the fear and uncertainty of the day before.
“Hi Sarah.”
“Hi.” Don’t make them notice me. Don’t look at me. Don’t see me.
Sarah introduced Fleur to Napoleon and watched as the two of them talked and laughed like they’d known each other all their lives. Leo was lucid. He was fun whenever he had a straight day.
When Sarah thought they’d forgotten she was there, she made her way outside and ran down to the tree to see Jamie. They sat together with their backs against the strong trunk and soaked up the energy emanating from within it. Eventually, Sarah felt safe enough to tell Jamie about the newcomer, Fleur.
“She sounds nice. Maybe I could meet her some time.”
Sarah looked down at the ground and mumbled, “Maybe.” She hadn’t told anyone about Jamie. It was too dangerous. Every time she made new friends, the shrinks made them leave. It wasn’t fair. Well, this time she was playing it smart. Jamie was a secret. Maybe if she didn’t tell anyone Fleur was her friend, she’d be able to keep her too. “I’d better go. It’s almost lunch time.” She waved and went back up to see if Fleur would sit with her.
While they were eating, Sarah dredged up enough courage to ask, “Why did they bring you here?”
Fleur shifted a pile of beans around the plate with her fork. “I got mixed up with some guys who were into the whole drug scene. I didn’t get hooked, but my folks went berko and sent me in here to get my head straightened out. How about you?”
“Something like that.” Sarah kept her head down and ate everything on her plate. Don’t draw attention. Be good. Don’t be noticed.
Group therapy in the afternoon was monopolised by Fleur who kept making everybody laugh with her silly comments. To Sarah’s surprise, Counsellor Green didn’t send her to her room.
Sarah told Fleur later, “You’d better be careful. Green tells the shrinks everything. You’ll get a black mark on your record.”
“I’m not afraid of them. I just tell them what they want to hear. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’ll be out of here soon.”
Sarah stared down at her scuffed shoes. She’d only just met Fleur and already the shrinks were thinking about making her leave. She sighed and walked outside. When she was sure no-one was watching, she went to visit Jamie.
He greeted her with his usual grin. “What’s wrong?”
“I was just getting to like Fleur, but I think the shrinks are going to send her away.”
“You know that not everybody can stay here like you and me.” He gestured toward the high stone wall with the razor wire looped along the top of it. “They’re not like us. They have lives. They go back out there and disappear.”
“I know.” Sarah smiled. “Sometimes I just wish I could have more friends, that’s all.”
Jamie laughed out loud and spun around in circles with his arms held out straight from his shoulders. “You could have all the friends you want.” He stopped spinning and hugged the tree. “Right here.”
Sarah gazed up through the branches and new spring leaves to the small platform that held her secret treasure. She smiled. “You’re right. I could have all the friends I want, right here.”
The dinner gong sounded reminding her of the time.
“I’d better go,” she grinned. Jamie always knew how to make her feel better. That was why she kept him to herself. They were friends and no-one could make him leave.
Sarah was confused when Fleur sat with the rest of their therapy group for dinner. She glanced over and Fleur waved to her.
“Come and join us.”
Horrified, Sarah shook her head and stared at the meal she no longer had the appetite for. Don’t look at me. Don’t see me. She watched them – whenever she was sure nobody noticed. They talked, laughed. Everybody liked Fleur. She was everybody’s friend. Not like Jamie. Jamie was her friend, nobody else’s. Maybe Jamie was right. Maybe she could introduce Fleur to him. Then the three of them could be friends together. That would be good. It could be their secret.
The next day was taken up by individual therapy in the morning and group activities after lunch. It was mid-afternoon by the time Sarah had a chance to wander down to the far end of the garden.
“Jamie?” Sarah walked around the tree, but for once, Jamie didn’t appear. “It’s me.” She peered up through the branches to see if he was hiding, waiting to pounce down and give her a fright.
“What are you doing?”
Sarah spun around to find Fleur watching her.
“Who’s Jamie?” Fleur looked past her.
“Um, a friend. Sometimes he meets me here.”
“Really?” Fleur’s eyes lit up. “You have a secret lover?”
“No. It’s not like that. We’re just friends. We talk. That’s all.”
Fleur’s features arranged themselves into an unimpressed expression. “Oh. I see.” She peered all around and up into the tree. After a moment’s thought, a slow smile spread across her face. “I think you’re really lucky to have a secret friend. I wish I had one. Do you think I could meet Jamie? It would be so cool.”
Sarah was suddenly uncertain in the face of Fleur’s enthusiasm. She’d been hoping to introduce her to Jamie, but now she thought it might not be safe. Fleur might blab. “You do know that this is a secret, don’t you Fleur?”
“Absolutely.” She straightened, licked her forefinger and drew an ‘x’ across her chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.” She smiled in a reassuring way. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Honest. It’ll be our secret. Okay?”
Sarah smiled. “Okay.”
“Boo!”
The two girls squealed and jumped as Jamie landed between them.
“That wasn’t fair.” Fleur laughed and held her hand out. “You must be Jamie.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “And you, my dear, must be the Lady Fleur.”
She curtseyed. “Fleur by name, fleur by nature. I’m very pleased to meet you.”
All three of them laughed.
Sarah spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Fleur and Jamie talk about the outside. They seemed to have a great deal in common and they’d both travelled to other countries. She was fascinated by their comparisons of the places they’d both seen. The way they talked about them, made Sarah feel like she’d seen them too.
They talked and laughed until the dinner gong sounded making the girls race breathlessly back to ‘the big house’ as Fleur liked to call it.
It was two days before Sarah had another free afternoon. She looked everywhere but couldn’t find Fleur so she went down to the oak tree alone.
As she drew near, she heard voices. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure they would hear it. Quietly, she walked around the tree to see who had invaded her secret place.
Fleur was sitting on Jamie’s lap with her arms around his neck, kissing him. She laughed and rose. “Come on. You can kiss him too, if you like.”
Sarah shook her head, relieved it was only them.
Fleur walked over and took hold of her hand. “Come and watch.”
Sarah glanced at Jamie. He patted the ground beside him. Smiling, she joined them. Fleur tried to persuade her to kiss Jamie, but she preferred not to.
Afterwards, they sat and talked, and Fleur told jokes that made them laugh.
The next couple of weeks were spent like that. Every spare moment she and Fleur had, they visited Jamie. Sarah felt happier than she’d ever been. Then one afternoon, Fleur told her she was getting a visit from her parents. She didn’t seem pleased.
“Don’t you want to see them?”
“Yes. I guess they mean well, but they can be a pain.”
Sarah studied the once plush carpet on the common room floor. She didn’t want to remember her own parents. She’d sent them away a long time ago.
Fleur got ready for her visitors and Sarah went to visit Jamie.
“Do you think they’ll make her leave?” she asked him.
“They might.” His eyes were sad. “Do you want her to leave?”
“No. I wish she could stay forever, like you.”
“So do I.”
It wasn’t long before they heard someone approaching. Jamie disappeared up the tree and Sarah waited to see who it was.
“It’s only me.” Fleur sat beside her. “Is Jamie here?”
No sooner had she spoken, than he landed beside them, grinning. “Am I ever anywhere else?” He sat between them with his arms draped across their shoulders. “How did it go with your parents, Fleur?”
“Great... I guess. They’re taking me home tomorrow. Apparently I’m cured. I got a good report from the shrinks.”
Sarah felt like her heart had been ripped out. “Don’t you want to stay and be our friend?”
“Sure, but I have to leave some time.” She smiled at Sarah. “Don’t worry. I’ll visit.”
“But you won’t be here every day.”
“Bummer, eh?”
“Yeah.”
“I can bring great things in for you, though. Would you like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t be sad, Sarah. We three will always be friends. Won’t we Jamie?”
“Sure we will.”
Sarah rose and looked down at them for a moment, a loving calm driving the sadness away. “Let’s make it official, then. We’ll make a pact to always be friends.” She stared into Fleur’s eyes. “Do you want to take the sacred oath?”
Fleur scrambled to her feet. “What do I have to do?”
“You have to follow Jamie and I up the tree. You can’t see it from here, but there’s a platform high up in the branches. That’s our secret place. It’s safe up there. We can go up and swear the oath and prick our thumbs to mix our blood. We’ll be blood friends. Do you want to? You can’t just say it. It has to be in your heart.”
Fleur’s smile broadened. “Let’s do it.”
Jamie began to climb and Fleur followed. Sarah watched for a moment, then climbed after them.
When they reached the top fork in the main trunk, they made themselves comfortable on the raft of planks. Sarah moved the heavy roll of tarp out of the way and sat on it so it wouldn’t open to reveal the treasure within. She smiled knowing she’d soon have another treasure to wrap up in there. She took her carving knife from a knot hole and pricked her left thumb with it. Then she handed the knife to Fleur.
Fleur pricked her left thumb and offered the knife to Jamie.
Sarah grabbed it. “Jamie’s already sworn. You and I have to do it.” She took Fleur’s hand and pressed their thumbs together until the bleeding stopped. She placed her right hand over her heart. “I, Sarah, solemnly swear to be your friend forever and to meet you here at our sacred tree.” She smiled at Fleur. “Now you say exactly what I did.”
Fleur placed her hand over her heart and spoke the words.
“Now, close your eyes and hold Jamie’s hands and I’ll make you our special friend forever.”
Fleur closed her eyes.
Sarah grinned.
After Fleur left there was a security lock-down and nobody was able to go outside or anywhere without supervision. The alarm systems were reprogrammed, extra cameras were mounted and even the razor wire around the fence was renewed.
Sarah stared through the common room window and wished she could go out into the garden again. It was lonely up at the big house now. The only one she could really talk to was Napoleon and he’d had few lucid days since Fleur’s departure.
By the time life settled back into its routine of eating, sleeping, therapy and craft activities, Fleur had been gone a whole month. Sarah didn’t mind, though. She had her secret, and her treasure. It was just a pain that she had to wait so long before being allowed to wander around alone again.
She’d even made an effort to get to know the newcomer, Ryan. They’d put him in Fleur’s room. He was handsome, but he was shy. Sarah decided she liked him almost as much as she liked Jamie and Fleur. Perhaps, if Ryan could be trusted, she could introduce him to the others.
That afternoon, while Napoleon fought the Battle of Britain against Attila the Hun, Sarah slipped outside and ran down to the oak tree.
Jamie greeted her with a hug and his usual grin. “Miss me?”
“Of course.” Sarah laughed. “It’s great to have some freedom again.”
Fleur peered around the trunk of the tree.
“When did you get here?” Sarah ran to hug her.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re all together.”
Sarah looked them up and down. “I’ve decided on new names. You can be Jason,” she said to Jamie. “And you can be Jenny. What do you think?”
“Jason.” Jamie stroked an imaginary beard. “Dignified. I like it. Jason I am.”
“Jenny’s nice,” said Fleur.
Sarah smiled. It was great to have secret friends. The shrinks couldn’t make them leave if they didn’t know about them. No-one could make Jason and Jenny leave. They were hers for as long as the tree concealed the tarp and the treasures that lay hidden within.
For the rest of the afternoon they sat, talked, and laughed. Then Sarah told them about the newcomer, Ryan.
The End
By: Brittany Kingston
© February 2006
Don’t look at me. Go straight past. Don’t see me. Don’t look at me. Go straight past. Sarah only glanced up after the attendants had dragged the newcomer through the common room and along the passage to the vacant room across from hers.
Old Napoleon cackled and swished his tongue around his toothless lips. “New friend for you, luv.”
Sarah slid into the chair opposite him. “Is she mad, Leo?”
“She sure ain’t happy,” he laughed. He cocked his head to one side and closed an eye in concentration. “No, luv, she ain’t crazy. When she shakes off those meds, you go talk to her. I think you might have a lot in common.”
Old doubts and insecurities crowded in on her. “Maybe she’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Only one way to find out.” He studied her for a lucid moment before his eyes took on that familiar far-away look. “Man those cannons lads! Nelson’s on his way.”
Nurse Cawley and an attendant raced over to make sure Napoleon wasn’t about to set sail on another battle raid.
Sarah slipped outside and ran down to the big oak tree at the far end of the garden. It was spring again and bulbs were bursting from the ground in carnivals of colour and scents. Sarah inhaled their beauty and wished she could grow wings like the bees that visited the pretty blooms.
“Another year gone.”
She knew that quiet voice and smiled as she turned to find Jamie sitting on the lowest branch of the tree. He donned a face-splitting grin and jumped down.
“You’re back!” She embraced him.
“Yes, but you’re the one who’s been gone a long time.”
Sarah stared down at her feet fighting shame, guilt, fear. He was right. She hadn’t visited. “After you left, there was a security lock-down. Everyone had to do therapy.”
“I hope you told them all kinds of weird stuff.”
She gazed into his deep green eyes, thankful not to see any resentment in them. “You know I’d never do that.”
He sat down with his back against the tree and patted the ground for her to join him.
As she snuggled into his embrace, Sarah breathed in the fresh, earthy scent of him. “Where do you go when its cold, Jamie?”
“Nowhere. I just stay inside until it gets warmer.”
She swivelled her head to see his face. “Do you like being Jamie?”
“Sure. Unless you want me to be someone else.”
“I like you as Jamie, for now.” Sarah nestled her head against his shoulder. “Tell me about the things you’ve seen. I love hearing your stories.”
Sarah could listen to his quiet, musical voice all day. In fact, she hadn’t realised how long she’d been with him until the dinner gong rang out into the still evening air.
“See you tomorrow, Jamie.” She waved and raced back towards the old bluestone building hoping to enter through the kitchen unseen. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain to Nurse Cawley where she’d been and why she’d missed lunch. Cawley was one of the nicer ones, but if you said anything interesting she’d report it to the shrinks.
The coast was clear. Sarah slipped into the dining room and took her place at one of the window tables. She focussed her attention on the table cloth and waited.
“Sarah?”
She glanced up to find David standing with his hands on the newcomer’s shoulders.
“Sarah, this is Fleur. I was hoping the two of you might like to meet.”
David the attendant was a bit like Cawley. He was okay unless you said or did anything out of the ordinary, then he’d go running to the shrinks to tell tales.
“Hi Fleur.”
“Hi Sarah.”
Fleur sank onto the chair and David left. The meal was served and they ate in silence, eyes down, hair concealing their faces.
“Sarah?”
She looked across at Fleur’s thin, mousy features. “Yes?”
“Been here long?”
Sarah nodded. “I don’t remember being anywhere else.”
Fleur’s features saddened and it looked like she was about to cry.
Sarah felt a pang of sympathy. She knew what it was like to be abandoned in a strange place where most of the people were old and everybody did strange things. “It’s not so bad here, Fleur. Really. I like living here.”
The girl looked at her with large, dark eyes. A spark of hope momentarily lit them and she managed the flicker of a smile.
Sarah smiled back, then glanced around nervously. Don’t see me. Don’t look. “Just remember, keep your head down and keep quiet. That way you can pretty much go where you like and do what you want in your free time.”
Fleur nodded and they finished their desserts without speaking again.
The next morning, a very different Fleur made her way across the common room to where Sarah sat with old Napoleon. The meds had worn off and she was more alive. There was no sign of the fear and uncertainty of the day before.
“Hi Sarah.”
“Hi.” Don’t make them notice me. Don’t look at me. Don’t see me.
Sarah introduced Fleur to Napoleon and watched as the two of them talked and laughed like they’d known each other all their lives. Leo was lucid. He was fun whenever he had a straight day.
When Sarah thought they’d forgotten she was there, she made her way outside and ran down to the tree to see Jamie. They sat together with their backs against the strong trunk and soaked up the energy emanating from within it. Eventually, Sarah felt safe enough to tell Jamie about the newcomer, Fleur.
“She sounds nice. Maybe I could meet her some time.”
Sarah looked down at the ground and mumbled, “Maybe.” She hadn’t told anyone about Jamie. It was too dangerous. Every time she made new friends, the shrinks made them leave. It wasn’t fair. Well, this time she was playing it smart. Jamie was a secret. Maybe if she didn’t tell anyone Fleur was her friend, she’d be able to keep her too. “I’d better go. It’s almost lunch time.” She waved and went back up to see if Fleur would sit with her.
While they were eating, Sarah dredged up enough courage to ask, “Why did they bring you here?”
Fleur shifted a pile of beans around the plate with her fork. “I got mixed up with some guys who were into the whole drug scene. I didn’t get hooked, but my folks went berko and sent me in here to get my head straightened out. How about you?”
“Something like that.” Sarah kept her head down and ate everything on her plate. Don’t draw attention. Be good. Don’t be noticed.
Group therapy in the afternoon was monopolised by Fleur who kept making everybody laugh with her silly comments. To Sarah’s surprise, Counsellor Green didn’t send her to her room.
Sarah told Fleur later, “You’d better be careful. Green tells the shrinks everything. You’ll get a black mark on your record.”
“I’m not afraid of them. I just tell them what they want to hear. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’ll be out of here soon.”
Sarah stared down at her scuffed shoes. She’d only just met Fleur and already the shrinks were thinking about making her leave. She sighed and walked outside. When she was sure no-one was watching, she went to visit Jamie.
He greeted her with his usual grin. “What’s wrong?”
“I was just getting to like Fleur, but I think the shrinks are going to send her away.”
“You know that not everybody can stay here like you and me.” He gestured toward the high stone wall with the razor wire looped along the top of it. “They’re not like us. They have lives. They go back out there and disappear.”
“I know.” Sarah smiled. “Sometimes I just wish I could have more friends, that’s all.”
Jamie laughed out loud and spun around in circles with his arms held out straight from his shoulders. “You could have all the friends you want.” He stopped spinning and hugged the tree. “Right here.”
Sarah gazed up through the branches and new spring leaves to the small platform that held her secret treasure. She smiled. “You’re right. I could have all the friends I want, right here.”
The dinner gong sounded reminding her of the time.
“I’d better go,” she grinned. Jamie always knew how to make her feel better. That was why she kept him to herself. They were friends and no-one could make him leave.
Sarah was confused when Fleur sat with the rest of their therapy group for dinner. She glanced over and Fleur waved to her.
“Come and join us.”
Horrified, Sarah shook her head and stared at the meal she no longer had the appetite for. Don’t look at me. Don’t see me. She watched them – whenever she was sure nobody noticed. They talked, laughed. Everybody liked Fleur. She was everybody’s friend. Not like Jamie. Jamie was her friend, nobody else’s. Maybe Jamie was right. Maybe she could introduce Fleur to him. Then the three of them could be friends together. That would be good. It could be their secret.
The next day was taken up by individual therapy in the morning and group activities after lunch. It was mid-afternoon by the time Sarah had a chance to wander down to the far end of the garden.
“Jamie?” Sarah walked around the tree, but for once, Jamie didn’t appear. “It’s me.” She peered up through the branches to see if he was hiding, waiting to pounce down and give her a fright.
“What are you doing?”
Sarah spun around to find Fleur watching her.
“Who’s Jamie?” Fleur looked past her.
“Um, a friend. Sometimes he meets me here.”
“Really?” Fleur’s eyes lit up. “You have a secret lover?”
“No. It’s not like that. We’re just friends. We talk. That’s all.”
Fleur’s features arranged themselves into an unimpressed expression. “Oh. I see.” She peered all around and up into the tree. After a moment’s thought, a slow smile spread across her face. “I think you’re really lucky to have a secret friend. I wish I had one. Do you think I could meet Jamie? It would be so cool.”
Sarah was suddenly uncertain in the face of Fleur’s enthusiasm. She’d been hoping to introduce her to Jamie, but now she thought it might not be safe. Fleur might blab. “You do know that this is a secret, don’t you Fleur?”
“Absolutely.” She straightened, licked her forefinger and drew an ‘x’ across her chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.” She smiled in a reassuring way. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. Honest. It’ll be our secret. Okay?”
Sarah smiled. “Okay.”
“Boo!”
The two girls squealed and jumped as Jamie landed between them.
“That wasn’t fair.” Fleur laughed and held her hand out. “You must be Jamie.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “And you, my dear, must be the Lady Fleur.”
She curtseyed. “Fleur by name, fleur by nature. I’m very pleased to meet you.”
All three of them laughed.
Sarah spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Fleur and Jamie talk about the outside. They seemed to have a great deal in common and they’d both travelled to other countries. She was fascinated by their comparisons of the places they’d both seen. The way they talked about them, made Sarah feel like she’d seen them too.
They talked and laughed until the dinner gong sounded making the girls race breathlessly back to ‘the big house’ as Fleur liked to call it.
It was two days before Sarah had another free afternoon. She looked everywhere but couldn’t find Fleur so she went down to the oak tree alone.
As she drew near, she heard voices. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure they would hear it. Quietly, she walked around the tree to see who had invaded her secret place.
Fleur was sitting on Jamie’s lap with her arms around his neck, kissing him. She laughed and rose. “Come on. You can kiss him too, if you like.”
Sarah shook her head, relieved it was only them.
Fleur walked over and took hold of her hand. “Come and watch.”
Sarah glanced at Jamie. He patted the ground beside him. Smiling, she joined them. Fleur tried to persuade her to kiss Jamie, but she preferred not to.
Afterwards, they sat and talked, and Fleur told jokes that made them laugh.
The next couple of weeks were spent like that. Every spare moment she and Fleur had, they visited Jamie. Sarah felt happier than she’d ever been. Then one afternoon, Fleur told her she was getting a visit from her parents. She didn’t seem pleased.
“Don’t you want to see them?”
“Yes. I guess they mean well, but they can be a pain.”
Sarah studied the once plush carpet on the common room floor. She didn’t want to remember her own parents. She’d sent them away a long time ago.
Fleur got ready for her visitors and Sarah went to visit Jamie.
“Do you think they’ll make her leave?” she asked him.
“They might.” His eyes were sad. “Do you want her to leave?”
“No. I wish she could stay forever, like you.”
“So do I.”
It wasn’t long before they heard someone approaching. Jamie disappeared up the tree and Sarah waited to see who it was.
“It’s only me.” Fleur sat beside her. “Is Jamie here?”
No sooner had she spoken, than he landed beside them, grinning. “Am I ever anywhere else?” He sat between them with his arms draped across their shoulders. “How did it go with your parents, Fleur?”
“Great... I guess. They’re taking me home tomorrow. Apparently I’m cured. I got a good report from the shrinks.”
Sarah felt like her heart had been ripped out. “Don’t you want to stay and be our friend?”
“Sure, but I have to leave some time.” She smiled at Sarah. “Don’t worry. I’ll visit.”
“But you won’t be here every day.”
“Bummer, eh?”
“Yeah.”
“I can bring great things in for you, though. Would you like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t be sad, Sarah. We three will always be friends. Won’t we Jamie?”
“Sure we will.”
Sarah rose and looked down at them for a moment, a loving calm driving the sadness away. “Let’s make it official, then. We’ll make a pact to always be friends.” She stared into Fleur’s eyes. “Do you want to take the sacred oath?”
Fleur scrambled to her feet. “What do I have to do?”
“You have to follow Jamie and I up the tree. You can’t see it from here, but there’s a platform high up in the branches. That’s our secret place. It’s safe up there. We can go up and swear the oath and prick our thumbs to mix our blood. We’ll be blood friends. Do you want to? You can’t just say it. It has to be in your heart.”
Fleur’s smile broadened. “Let’s do it.”
Jamie began to climb and Fleur followed. Sarah watched for a moment, then climbed after them.
When they reached the top fork in the main trunk, they made themselves comfortable on the raft of planks. Sarah moved the heavy roll of tarp out of the way and sat on it so it wouldn’t open to reveal the treasure within. She smiled knowing she’d soon have another treasure to wrap up in there. She took her carving knife from a knot hole and pricked her left thumb with it. Then she handed the knife to Fleur.
Fleur pricked her left thumb and offered the knife to Jamie.
Sarah grabbed it. “Jamie’s already sworn. You and I have to do it.” She took Fleur’s hand and pressed their thumbs together until the bleeding stopped. She placed her right hand over her heart. “I, Sarah, solemnly swear to be your friend forever and to meet you here at our sacred tree.” She smiled at Fleur. “Now you say exactly what I did.”
Fleur placed her hand over her heart and spoke the words.
“Now, close your eyes and hold Jamie’s hands and I’ll make you our special friend forever.”
Fleur closed her eyes.
Sarah grinned.
After Fleur left there was a security lock-down and nobody was able to go outside or anywhere without supervision. The alarm systems were reprogrammed, extra cameras were mounted and even the razor wire around the fence was renewed.
Sarah stared through the common room window and wished she could go out into the garden again. It was lonely up at the big house now. The only one she could really talk to was Napoleon and he’d had few lucid days since Fleur’s departure.
By the time life settled back into its routine of eating, sleeping, therapy and craft activities, Fleur had been gone a whole month. Sarah didn’t mind, though. She had her secret, and her treasure. It was just a pain that she had to wait so long before being allowed to wander around alone again.
She’d even made an effort to get to know the newcomer, Ryan. They’d put him in Fleur’s room. He was handsome, but he was shy. Sarah decided she liked him almost as much as she liked Jamie and Fleur. Perhaps, if Ryan could be trusted, she could introduce him to the others.
That afternoon, while Napoleon fought the Battle of Britain against Attila the Hun, Sarah slipped outside and ran down to the oak tree.
Jamie greeted her with a hug and his usual grin. “Miss me?”
“Of course.” Sarah laughed. “It’s great to have some freedom again.”
Fleur peered around the trunk of the tree.
“When did you get here?” Sarah ran to hug her.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re all together.”
Sarah looked them up and down. “I’ve decided on new names. You can be Jason,” she said to Jamie. “And you can be Jenny. What do you think?”
“Jason.” Jamie stroked an imaginary beard. “Dignified. I like it. Jason I am.”
“Jenny’s nice,” said Fleur.
Sarah smiled. It was great to have secret friends. The shrinks couldn’t make them leave if they didn’t know about them. No-one could make Jason and Jenny leave. They were hers for as long as the tree concealed the tarp and the treasures that lay hidden within.
For the rest of the afternoon they sat, talked, and laughed. Then Sarah told them about the newcomer, Ryan.
The End
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
GoodReads
My Facebook
