Step was very troubled. He knew he should be happy for his friends but he felt his whole world was turning upside down. Sad had visited the orphanage for one day to say he had testified in court and put the bad man back in gaol. Not only that but he was back home with his parents and would be starting a new school next year. Tear went out for the day with her mother and it looked as though she too might be leaving the orphanage. To top all that off the Zipporah Magillacuddy Childrens’ Home was to be sold and all remaining orphans were to go to Foster Parents or Group Homes.
Step held little hope that his father’s ship would come in, whatever that meant. His Step Mother had not wanted him and said that they didn’t have enough money to look after three people so he had to go. He didn’t want to live in the same house as her anyway as she was cruel to him behind his father’s back.
At least Tom was now friendly and was doing so well at school he was moved out of the class of rowdy children into a much quieter one where he was able to concentrate on his work.
Tear came back from her second outing with her mother bearing some exciting news.
“My mother is having a baby and wants me to come and live with her to help look after it. Her new husband only just found out about me and said he would never have turned me away if he had known I existed. I’m moving out next week, as soon as they have my room ready.”
Step forced a smile and wished Tear all the best. With Sad gone and now Tear about to leave he felt unsure and insecure. All too soon the school term ended and the remaining orphans stood in the hallway of the Zipporah Magillacuddy Childrens’ Home, small suitcases in hands, ready for the great unknown. Matron and Nurse Smiley, usually so informative, had told them only that they were going to a Group House. Maybe even they didn’t know what lay ahead for their young charges.
There were only five orphans left. All the others had gone to Foster Homes or, in the case of Tear and Sad, to live with their parents. Step and Tom, Rose and Wattle and 15 year old Peter were the children nobody wanted.
Nurse Smiley called them outside to board a minibus. They travelled away from the sunny coast, past outer suburban blocks until they reached narrow inner-city streets where the houses were joined together in uniform rows. Each had an upstairs balcony of fancy lacework and a tiny garden in front of an equally tiny verandah. The minibus stopped outside one of the houses and Nurse Smiley indicated they were to go inside along a dark corridor until they reached a large, brightly lit kitchen with a long dining table in the centre. Here they all sat down around the table with Nurse Smiley and a strange man.
“May I introduce Doctor Goodheart,” Nurse Smiley began. “As you know, I was recently married and this is my husband. He works at the big hospital near here so that is why we have bought a house in this area. It had to be a big house because…”. She paused and looked around at the orphans with a smile. “While I wanted to keep working as a nurse, we know that married women are expected to be at home. I certainly didn’t want to just do housework and cook meals every day so we thought if we fostered the remaining orphans it would give me something worthwhile to do and solve the problem of where you will live. We have three bedrooms upstairs and will turn the downstairs dining room into a bedroom for Peter. The girls will share and so will Step and Tom. What do you all think?”
The relief felt by all the orphans was so great that some started crying. It looked as though everything was going to be all right.
I suppose you have been wondering what happened to Sad when he went away with the Police Foster Parents?
As you can imagine, he was very, very scared. As he looked out the window in the speeding car he examined every man walking by who looked like a criminal. He recalled the attacker was quite short, with greasy long black hair and a scruffy, badly trimmed beard. On his arms were tattoos of dragons, a heart with an arrow through it and several grisly skulls.
Sad was sure he would know him again because on his left hand his little finger was partly missing at the knuckle. That and a damaged nose with a bend to the right made him quite memorable.
Forcing himself to think back to that dreadful day when his life changed, he remembered visiting his Aunt Gladys and Uncle Ted. His parents were going on a holiday and his aunt and uncle had enthusiastically offered to babysit Sad for a whole week while they were away. He liked his aunt and uncle. They had no children of their own and loved to spoil him, giving him lots of ice-cream and lollies to eat and taking him to parks and beaches whenever he wanted to go.
They were eating lunch one day and Sad was looking forward to his ice-cream, when there was a knock at the door.
“See who that is, will you?” said Aunt Gladys to Uncle Ted. He lumbered to the door and the next thing Sad heard was a Bang! and a Thud!
“Goodness, what was that?” cried Aunt Gladys. She raced into the hallway and Sad heard another Bang! and a Thud!
Sad knew that if he ventured into the hallway there would be another Bang! followed by the sound of himself hitting the floor so he quickly hid under the table, which had an oversized cloth reaching almost to the floor.
He could hear heavy boots approaching the kitchen. He could see them stop just short of his face. They were old and brown with loose laces. He held his breath. The boots moved away to another room so he made the most of the opportunity to run to the back door.
“Hey!” called a rough voice. Sad turned and saw the man front on, with his long greasy black hair, his funny bent nose, the tattoos on his arms, and the hand with the short little finger pointing towards him. In the other hand was a gun, but Sad didn’t wait to see if it had any bullets in it. He scampered out the back door and ran through the yard, squeezing through a hole in the fence. On the other side was a bushy hillside where he knew he could hide and not be found.
Crouched in a burnt-out tree trunk he waited until dark. Carefully creeping back towards the house he saw there were no lights. Too scared to go inside he decided to get as far away as possible. Walking toward the town he kept in the shadows until he reached the railway station. A train puffed into the station and several people climbed on board. He followed a family of two grown-ups and two children, pretending to be the little brother. As soon as they were on the train, he hid in the toilet for at least an hour until he felt safe. A few people banged on the door but he kept it locked. Eventually he opened the door and saw that they were pulling into Central Railway Station. Again, he attached himself to the back of a family and the man at the gate didn’t seem to notice he didn’t have a ticket.
Wandering aimlessly along city streets in the middle of the night, Sad was unsure of what to do except he knew he must stay hidden. Thoughts of contacting his mother and father were put to one side. The awful man might shoot them as well. He just had to become someone else for as long as it took.
That is when he chanced upon the Opera Orphanage for Unwanted Children. What a perfect place to hide! If he couldn’t speak, they couldn’t find out who his parents were and so they would be safe.
His plan had worked well until the fire. As the only person who knew of the danger all the children were in, Sad had to warn them and speak. However, he still refused to tell Matron or Nurse Smiley anything about his past.
Until now, that is. He didn’t know the man had been picked up near the crime scene and put in gaol after a court case based on circumstantial evidence. Then two years later his sister, who lived nearby, said he had been at her house all day and night and only went outside to take out the garbage. Why she didn’t say anything during the court case the police couldn’t determine but the judge decided the prisoner deserved the benefit of the doubt and should be freed.
Sad was a great asset to the police as a witness. The man was picked up the same day and put back into prison pending a court case. Sad should have felt safe but he didn’t. What if the man escaped and came after him?
The thing that cheered Sad up immensely was the reunion with his parents. They had kept hoping all this time that he was still alive and their joy was overwhelming. They kept looking at his face and exclaiming how much he’d grown and then hugging him so tightly he could hardly breathe. He was allowed to go with them to his old home as the gunman was safely locked up. The other good news was that his aunt and uncle were alive and had made a remarkable recovery from their wounds.
The day of the court case arrived. Sad was nervous but glad that the time had come to keep this man in jail for a long time. He hoped he wouldn’t have to look at him but the first thing he was shown was a police lineup of six men. He was asked to identify the gunman and had no hesitation in naming him, even though his hair was now short and his facial hair removed. He was 100% certain this was the man who shot his aunt and uncle and threatened him with a gun in their home.
The defence counsel tried to say that Sad didn’t actually see the shooting take place and that someone else could have done it. The man with the gun may have been an accomplice and not been involved in the attack.
However the Crown Prosecutor argued that the bullets found at the crime scene belonged to the gun found in his hand when he was apprehended by police that afternoon so the judge thought that was a good enough reason to lock him up.
Sad’s life was back to normal but he longed to see Step and Tear. It was almost the end of the school year, so Sad didn’t have to start at his new school until after the holidays. At last his parents agreed to take him back to the orphanage for one day to see his friends and to inform Matron of all that had happened. He would have so much to tell them.
Step and Tear missed Sad very much and hoped he was happy with his police foster parents. They soon had other worries as men in suits arrived carrying briefcases and marching around with important looking folders. None of the orphans knew what was going on and most were not too worried but Step and Tear felt an ominous dread creeping over them as the days went by. When a group meeting was called by Matron and Nurse Smiley they knew that the news would not be good.
“First I wish to tell you all that you have no need to worry about the news I am about to give you.” Matron looked around the room with an uncharacteristic smile which had them all worried straight away.
“It seems the State Government has a new policy regarding orphanages. The feeling is that they are too expensive to run and it is better for children to be with a foster care family.”
“But, but, but, we are all here because the foster families don’t want us,” stammered Tear. “How is that going to change?”
“If the government sells all the orphanages they can use the money to pay foster carers so they will have more incentive to take on a child,” answered Matron patiently.
Step spoke up angrily. “This house was left to us, not the government. How can they take it away from us?”
“The government is responsible for the repairs and employing the cook , the cleaners and the gardener. The cost of maintaining an old house like this is just unimaginable. The experts also feel you would all be happier in a smaller home living like a real family.” Matron paused.
“I also have to tell you that at the end of this year I am retiring and going to live with my sister in the city.” She looked at Nurse Smiley who blushed self-consciously.
“And Nurse Smiley is going to be married and so will stop working for a living and instead look after her home and husband.”
Step and Tear looked at each other with concern. The solid sense of security which had enveloped them since their arrival at the Zipporah Magillicuddy Childrens’ Home was gone in an instant. Visions of mean and nasty foster parents grasping at bank notes filled their heads.
“We must do something,” Tear announced to those around her. “I’m not going without a fight.”
“It’s all hopeless,” Step moaned. “Matron and Nurse Smiley are leaving anyway. Even if we could save the orphanage who would run it? Things would never be the same with someone else.”
Tear, however, was determined to do everything she could. She made flyers to put in letterboxes, borrowing the gestetner machine at the orphanage to run off her eye-catching signs. She organised petitions in all the local shops so that people could read about their dilemma and sign if they wanted to help. When Matron called her to her office she wondered if she was in trouble for all the fuss she was causing, but she soon found it was about a different matter entirely.
Matron looked at her thoughtfully before speaking. “This may come as a shock to you, Tear, but I have a letter from your mother.”
Tear sat up suddenly, recalling the day her mother took her out without telling her who she was until she dropped her off at the orphanage late in the evening. It had been a wonderful day with lots of delicious food, a visit to Luna Park and the pictures. Her mother had told her she would probably never see her again because her new husband didn’t know of her existence and likely wouldn’t approve. She wondered what caused her mother to contact Matron.
“Your mother says that she wants to take you out on Saturday. She says circumstances have changed and she wants to tell you more when she sees you.” Matron frowned. “I didn’t know you had made contact with your mother?”
Tear looked up guiltily. “She told me not to say anything. Her new husband didn’t know about me so she wanted to keep it a secret from everyone.”
“Maybe things have changed for your mother,” said Matron carefully. “Just don’t get your hopes up too much.”
Tear was bursting with excitement all week but she didn’t tell Step because he would feel abandoned if she was planning to leave. It also dampened her enthusiasm for saving the orphanage because if she was leaving what was the point of saving it?
Tear decided that one of two things had happened. One possibility was that her mother was no longer with the new husband and was free to claim her daughter back. The other was that the new husband found out about her and wanted her to be part of the family. That would be nice, she thought. A happy family of three and maybe later, some brothers or sisters.
Saturday morning arrived bright and sparkling, the blue sea glittering outside Tear’s bedroom window while she dressed. She realised how much she loved this house and how sorry she would be to see it empty and deserted or maybe even demolished to make way for blocks of flats.
No longer did the children line up in rows waiting for the foster parents to examine them. That belonged to the dark ages of the old orphanage which perished in the fire. Instead, Nurse Smiley quietly approached Tear in the Rec Room and said there was someone to see her. Step looked at her quizzically but she just shrugged and smiled as she walked away.
Her mother stood up from her seat, looking much larger than the last time Tear saw her. She realised her mother must be pregnant and hoped this meant her dream of a proper family might come true.
“Come with me, Tear. I have so much to tell you, but not here!” She wrinkled her nose and looked around at the dilapidated house.
Tear walked outside and climbed into a comfortable car. As she drove, her mother concentrated hard on the traffic and murmured, “Soon all will be explained.”
Schooldays became more pleasant for the orphans as Miss Apple proved to be a kind and considerate teacher and Sad even mastered Folk Dancing in Kindergarten.
Step and Tear were in class one day when Miss Apple turned on the wireless for the broadcast of “Tales of Many Lands”. Someone had moved the dial and they caught the start of a news broadcast on another station.
“A man who attacked a husband and wife was released from prison today on appeal after serving two years for attempted murder. His sentence was overturned on a technicality as there were no witnesses to the attacks and he was able to establish an alibi after the trial.”
Miss Apple quickly changed the station and the familiar music drew the children’s attention to life in India as they listened and studied their worksheets.
On the way home Step casually remarked on the news item. Sad suddenly froze, rooted to the spot.
“What was his name?”
“I don’t know,” said Step. “It just said he attacked a husband and wife. It must have been more than two years ago. They let him go because nobody saw it happen and now someone can vouch that he was somewhere else at the time of the murder.”
Sad was silent the rest of the way home. He went straight to his room and lay face down on the bed. Step looked in on him and asked if he was all right but there was no answer. He had a sneaking suspicion that it was something to do with the released prisoner but felt unable to help.
“Let’s get hold of a newspaper in the morning,” suggested Tear. “We might be able to find out more information. I know that Fred the gardener brings the Daily Telegraph with him in the mornings and leaves it on the back step while he works. He comes back for it when he has his smoko.”
Step and Tear were up very early the next morning. They met at the back step where the newspaper lay folded neatly on the cement. The front page screamed loud headlines.
“ Prisoner Let Loose. Missing Witness in Danger”
The article went on to say that the only witness to the attack was a small boy who disappeared shortly after the event. Police had not been able to trace him but now the suspected attacker was released, the boy’s life was in danger if he was found.
Step and Tear looked at each other. “It must be Sad!” said Step. “He must have run away from the crime scene and then turned up at the orphanage refusing to speak until the fire caused him to start speaking again.”
“He should be safe here,” said Tear thoughtfully. “Surely the prisoner wouldn’t suspect he was in an orphanage.”
“I think it’s an obvious place for him to be. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was checking them all out now.” Step looked scared.
“We need to make sure this is the person Sad is afraid of,” said Tear, pointing at the black and white photo of a man on the front page of the newspaper.
“What will Fred think if the front page is missing off his newspaper? said Step.
“Maybe the wind blew it away,” suggested Tear mischievously as she tore the picture out of the page. “Let’s get out of here.”
Five minutes later Sad was staring at the photo with an anguished look on his face but refusing to speak.
“Just nod if you know this man,” said Step.
Sad nodded slowly.
“We have two choices,” said Step. “One is we hide you in the attic if we see any strange men hanging around or two, we go to the police and they protect you until you testify in court and have him locked up behind bars again.
Tear commented that unless Sad could talk again there wasn’t much point going to the police.
“What do you want us to do?” she asked, looking into his face earnestly.
“Police,” His voice croaked like a rusty gate but at least he was talking again. “I can’t hide any more.”
The three children marched to Matron’s office and Step knocked loudly on the door.
Matron’s deep voice called them to come in.
Step placed the photo on her desk and poured out the whole story. Tear added anything she thought he had left out but Sad remained silent and withdrawn, huddled in his own misery.
Matron looked at Sad and said in a kind voice, “If you want to testify we will do everything we can to keep you safe. Is that what you want to do?”
Sad nodded glumly so Matron picked up the big black telephone receiver and dialled the number of the city police.
There were no police cars with sirens or men in uniform. About an hour after Matron’s phone call a green Holden sedan pulled up in front of the house and a man and a woman dressed in ordinary clothes climbed the steps to the front door. Nurse Smiley ushered them inside and only then did they produce their police identification. For about an hour they talked to Sad in Matron’s office before reappearing in the hallway. Step and Tear had been watching from the landing of the staircase but had to move when they saw Nurse Smiley bringing Sad upstairs.
“Sad is going to live with some Foster Parents,” said Nurse Smiley brightly. “We’ll have to pack a suitcase.”
“Best of luck, Sad. I know everything will be all right,” said Tear.
Step gave him a hug. “Look after yourself, mate. We’ll be thinking of you.”
Step and Tear watched as their small friend left the orphanage with the two plain clothes police officers. Would they ever see Sad again?
Mrs Harris waited until the 38 children had found their seats. She waved her arms for silence and smiled grimly at the class. “Out of the six new children in this class I have selected four to go up to the Primary,” she said.
Tear was first. She grabbed her books and stood in readiness to leave. Biff and Rose were selected. Step held his breath. He wanted to be with Tear but he was afraid to go into Third class with the big kids.
Anyway he was rubbish at school, wasn’t he?
“Step, would you join the others please and take this note to Mr P?” Mrs Harris ushered them out the door and pointed in the direction of a low brick building on the opposite side of the playground.
As Step had the note he felt obliged to be the leader, so knocked on a door which said Mr Pennypole, Primary classes 3 to 6, School Principal.
Mr P glowered at the children. His face resembled an overripe tomato and was getting redder by the minute.
“There is no room for you!” he yelled. “Go next door and I will send you a supervisor.”
There were a few desks and chairs scattered around the next door room so the orphans lined them up to face the board and sat down tentatively. A few minutes later a girl only a few years older than themselves arrived with four more children following.
Mr Pennypole has appointed me as your teacher,” she said smugly. “My name is Miss Pennypole and I won’t take any nonsense from you.” In her hand she held a cane which she brought smashing down on Biff’s hand.
“What did I do?” cried Biff angrily. “That really hurt.”
Down came the cane again on Biff’s hand.
“Silence!” screamed Miss Pennypole.
Mr P rushed into the room.
“What is going on? Penelope?” He looked angrily at the class.
“Nothing Dad, er Mr P. Just settling down this rowdy lot.”
Mr P sighed and looked crossly at the children. “Now I want all of you to write me a composition about what you did in the holidays. Not a sound from any of you and I expect at least two pages.”
Step thought about the orphanage fire, his time at the farm, their new home by the sea, hiding Ruth in the attic, visiting her in hospital and now the good news that she was to live with Aunt Ella. He wrote rapidly and was on to his fourth page when a cane smashed down in front of him. Fortunately it missed his fingers.
“What terrible writing,” screeched Miss Pennypole. “I want you to start that again and write it perfectly this time.” She picked up Tear’s book. “Now this is what I’m looking for. What beautiful writing! Would you read it to the class please, er Tear. What a strange name.”
Tear stood up and read grimly, her eyes stony.
The school holiday began with great excitement as I left with my mother and father for Surfers Paradise. We stayed in a beautiful hotel by the sea and ate in the sunny breakfast room each morning. Every day we swam happily in the warm, foamy water. My father bought me a neopolitan icecream and my mother packed a tasty picnic to have at the beach. One starry night we walked up the hill to the picture theatre to see “The Wizard of Oz”.
Finally we had to drive home in Dad’s new car. He said there would be a surprise for me when we arrived. It was a tiny little puppy inside a box. I have called him Snowy.
Tear looked up at Miss Pennypole who looked positively green with envy.
“Aren’t you the lucky one,” she said.
The bell rang and they waited for instructions. Miss Pennypole walked out of the room so they followed and found their playlunch, drank their milk and quietly talked amongst themselves.
“That composition you wrote was a pack of lies,” said Rose to Tear. “Holidaying in Surfers Paradise, my foot.”
“Why not write about what you would like to happen?” Tear answered sadly. “Anyway, Miss Pennypole is not a teacher. She’s Mr P’s daughter and only about twelve if she’s a day.”
The hours passed slowly, with Mr P rushing into the room checking up on his daughter and the class, dropping off boring worksheets and coloured pencils for their art lesson when Miss Pennypole asked them to draw a vase of flowers from their imagination.
Tear had that steely, hard look on her face all the way home to the orphanage. She refused to speak and went straight to Matron’s office. When she came out there was a little smile on her face but she refused to talk to the others about what she had said to Matron.
What they didn’t know was that tomorrow Tear would be eight years old and that Matron had told her she could have anything she wanted for breakfast. She had chosen crepes with strawberries and cream but decided to keep it a secret from her friends.
Morning came but no one knew it was Tear’s birthday. No-one except Matron of course. When the children lined up for their porridge Tear sat at the table with her empty plate.
“What’s up, Tear?” asked Step. “Aren’t you hungry today? Worried about Miss Pennypole and her whacky stick?”
Before she could answer the cook walked in with a huge pile of thin, buttery crepes, all crunchy round the edges. He placed the plate in front of Tear, while Nurse Smiley carried two bowls of strawberries and cream. She started singing “Happy Birthday” to Tear and the others joined in.
“There’s enough for you all,” said Tear. “Come on, let’s get started.”
“Is that why you went to see Matron?” asked Step. “To tell her it was your birthday.”
“Of course not,” said Tear. “Just you wait and see.”
As they lined up for assembly, Step could see three teachers out the front. Mr P stepped up and spoke in a booming voice.
“I would like you all to meet our new teacher, Miss Apple. She will be taking the new Third/Fourth composite class.
They dutifully said, “Good morning Miss Apple” and wondered what lay ahead.
The first day of school dawned cool and sunny. Step, Tear and Sad all donned their uniforms for Seacliff Beach School while Tom put on his grey trousers, white shirt and blue jumper for Middlemount High School. He seemed to have recovered from his bad mood and wished Step good luck on his first day. Step was pleased they appeared to be friends again and hoped that Tom would have a good day as well.
While Tom and three others caught the bus to high school, it was only a short walk for the remaining twelve orphans to their new school. They stopped at the gate while Nurse Smiley went inside to inform the Headmaster of their arrival. He walked down the wooden steps and asked them to form a boys’ and a girls’ line and then line up in order of age. Sad was at the end of the boys’ line feeling very small, with Step, Biff and Mark in front of him. Tear was at the back of her line with Rose, Wattle and Cherry close by. The bigger children were sent to the Primary section of the school while eight of them were to go to the Infants. They were introduced to the Infants’ Mistress, Miss Cruikshank, who told them if any of them misbehaved they would get the cane. She also told them that they had made the classes very large, and the teachers were not happy about all the extra work they would have to do so they had better be on their best behaviour.
Sad waved goodbye to the others as he was taken to his Kindergarten room. Step, Tear and the others were put into the Second class which was already full of children. The teacher, Mrs Harris, sent for more chairs and tables so they finally had a place to sit. She told them there were now 38 children in the class which meant a lot of marking books and homework. She said if anyone wasn’t prepared to work she would send them down to First class or even Kindergarten. On the other hand, if they achieved exceptional results they could go up to the Primary School into Third class before the end of the year.
Step and Tear had had a lot of interrupted schooling so they were both terrified they would be sent to Kindergarten, even though their friend Sad was there. The teacher gave them exercise books and pencils and began the day with a handwriting lesson. They worked hard through Spelling, Reading and English Grammar before they were allowed out for Playtime. Before they could meet up with Sad they had to find their cake wrapped in greaseproof paper in their school bags and drink a small bottle of milk delivered to the classroom. Finally out in the playground they made a beeline for Sad.
“How was it?” asked Step.
“Teacher’s nice. She was very kind to me. The work was easy and I sat next to a boy called Brian who was friendly and loaned me his rubber.” Sad seemed happy with his morning.
“Our teacher was cross because the class is so big. She’s going to send us down if we can’t keep up and up to Primary if we are brilliant. I just want to stay where I am,” said Tear. “Imagine being sent to Third class with all the big kids.” Her eyes opened with horror. “It would be so scary.”
“I don’t think that will happen,” said Step. “She was giving us really hard work to see if we could go up a class. I couldn’t do some of it.”
Tear didn’t admit to it but she had been able to complete all the work quite easily. Maybe she should not try to get everything right in future.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. The children were not used to a bigger school and found many things confusing.
Sad’s class was outside doing Folk Dancing. He kept getting muddled up with his steps and the teacher told him he would have to have lunch with the girls. He wondered why that was a punishment.
Step and Tear’s teacher had to leave the room. She chose a big boy called Paul to watch the class. “Anyone who talks is to line up at my desk for the cane,” she said.
Step whispered to Tear, “That doesn’t seem fair,” as Paul yanked a girl from her seat for talking. The next moment Step was having a tug ‘o war with Paul as the bigger boy pulled him out of his seat as well.
“What is going on?” asked the teacher crossly. “Everyone sit down. I really don’t know how I am supposed to control so many children!”
Fortunately, no one had to get the cane.
Lunchtime arrived and Sad followed his teacher to the girls’ lunch area. All the girls in the Infants School sat on tiered seating while the boys were across the playground on another set of identical seats. Sad wasn’t sure what he had done wrong as the Folk Dancing had been very confusing, but he ate his lunch quietly while the girls chattered and laughed around him. He caught sight of Tear and shook his head at her questioning expression.
“I’ll tell you later,” he mouthed.
As he left the teacher crouched down to his level. “Next time you need to listen to instructions carefully or you will be in even more trouble.”
Sad decided he hated Folk Dancing and he wasn’t so sure about his teacher either.
In the afternoon there was an assembly. The school did not have a hall so they sat on the bitumen playground in their classes while the recorder group played the school song and the teachers each gave a short talk about what they expected from the children in the third and final term of the year. There were awards given to students from last term who excelled in their schoolwork and a story read by a boy in Sixth Class who told about how he spent his holidays. It sounded quite boring compared to the adventures of Step, Tear and Sad.
Finally it was 3.30 pm and the school bell rang joyously, or so it seemed to Sad, Step and Tear. It had been a stressful day for all of them and they each worried about what was to come. Sad worried about Folk Dancing, Step worried that he would be demoted to Kindergarten and Tear worried that she would be upgraded to Third class.
As soon as they entered the front door Nurse Smiley met them to escort them to Matron’s office. After they sat down Matron smiled at the three children and began to speak.
“I have news concerning Ruth which you may be interested in.”
The children sat up straight, holding their collective breath, waiting for Matron to continue.
“Ruth has been returned to the farm, but as you know, a solicitor, Mr Moody, has been investigating the legality of forcing Ruth to marry against her will at the age of 16. A judge has been consulted and ruled that Ruth should be removed from the Children of Moses Farm if she wishes, as long as she can be found suitable accommodation and work to earn money to support herself.”
Matron looked at the children with a warm smile. “I am pleased to tell you that she will be going to live with Aunt Ella. The old lady is getting on in years and was looking for a companion who would be able to help her with her daily routine. Ruth is exactly what she is looking for and I think Ruth feels the same way.”
Tear thought of her little bedroom at Aunt Ella’s which would now become Ruth’s. There would be no more overnight stays at the weekend. She hoped she would be able to walk down and visit sometimes. To make up for her selfish thoughts she burst out with, “How wonderful for Ruth and Aunt Ella. I hope it won’t be too difficult for her to get away from Moses.”
“I’ll let you know when she has arrived at Aunt Ella’s,” promised Matron.
The children were shooed away to go and do their homework. Step approached the room he shared with Tom feeling some trepidation. What sort of day did Tom have at his new school? Would he be sullen and resentful after fighting and clashing with his new schoolmates?
Tom had not yet arrived on the bus so Step took out his books and sat at the desk beside his bed. He groaned as he looked at his homework. The maths he could do fairly easily but the other exercise was to write a description of his room. He looked around him at the bare walls and wooden floor. The two beds had mismatching bedspreads. One was pale blue and the other was green. He wondered what to write so began cautiously.
I haven’t been in my room for very long because I was in another room with five boys but I did something wrong and got into trouble so now I am here.
He looked at what he had written and thought that the teacher would not be impressed. He crossed it out and started again.
There are two beds in my room. One belongs to Tom who is twelve. He goes to High School and isn’t home yet. The other one belongs to me. We each have a desk with a chair to sit on when we do our homework. When I sit at my desk I can see out the window. There is a tiny patch of blue which is the sea. Most of the view of the sea is blocked out by a huge gum tree.
Step chewed his pencil and wondered what else he could write. He looked up at the ceiling. Where the walls met the ceiling there was a fancy edge but he didn’t know what it was called. In the centre of the ceiling where the light hung down was a circular shape with patterns on it but he didn’t know what that was called either. Maybe Tom would know?
Tom entered the room with a smile on his face.
“How was your day, Midget?” This was Tom’s new nickname for Step.
“The teacher didn’t like having so many new children but otherwise it wasn’t too bad, I suppose.” Step appeared unenthusiastic. “How about you?’
“Pretty good. There was one time when a kid started having a go at me because I was from the Orphanage. I nearly punched his eyes out but then I thought, ‘What would Step do?’ I figured you would just tell him a story so I gave it to him. I said. ‘Yes, I’m an orphan because my house burnt down and my mother and father and little sister were frizzled up like bacon and I’m the only one left to tell the tale. I’ll bet you can’t do better than that.”
“What did the kid say?” asked Step.
“He didn’t know what to say. I’m not sure if he believed me but he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away.”
“Is it true?” Step said carefully.
“Mostly true. I was staying at my friend’s house for the night. The next morning two police officers came to the door, a man and a woman. They asked to see me alone so I knew something bad must have happened. They said my family wouldn’t have known what was happening as they were sleeping. Electrical fault or something. You see, my parents were only children and my grandparents were dead so I had no relatives. That’s how I ended up here.”
“Anyway, school was good. I’m going to try out for the cricket team and I didn’t lose my temper. I got put in a class with a lot of kids who are behind in their schoolwork and they muck up a bit but I just ignore them. I’ve made a friend whose mother died so I call him a half orphan.”
Step asked what the decorative features in the room were and Tom told him they were Cornices and a Ceiling Rose, so he continued with his description.
Where the wall meets the ceiling there is an elaborate cornice. It has a row of wavy lines at the bottom. Above that are squares that look like boxes with fancy tops. Then above that are more wavy lines.
Tom’s bed has a green bedspread and mine has a blue one. They don’t match.
Step was satisfied he had written enough and turned his attention to the arithmetic.
The weekend arrived and to Tear’s surprise she was still allowed to go to Aunt Ella’s cottage. Her Foster Parent after the orphanage fire had become very fond of her and invited her to come and stay whenever she wanted. Now that she wasn’t allowed to talk to Step and Sad she welcomed the chance to get away for a couple of days.
Not that it was very far away. Aunt Ella picked her up on Saturday morning and they walked the short distance to the cottage. Aunt Ella made a cup of tea and cut two large slices of cake before sitting down opposite Tear.
“Now tell me all the news. How is life at the new orphanage?”
It didn’t take long for Tear to tell Aunt Ella the story of Ruth hiding in the attic.
“And now I’m not allowed to speak to Step and Sad and even worse, Ruth will be forced to marry Esau.”
Aunt Ella mumbled a bit to herself and then smiled at Tear.
“You know, I think we can do something about this. There must be some government organisation that looks after the welfare of teenage girls. We can’t have parents and guardians forcing them into early marriages. How about we contact Mr Moody. He’s a solicitor. He should know about these things.”
Tear wanted Aunt Ella to ring straight away but she shook her head. “I only have his office number and he would be closed today because it’s Saturday. However, I will ring on Monday and see what can be done.”
Tear had to be content with that and tried to put her worries in the back of her mind.
Meanwhile Step had moved into a room with Tom. He was quite apprehensive as Tom was a very moody character who threw tantrums when things didn’t go his way. No-one had wanted to share a room with him. Also he was four years older than Step so might not be happy sharing with a “little kid”.
“What did you do to get put with me?” asked Tom. “I hear you are in some sort of trouble.”
Step decided if they were going to get along together he might as well tell him the whole story. At least it would give them something to talk about.
“So this Ruth girl has got to marry someone she doesn’t like when she’s 16? Gosh, that’s only five years older than I am. That would be awful. Can’t you sneak her out of the hospital before they come to take her home?”
“Even if we could get her out, where would she go? She couldn’t stay here and if she was homeless on the streets something terrible might happen to her.” Step sighed and shook his head.
“How about we sneak out of the orphanage, go to the hospital and visit Ruth. She might have some ideas about where she could hide,” Tom suggested.
Step looked at Tom with surprise. He hadn’t expected him to be so interested in Ruth. He thought maybe Tom was bored and wanted a bit of excitement.
It was the weekend but Step and Tom had not been selected by any Foster Parents. The orphanage was quiet on a drowsy Saturday afternoon with most of the children who weren’t with foster parents at a small picture theatre in the main street, watching “Around the World in 80 Days”. Nurse Smiley had gone with them as had Sad but Step was told to stay behind. Tom said he didn’t want to go as he felt sick. Matron was in her office and the boys were told to play quietly in the Games Room.
“We don’t know which hospital Ruth is in,” said Step. “How can we visit her?”
Tom dashed out of the room and came back carrying the telephone book which lived on the hall table next to the telephone. In the Yellow Pages he looked up Hospitals and put his finger on a list. “I think the nearest hospital would be Southland, but to make sure I could ring this number and ask if Ruth is there. What is her last name?”
“I…I…don’t know!” Step looked at Tom . “We never thought to ask her.”
“That’s all right. I’ll say I’m from the Jehovah’s Children Farm and am ringing to check how she is. I’ll say we don’t use surnames at the farm. If she’s not there it means we just have to try another hospital.”
Tom looked at Matron’s door. It was shut so he quietly picked up the phone and dialled the hospital’s number.
“Oh, hello,” Tom put on a deep, adult sounding voice. “I’m ringing from the Jehovah’s Children Farm and enquiring after Ruth, who is in your hospital with influenza……No, I don’t know her last name. We don’t use them at the Jehovah’s Children Farm…er, I’m ringing on behalf of Moses, who is our leader. Oh, is that so? Sorry to trouble you.
“No luck,” said Tom. “She’s not there. There’s a hospital called Cliffdale. That might be closer to here.” Tom indicated the map at the front of the Telephone Directory. “Here is Clifton Beach and here is Cliffdale. What do you think?”
Step just nodded. He was impressed with Tom’s knowledge and ability to handle himself on a phone.
Tom tried the Cliffdale Hospital number. It wasn’t long before he was smiling. He put down the phone and turned to Step.
“She’s there and visiting hours are from two o’clock until four. Now all we have to do is work out how to get there. Hmm, it’s only about five miles. Too far to walk and get there in visiting hours but maybe we could catch a bus. Get out your pocket money, Step.”
“Do you realise how much trouble I’ll be in if I get caught?” said Step. “And sure as night follows day I’ll get caught. So will you, Tom and we’ll both be in heaps of trouble.”
“I thought you said the most important thing was to stop Ruth being returned to the Jehovah’s Children Farm,” said Tom.
“I suppose so,” Step grudgingly replied. He really wanted to spend the afternoon doing a jigsaw puzzle and keeping a low profile. He couldn’t see the point in going to the hospital if they didn’t have a plan. Tom seemed sure that Ruth would know what to do if she had some help.
They sneaked out of the orphanage, keeping to the shadows around the building. After a quick dash to the shrubbery they arrived at the front gate and walked down the hill towards the bus stop. The first bus to arrive said Lake City above the windscreen so they asked the driver if it stopped at Cliffdale Hospital. It did, so they paid their money and settled into seats on the ocean side. They were both so entranced by the view that they were surprised when the bus driver stopped and called out, “You’re here.”
Jumping out they walked up a steep hill to a small hospital, more like a cottage than the large buildings they were used to. At reception they asked the nurse which room Ruth was in and she directed them down the corridor. They could see Ruth sitting in bed reading a magazine. She looked up at them in surprise.
“Oh my goodness, it’s Step! What a surprise! And you are?” She looked at Tom.
“This is my friend Tom,” said Step hurriedly. “It was his idea to come and see you and help you to escape. You are looking a lot better than the last time I saw you.”
“Oh yes, I am almost completely recovered. You got here just in time because Moses is coming to get me tomorrow and take me back to the farm.” Ruth bit her lip, “Thank you for trying to help me escape but where would I go? I can’t go to the orphanage and I have no money and nowhere to live. I appreciate you wanting to help me but I will have to go back with Moses. Maybe I can talk to him and he will see that making me marry Esau is a bad idea.”
Step was relieved because he had an image of Ruth hiding in a cave on the beach and dying from cold and starvation.
Tom looked disappointed. He hadn’t planned the next step so sat glumly in the visitor’s chair looking at the ocean.
“We’d better catch a bus back and try to sneak in without anyone seeing us,” Step said anxiously. He was keen to get back to the Games Room as soon as possible. “I’m pleased that you have recovered, Ruth and I hope you can talk some sense into Moses.”
Step and Tom said goodbye and returned to the Bus Stop. A bus travelling north arrived and they paid their money for Clifton Beach. It was only a matter of minutes and they were back at the front gates of the orphanage. They watched from behind some bushes as Matron walked around the gardens calling “Step….Tom”.
“Here we are,” called Step. “We were playing hidings in the garden.”
“I asked you to stay in the Games Room,” she said, but she didn’t appear to be cross and escorted them back inside. “The other children should be back from their outing soon but until then I’d like you to go to your room and do some quiet reading.”
Step couldn’t believe his good fortune. He hadn’t been caught and wasn’t in trouble. Well at least he wasn’t in more trouble than before. He was happy to lie on his bed with a book, especially as Tom hadn’t spoken a word and no longer appeared to be friendly.
“Thanks for trying,” Step said to Tom. Tom just rolled over on his bed with his back to Step. Obviously something was bugging him but Step decided it was wise to let sleeping dogs lie.
It was Sunday night before Tear was able to communicate her news. She passed a folded note to Step as she passed him on her way to dinner. He read it when he was sure no one was looking and was immensely cheered by what it said.
Aunt Ella ringing Mr Moody re Ruth. Says she’s sure he can help.
He caught Tear’s eye and she winked. He must get this message to Sad. Also would he tell Tom? Maybe that would cheer him up.
As they were leaving to go to bed later that night he passed the note to Sad, making sure he wasn’t being watched. He approached his room with trepidation. What sort of mood would Tom be in?
“I’ve got some news Tom. I think it’s good for Ruth.”
Tom turned to look at him, which at least was a start.
“Tear gave me a message. She says that Mr Moody, who is a solicitor, is going to look into Ruth’s case. She seemed very hopeful that maybe Ruth won’t have to marry Esau after all.”
“Who cares?” Tom cried. “I’m over this. It’s all boring. You’re just a scaredy cat and I hate having to share a room with you. I’m asking Nurse Smiley if you can be moved.”
With that he climbed into bed and covered his head with his blanket.
The next morning Step, Tear and Sad were called to Matron’s office.
“Sit down,” she said brusquely. “I’ve have reviewed your behaviour over the past few days and can only conclude that you did what you did out of consideration for Ruth and not because you are naughty children. As a result, you will now be allowed to talk to each other again which I’m sure will please you all.”
Matron looked at Step for a few moments. “Step, I have received a request from Tom that you be moved from his room. I had hoped that with your friendly nature he would enjoy your company but he is a difficult boy to please. I have decided to leave it up to you. If you want to return to the room you share with Sad and the others you may. However if you think it will help Tom to have your company it might be a good idea to stay a little longer. I’ll leave it up to you to decide.”
Step was deliriously happy when Matron said he could move back. However as she finished speaking he realised she was asking him to help Tom.
“Matron, could you give me a few days to make up my mind? I’ll see if I can get through to Tom. If not, then I will be happy to move back to my old bed.”
As they were leaving Sad gave Step a push. “Why don’t you move back straight away? It must be so boring stuck in a room with Tom No Friends.”
“I will gladly come back but I think Matron wants my help. Tom can be nice but for some reason he turns away from people and becomes bitter. Maybe something happened to him to make him like that.”
“That’s no excuse,” Sad said in a wobbly voice. “What happened to him couldn’t have been any worse than what happened to me but I’m a friendly guy, aren’t I?”
“That’s all the more reason to help Tom. Maybe he just needs some friends and he will get rid of that huge chip he has on his shoulder.”
With that the children reported to the Games Room because tomorrow they were all going to their new schools for the first time.
Sad was unsure what to do. Should he call for help from his friends or Nurse Smiley? Ruth quickly put her finger to her lips.
“Don’t tell anyone I’m here because Moses will come looking for me and if Matron or Nurse Smiley know where I am they will have to tell him.”
“But you can’t stay in here with the chooks,” said Sad. “For a start they won’t come in here and that will arouse suspicion. I will have to hide you somewhere else. And what about food? You can’t live on wheat!”
Ruth stared at Sad with a strange look. “I would rather starve to death than go back with Moses and marry Esau.”
Sad thought quickly. He and his friends had already explored the house and knew where the best hiding places were. At the back of the house was the servants’ staircase, used in the olden days when a wealthy family lived here. It was narrow and steep and led to a row of small rooms in the roof of the house where the servants used to sleep. No-one used it now as the cook and gardener lived in their own homes nearby. Sad decided that it was dark enough to risk moving Ruth to her new quarters without anyone seeing. The stairs were near the kitchen so he might even be able to take some food up for her after dinner.
He looked at Ruth. “How would Moses know you were here? He wouldn’t even know where this place is.”
“I overheard him talking to someone on the telephone. He was trying to find the address because he wanted to take some orphans for the weekend in the hope of persuading them to stay. Our numbers are dropping as some people have been leaving. It is very hard to get away if you are older because you have donated all your worldly goods to the organisation and so you have nothing when you leave. Some people are still so unhappy they leave anyway but then they have to beg on the street to live. Anyway I saw the address written on his notepad and decided to come here and hide until they get sick of looking.”
“How did you get here?” asked Sad.
“Jehovah’s Children Farm is a few miles from the Picton railway station. I left in the middle of the night and walked to the station. I had been saving money wherever I could find it and dear Isaiah helped me. It is amazing how much money we found in the discarded furniture. Anyway I caught a train to Central and then another one to Cliffside Beach. It is a long walk down the hill from the station but I was so excited to be here. Then I saw people in the garden so I hid in the hen house.”
“Well, let’s get you out of here and upstairs without anyone seeing. I mustn’t forget to lock up the chooks either.” Sad looked around in all directions, thankful it was almost dark and then quickly scurried to the back door. Peering inside he could see no-one, so waved to Ruth to follow him. Together they crept up the steep stairs, their shoes in their hands, until they came to a narrow corridor. Sad looked into each room until he saw one with some sparse furniture.
“Here, this will do. It has a bed with a mattress. You can put your blanket over it as it is awfully dusty. I’ll get you some more blankets as well as some food and water.”
With that Sad rushed off to lock up the chooks and report for dinner. It was difficult to act normally in front of Step and Tear when he had such an enormous secret. He had to get them alone before he could say anything as he didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing. It would be useful if they could save some food for Ruth as well but tonight she was going to have to rely on what he could forage alone. He slipped a bread roll and an apple into his pockets and then remembered his drink bottle in his room. As soon as the meal was over he rushed upstairs, filled his drink bottle with water and set off for the back stairs. To get there he had to walk through the kitchen which was difficult as Cook and the rostered orphan, Peter, were washing the big pots and pans.
The only thing to do was switch off the lights and hope he could slip through unnoticed.
Cook remarked, “There’s a blackout!”
”Can’t be,” Peter said. “ The lights are on in the rest of the house.”
By this time Sad was off and up the back stairs. He opened the third door and presented his gifts to Ruth. He had forgotten to get blankets. Ruth didn’t mind. She drank the drink bottle dry and ate her bread roll in seconds. As she munched on the apple Sad told he he’d better get back as there might be a search for the person who switched off the lights in the kitchen.
Getting back was easier as Cook was out in the hallway talking to Nurse Smiley about the lights going off and Peter had left to go back to the others. Sad checked no-one was watching and fled to his room where he found Step reading a book. The other two boys were obviously somewhere else so when Sad got his breath back he told Step the whole story.
“Wow!” exclaimed Step. “How are we going to keep her there without anybody finding out?”
“It will only be until Moses has been and gone and then maybe Ruth can be given a place at the orphanage,” whispered Sad. “We have to find Tear and tell her what is happening.”
“What about washing and er… you know.” Step muttered.
“She can go down the stairs and out into the yard in the middle of the night. No-one will see her. There’s an outdoor dunny in the back garden.”
Sad and Step were unable to get Tear alone until the next morning. Sad asked if she would help him in the chook yard so she and Step went out before breakfast to let the hens out of their house.
“Tear, Ruth is here hiding in one of the attic rooms and we have to keep her out of sight until Moses comes to check if she is here.” Step didn’t waste any words as time was short. “Make sure you keep some food from breakfast for her and fill up your drink bottle with water. We’ll meet here after breakfast. Not a word, understand?”
Tear nodded and returned to the house. Half an hour later they met again at the chook yard. Sad was carrying a blanket off his bed as well as a bag of food.
“I don’t know if we should all go up together. Maybe if Sad goes first we can follow at a safe distance,” said Step.
The two orphans waited until Sad was out of sight. Step crossed to the back door next and after a few more minutes Tear followed.
They found Ruth in a very miserable state. She was hungry, thirsty and cold and snuggled up to Sad’s blanket with relief. The children spoke quietly and then left one at a time.
Until the new school term started the children were given a roster of activities to keep them busy. It consisted mainly of work in the garden or the house. That day Tear was supposed to hang the washing on the clothesline. Sad was assigned to weeding the garden and Step had to vacuum the carpets.
They all looked out for the Land Rover and sure enough it arrived at precisely midday. Sad saw the car pull up and watched Moses striding to the front door. Step paused in his vacuuming while Moses went into Matron’s study and Tear watched from the clothesline as he and Matron searched the back garden.
After a long time he was back in his Land Rover, satisfied Ruth was not there. That is what they all hoped, anyway.
They all wore jackets with big pockets to lunch so they could stow as much food as possible without arousing suspicion.
However, Rose had noticed something because she approached Tear as she was leaving the Dining Room.
“What are you doing with all that food in your pockets? I saw you sneaking it away. I saw the others too. Tell me now or I will inform Nurse Smiley.”
“Er…um. A midnight feast! Step and Sad and I were going to have a midnight feast,” Tear said quickly. “You mustn’t tell. Please!”
“I won’t tell if I can come too. It sounds like fun,” replied Rose. “Where are you meeting?”
“At the top of the back staircase, in one of the attic rooms,” replied Tear. She realised she had given away Ruth’s secret but didn’t know what else to say.
“Great! Make sure you wake me if I am asleep. Otherwise…” She raised her eyebrows dramatically.
Tear broke the news to Step and Sad. Sad was angry and kicked the wall so hard he hurt his foot and hopped around groaning for several minutes. When he recovered, he gasped, “Why did you tell her where Ruth was hiding? You didn’t have to do that!”
“Calm down,” said Step. “I have an idea. We can still have the midnight feast, only not in Ruth’s room. We can warn her to be quiet and have it in the room next door. We just need to get lots of food so we have enough for both purposes.”
“I don’t want to get up at midnight and have a feast,” said Sad. “What a stupid idea, Tear.”
Tear looked like she was about to cry but Step hurriedly stepped in. “It was quick thinking in a difficult situation. What would you have said instead, Sad? Would you have organised a midnight feast in the chook pen?”
That made Sad laugh and the awkward moment was past.
When Step took the scavenged food to Ruth that night she was lying on the bed with her hands clasped to her temples.
“What’s wrong?” asked Step.
“I have the most awful headache,” she said. “I just want to sleep and hope it will be gone in the morning.”
Step quickly told her about the feast scheduled for midnight in a nearby room.
“Well, I won’t be coming to your party,” she said. “Rather you than me.”
Step left the food and water although Ruth didn’t seem very interested. He ran downstairs thinking he just wanted this night to be over.
Tear rather hoped that Rose would sleep through the night, but she was out of her bed and tugging at Tear’s sleeve as the church bell chimed twelve times.
Wearily Tear grabbed her dressing gown. Two more shapes appeared. It seems Rose had told Wattle and Cherry so they were preparing to join the feast.
“I hope there’s enough food,” muttered Tear. “We weren’t expecting so many people.”
Silently they crept downstairs, through the dark kitchen and up the narrow staircase to the attic. Step and Sad were already in the first room, candles alight and the food spread over one of the blankets from Step’s bed.
“This is so exciting!” Cherry said, her hands fluttering towards the food. “Thank you for inviting us.”
The children ate quietly, munching on biscuits and cakes and washing them down with tooth tumblers of water. Tear began to breath more easily as she thought they might have kept their secret for one more day.
All of a sudden a loud voice could be heard nearby.
“Let me go! I’m not coming back! I don’t want to marry Esau! I’d rather die!”
They all looked up and Rose, Cherry and Wattle appeared genuinely scared.
“Do you think it’s a ghost?” asked Rose.
Surprisingly it was Wattle who dashed out the door to Ruth’s room and opened the door.
“As I thought,” said Wattle. “Someone is hiding up here. Calm down Rose, it’s not a ghost.”
Cherry held up the candle to see who was in the room. On the bed Ruth tossed and turned. Her face was red and she moaned continuously.
“I think she is very sick,” said Step. “Let’s go and get Nurse Smiley. Tear and Sad, you two stay with her and give her some water.”
The children rushed down the narrow stairs and up the broad ones to Nurse Smiley’s room. After Step’s brief outline of the situation she donned her dressing gown and grabbed a large torch and her medical bag. On the way she knocked on Matron’s door and let her know of the situation.
Within minutes she was taking Ruth’s temperature and placing a cool cloth on her forehead. She looked at the children gathered around.
“I don’t know what you were doing up here but I want you all in bed NOW. Understand? I will see you tomorrow in my office at 7 o’clock. Now scoot!”
The children did as they were told but found it hard to sleep, wondering what was going on. They heard the wail of an ambulance siren, the crunching of gravel on the driveway and muffled voices but what had happened to Ruth they could only guess.
The six children waited outside Nurse Smiley’s office at 7 o’clock.
“I will see Rose, Cherry and Wattle first,” she said. In a few minutes they reappeared. Rose looked at Step, Tear and Sad.
“You three are in soooo much trouble,” she said, swinging her plaits around her head.
The three orphans looked at each other.
“The most important thing,” Step said, “is that Ruth recovers from her sickness and does not have to go back to the farm. Keep that in mind.”
“Sit down please,” Nurse Smiley looked very serious. “The girl from the attic is in hospital with influenza. She is in a bad way but the doctors hope that with an antibiotic drip she will recover. I have been told by the girls about the midnight feast. Now I want the whole truth from you three as I get the feeling you know a lot more about this than Rose, Cherry and Wattle do.”
Sad spoke first. “I am the one who found the girl in the hen house. She wanted to stay at the orphanage so I hid her in the attic. It is all my fault.”
Step spoke next. “I am the oldest but I decided to help Sad because I felt sorry for the girl. It is my fault that Tear is involved because we should have kept it to ourselves.”
“Before you go on any further,” Nurse Smiley interrupted. “I know the girl is Ruth from the Jehovah’s Children Farm and that Moses has been looking for her. As soon as she is better she will be going back to the farm.”
“But Nurse Smiley, she is going to have to marry Esau when she turns 16 and she doesn’t want to. She is still only young and should not be forced into marriage. She doesn’t even like Esau.” Sad was in tears, he was so upset.
“I was not aware of that,” said Nurse Smiley thoughtfully. “However, as Moses is her guardian we have no control over what he decides to do. Now as for the three of you I will have to talk to Matron about your punishment. For the moment you are not to speak to each other and Step and Sad will sleep in different rooms. Step, you can move in with Tom so go and get your things now.”
The three orphans left Nurse Smiley’s office stunned and heartbroken. The future looked very bleak indeed.
The horizon was streaked with pink and gold although the sun had not yet appeared when Sad and Step dumped their backpacks in the Land Rover. They had the same driver as before because he knew where the Scout Hall was. Matron had asked that all orphans be returned there and not to the new house. She very wisely decided to keep its whereabouts a secret.
The driver was alone and not at all chatty, so the two boys sat in the back seat quietly brimming with excitement. Every now and again they looked at each other and a big grin would spread across one of their faces. Then the other would burst into silent laughter and they would both shake with shared joy.
It took two hours to reach the Scout Hall. They could see other cars pulling in and driving out. Foster parents and orphans were carrying bags into the hall and Nurse Smiley stood at the door greeting each group.
Step looked around for Tear. He was worried that she might not come back, that some Foster Parent would take a liking to her and keep her. He couldn’t see her anywhere and began to shiver with the thought that she might be gone forever.
He eventually plucked up enough courage to ask the dreaded question.
“Excuse me Nurse Smiley, but do you know if Tear is coming back?”
Nurse Smiley turned to Step and answered “Tear will be meeting us at the new house as her Foster Parent lives nearby. It was because of Tear that we were left this beautiful mansion. She made friends with the old lady who owned it and told her all about our dilemma. The old woman made us the sole beneficiaries of her estate. She was very, very old, over 100, and one morning, sitting in the sunshine, after drinking a cup of tea, she fell asleep and didn’t wake up. She had no other relatives and her last days had been brightened up by Tear’s company. I’m sure she imagined how excited the orphans would be to live in her huge house.”
Step thanked Nurse Smiley and rushed to tell Sad the news. Everyone was given a brown paper bag with sandwiches and an apple. There was also a colourful drink bottle of water with each bag. They were told to keep the bottles so they could refill them when needed.
A small bus pulled into the driveway. The orphans climbed on board, eager to see their new accommodation. They travelled along a busy road, turning eventually into a narrower, quieter road where they caught glimpses of a shimmering blue sea between the trees. Halfway down a steep hill they turned right up a winding driveway. Everyone gasped at what they saw. Even Nurse Smiley, who had been there before, stared in renewed wonder.
Before them they could see a mixture of chimneys, arched bow windows, carvings, striped bull nosed verandahs, intricate lace balcony railings, rusty iron roofs and tiled terraces. The overall effect was one of crumbling grandeur. The children eagerly entered the large front door and looked with curiosity at the broad staircase leading to the rooms where they possibly would sleep. Nurse Smiley ushered them into a large room at the front of the house where sun streamed in through numerous arched windows. There were no chairs so the children sat on the floor, faces turned to Nurse Smiley in anticipation.
“First of all I would like to welcome all sixteen orphans to our new home. It is to be named after the kind woman who left it to us, the Zipporah Magillacuddy Childrens’ Home. Our first job is to work out where everyone is going to sleep. We won’t be having dormitories any more so there will be four children to a room. Some of the older children will share with one other and some can even have a room to themselves. I will read out the groups and you can wait with your roommates to be shown your room. First girls’ room will be Tear, Cherry, Rose and Wattle, first boys’ room will be Step, Biff, Mark and Sad. The older children can discuss with me if they want to share a room or be by themselves.”
The orphans were astonished at their new-found freedom and looked at each other in amazement.
“I just want to let you know that we are following the wishes of Miss Zipporah Magillacuddy. She wanted this house to feel like a home, not an orphanage, so she has decreed that certain instructions must be followed. For example, you will all go to the local schools, primary and high school, and if anyone wishes to continue with their education past the age of 15, they may stay here until they have their Leaving Certificate. We will no longer have the Saturday Inspection Day but we will still encourage members of the community to take children out for the weekend and in school holidays. There will be jobs for you all to do but we will have a proper Cook who will take care of all the food preparation. We will need all of you to help with the garden and some of the easier house renovation but there won’t be anything that is too difficult for you. I think you all want to do your best to make this house a home. Is that correct?”
The children all answered with a fervent yes and stood up, eager to find their rooms. Nurse Smiley led them up the staircase and stopped at the first door to the left of the landing. Inside was a large room with four beds. French windows opened onto a wide balcony and through the glass could be seen glimpses of shining sea.
“Tear, Cherry, Rose and Wattle, here are your sheets and blankets. You can make up your beds now.”
The group continued to the end of a long corridor where Nurse Smiley opened the door into another large room. It also had a door leading onto a balcony but this one was at the front of the house.
“Step, Biff, Mark and Sad. Please make up your beds and I will return in ten minutes to check.” Nurse Smiley moved off with the older children who were already choosing friends with whom to share their rooms.
Nurse Smiley poked her head in each room. “I want to see all of you downstairs in fifteen minutes, at exactly 3 o’clock.” With that she turned on her heel and scurried downstairs.
Tear put her backpack on one of the beds and thought about her roommates. Cherry was a friendly girl most of the time although she could be influenced by the others and say nasty things. Rose was very self-centred and seemed not to care about other people or their feelings. Wattle was very quiet and she didn’t feel she knew much about her at all.
“Well, we’d better get these beds made,” said Cherry. “I don’t know about you, but I think we are going to love living here.”
“As long as I get the bed near the window,” said Rose quickly. “I want to see the sea when I wake up.”
Wattle said nothing so Tear chose the bed furthest away from Rose. The less she had to do with her the better. Beside each bed was a small wardrobe where they could store their clothes. On the other side of the bed was a bedside table, complete with a reading lamp and a small vase of yellow daisies. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make them feel welcome. Tear wondered if Aunt Ella had anything to do with it. She was going to miss Aunt Ella and was looking forward to visiting her sometimes on weekends and holidays.
Meanwhile Sad and Step chose beds side by side. Biff and Mark claimed the other side of the room. After they made their beds Nurse Smiley checked on them, making clucking sounds as she straightened blankets and pillows. “Now off you go downstairs. The others are already there.”
Peter was the oldest orphan. At fourteen and ten months he had expected to be leaving the orphanage soon but as he was quite good at his lessons, he had been told he could go to the High School and get his Leaving Certificate. Who knows, he might get a scholarship to Teachers College or University! He was excitedly telling the other orphans about his own room up in the top of the house. It was circular, with windows all around and a vaulted ceiling. Here he could study away from the noise of the younger children. The other children had found rooms for two and happily shared with friends. Only one person was not happy. Tom was not popular as he had a habit of throwing angry tantrums when he didn’t get his way. None of the older children had wanted to share with him so he was by himself. Peter told him how lucky he was to have his own room but Tom just felt more alone and isolated. Step watched him shouting and crying but felt he couldn’t help. Eleven year old Tom would not want the friendship of a seven year old boy.
Nurse Smiley and Matron stood at one end of the room and raised their hands for quiet.
Matron spoke first. “Welcome everyone to the Zipporah Magillacuddy Childrens’ Home. We hope you will be very happy here as you will find it very different to the last place you lived. One major change will be school. Mr Scott has retired and is having a well-earned rest living with his sister down the coast. All the children up to 6th class will go to the local public school, Cliffside Beach and the three children of High School age will catch a bus to Middlemount High School. You will all need uniforms so we have some mothers here from the school to measure you up so that on your first day you will blend in seamlessly with the other students.”
Nurse Smiley continued. “When you have been measured would you please go through this door to our dining room. You can wait in the lounge chairs around the room until it is time for dinner.”
Step, Tear and Sad were interested to see the uniforms. The boys would be wearing grey shorts and a green shirt with a green and white striped tie. Tear would be wearing a grey box pleated tunic over a green shirt, with the same tie as the boys. They would be wearing grey socks and black shoes. For sports days the boys had green shorts and yellow T-shirts while Tear had a green wrap-around skirt with yellow edging.
There was a lot to talk about as they sat in the comfy armchairs of the dining room. Step wondered how big the school was. If it was a small school, having another thirteen students would make a big difference. He hoped they would be accepted by the other school children.
Nurse Smiley reappeared. “Dinner time!” she called out cheerfully. “Please take a tray over to the window at the end of the room and you will be given your meal.”
Step, Tear and Sad sat together. They were so excited they couldn’t stop talking. Rose walked past them with her tray. “Sitting with the boys, are we Tear? Girls not good enough for you?”
“You’re welcome to join us,” said Tear, but Rose walked off with Cherry, Wattle following indecisively a few steps behind.
“Hey Wattle, come and join us,” Tear called out.
Wattle looked perplexed. She looked at Tear and then at Rose. Rose looked back. “You’re with us,” she hissed, and Wattle scurried to join her.
After dinner the children walked in single file, carrying their plates. There were four bowls of hot, soapy water in the kitchen so it wasn’t long before they had all washed and dried their dishes. They returned to the lounge chairs and listened attentively to Nurse Smiley.
“Before you all go to your rooms tonight, I want to tell you one more of Miss Magillacuddy’s wishes which we intend to carry out as soon as possible. She wanted the children here to have experience with animals so in time we will obtain some chickens, some ducks, dogs, cats and even goldfish. You will be responsible for looking after them so I would like you to write down what sort of animal you would like for a pet and we will see what we can do. You may have to share some animals because we wouldn’t want sixteen cats if you all asked for one, whereas we could have sixteen chickens.”
There was excited buzzing of voices as slips of paper and pencils were passed around. Step wrote down “dog” on his paper, Tear wrote “cat” and Sad put “chickens”. Sad thought no-one else would put chickens and he liked the idea of feeding them night and morning and collecting the eggs each day.
Sad’s wish was the first to come true as there was already a chicken pen in the garden. It was empty but the next day he was asked to supervise the arrival of the new inhabitants. They were to live in a large rectangular yard fenced with high chicken wire. Inside, at one end, was a hen house where they were to sleep at night on perches. Sad had to lock the door each night so the chickens would be safe from foxes and other predators. He also had to unlock the door in the morning, collect the eggs and feed pollard mixed with water to the chickens. As well he had to clean the water dish and refill it with fresh water. It seemed a lot of work for one person and as no one else had asked for chickens he could choose a friend to go with him each time.
There were six very annoyed hens delivered in flour bags with their legs tied together. Sad, Tear and Step were wary of the noisy birds, but Fred the gardener swiftly cut the ties on their legs and let them run around.
“Just leave them to settle down and then tonight we’ll see if they go into their house so we can lock them in,” said Fred. “Meet me here at six o’clock.”
As if by magic the chickens scuttled up a ramp and into their new home. Fred had already fed them wheat so Sad was relieved the chickens were not his responsibility alone.
It was a few days later when Fred met Sad in the morning as he was looking for eggs.
“They probably won’t start laying for a while. They had a big fright moving here. Listen, Sad, I have to go away today but will be back tomorrow. Would you make sure the chickens are fed and locked up tonight.”
Sad nodded his head enthusiastically. He liked being put in charge of the chickens without any adults around. He decided he wouldn’t even ask Step or Tear to help.
At five o’clock he fed the chickens and at six o’clock he came back to lock them up. They seemed upset and wouldn’t go into their house. He poked his head inside to see what the problem was. Surely there wasn’t a fox in the hen house! On the floor he could see a mound covered with a tartan blanket. Funny, that shouldn’t be there. He was a little bit scared but decided that it couldn’t be an animal. He grabbed the blanket, pulled it away swiftly and gasped in astonishment.
Curled up on the floor was a girl. Sad was sure he had seen her before. Suddenly he knew who it was. It was Ruth, their friend from Jehovah’s Children.
Step and Sad had still not reached the end of their long day but watching Ruth spinning had been informative and interesting, not so much for what she did but what she said. The hour of prayer and contemplation was coming up and Sad hoped it would be a good opportunity for a sleep. Everyone was gathering in a sunny area at the front of the house, sitting cross-legged on the grass with eyes closed. For a whole hour Step and Sad had time to think about their situation. Step considered the possibility of staying with Jehovah’s Children. So far it seemed a pleasant lifestyle and all the grown-ups were friendly and smiled a lot. Ruth showed another side of the community, where people were made to do things against their will. He would reserve judgment until he was here for a few more days.
Sad was too tired to think for long. The combination of late afternoon spring sunshine and the effort of turning cream into butter had made him very sleepy so he slowly drooped forward until his forehead touched the ground. He dreamed he was in a large house with all the other orphans. Looking out the window he could see the waves crashing onto the rocks below. In his dream he was happy and excited. Step woke him up to tell him they were going to dinner.
“What do you think about staying here?” asked Step.
Sad’s head was still filled with his wonderful dream. “I’m sure we will get another place to live. I want to go back to the other orphans and Nurse Smiley and Mr Scott our teacher. I want to go to school and know what’s going on in the world. Most of all I don’t want to be forced to get married to some girl. Ugh!”
The dining room was like a cafeteria, with trays, plates and cutlery at one end and food in metal trays for them to choose from. One boy exclaimed, “Gluten steak tonight!”
Step looked in surprise when he heard the word “steak”. Maybe they ate some meat here after all. He speared a piece onto his plate along with some mashed potato, cabbage and pumpkin.
Moses began his pre-dinner prayer. “We thank you Lord for this food you have provided for us. For our gluten steaks, made in our own kitchen from wheat grown in our own paddocks, potatoes and pumpkins grown in our own vegetable garden and cabbage from last summer which we have bottled and preserved to keep us from scurvy in the long winter.”
Although it was chewy, Sad found the gluten steak was a change from bread and cheese. He hoped there would be dessert and there was. Apple crumble with apples from the orchard and crumble from the ground wheat with a dollop of cream from the dairy.
Bible study was interesting as they were given readers roughly suitable for their age group. For Step it was easy although Sad struggled a bit with some of the words. To Sad’s delight the story they were studying that evening was about Noah and the Flood. However, when he reached a part that said the dinosaurs were too slow to get on the boat and that is why they died out, he put up his hand. “Excuse me, that is wrong. The dinosaurs lived a long time before there were any people on the earth. It is thought that a meteor hitting the earth caused the destruction of the dinosaurs.”
The teacher at the front of the room smiled although it was through gritted teeth.
“Sad, we believe that God created all the animals and man in six days, so they were all on this earth together until the Great Flood. It tells us that in the Bible, which is the Word of God. It is not our place to dispute the Blessed Word of God.”
“But…. Ow!” Sad was suddenly silent when Step kicked him under the table. Maybe he had better be quiet.
He couldn’t help himself, however.
“Excuse me, Brother Jacob (that was the teacher’s name), exactly how many animals were on the ark? It couldn’t have been every animal in the world, could it? What about Polar Bears? They only live in the ice and snow. Were they on the Ark?”
Brother Jacob just nodded his head. “The Bible says it was every animal of God’s Creation.”
“Except the dinosaurs,” replied Sad.
“Except the dinosaurs,” repeated Brother Jacob. His smile was looking very forced.
Next day after morning prayers and breakfast the boys reported to Moses. Instead of giving them a sheet of instructions he called someone into his office. It was Ruth, smiling broadly.
“I have asked Ruth to show you around all the work activities today so we can decide more quickly what you are suited to. We might as well get you working as soon as possible.”
Ruth took them to the hen house where children were collecting the eggs. She also pointed out other children who were collecting loose feathers to be used in pillows and cushions. The bee hives were well away from the house and they were told that not only honey came from the bees but also the wax which could be used for candles. There was a mill where the wheat was crushed to be made into flour and vegetable gardens where people young and not so young were digging, weeding and planting. In some paddocks there were sheep, and others showed signs of being recently ploughed, waiting for crops of wheat, oats and barley to be planted. Everyone they saw smiled merrily at them so that Step finally asked Ruth why everyone was so happy.
“They are not really happy,” said Ruth bitterly. “They have been instructed to show they always have the Joy of the Lord in them. If you stop smiling you get sent to a Pastor who punishes you until you start smiling again.”
“What sort of punishment do people get and have you ever been punished?” Sad asked fearfully.
“Oh, I’ve been punished lots of times. Now I just go along with what they want, meanwhile making my own plans for escape.”
“But what do they do to you?” insisted Sad.
“They lock you up in a small, dark room with no bed and no blankets. They only give you one glass of water a day and no food. You get so bored you beg to be let out. Meanwhile you must promise not to tell anyone where you have been, or why.”
The second last place they visited was the vast kitchen where they admired rows of jars with gold-coloured lids. “This is where all our summer fruit and vegetables are preserved. That keeps us going throughout the winter. We cut up the produce, put it in a jar, put the lid on and then boil it in a large pot filled with water for hours. That kills all the germs and the food keeps throughout the winter. It gets very hot here in the summer with the stove alight all the time so we try to do as much as we can outside in the shade.”
Ruth looked at the boys. ”I have to make a recommendation for your chosen labour but I have one more place to show you. I think you will find it interesting.”
They walked over to a large wooden shed. Ruth knocked three times on the door and waited while a voice called out, “All right, I’m coming, I’m coming.”
The old man who opened the door wasn’t smiling. He didn’t even pretend to be happy, but he ushered the children and Ruth into the shed and then went back to what he was doing. He was working on some shoes, fixing the soles which had large holes in them.
Step looked around the shed. It was full of every imaginable kind of junk. Maybe some of it wasn’t junk but you couldn’t tell because there was so much of it.
Ruth waved her hand around the shed. “This is all the worldly goods donated by people who have joined “Jehovah’s Children”. Isaiah here has a huge job trying to sort through it all. For example, look at all the shoes! He goes through them all and fixes anything that needs mending. Once things are in good working order they go to the Sunday Thanks Giving where people who have worked well during the week are given rewards. Of course, we don’t give out a wireless set because we don’t have any electricity and we are forbidden to find out about the world outside.”
“So, there could be a War,” exclaimed Sad, “and you wouldn’t know about it!”
“Moses would know,” said Ruth. “He has a wireless in his room which runs on batteries so he would know if another country invaded Australia.”
“Would you like to help Isaiah?” said Ruth. “He needs help sorting out all the donations and no one else wants to do it.”
“Does Isaiah want us to help him?” asked Step, wondering if the cranky old man needed two small children around him.
“I reckon you’re from outside, so you might be more use than the dingbats who live in this nut house,” replied Isaiah. “Crazy, the lot of them. It’s all smiley, smiley and daggers behind your back. I’m having none of them.”
Sad wondered why Isaiah didn’t get put into solitary confinement but decided now was not the time to ask. He looked at Step, who nodded. This was as good a place as any to work and it might be fun. Who knows what they would find!
From then on life began to take on a familiar routine. The boys found Isaiah was not as unpleasant as they first thought. They had long discussions about various items found on the shelves of the shed, what could be useful and what was just rubbish.
“I need to get rid of all the junk,” said Isaiah. “What I need is a big hole in the ground to put it all in so I could have some room in me shed.”
The days flew by until it was Sunday. Step and Sad were not looking forward to a day of fasting but Ruth told them to keep some bread and cheese from their meals to nibble on that day. “Everybody does it,” she said.
Step was looking forward to the Thanks Giving Service. This was to be held after Church in the little chapel beside the farmhouse. At one end of the chapel was a stage and on the stage were all sorts of interesting items which Step and Sad had helped Isaiah choose the week before.
The most useful things were chairs and tables, beds, mattresses, sheets and pillows. There were lots of kitchen items but of course they didn’t include anything that ran on electricity so the shed was still full of toasters, electric jugs, heaters, hairdryers, refrigerators and washing machines.
At the end of a boring church service Moses walked to the front with a list of names. He smiled and announced that there were ten hard workers who would be given their choice of item from the stage. The first person named was Saul, who had prepared all the paddocks for planting with the help of a plough and their one draft horse. He and his wife Mary walked to the front and chose a large wooden double bed complete with mattress. It would have to stay there until tomorrow as no work was allowed until the Sabbath was over.
The next person named was Sarah, who had milked the cows every morning and made 50 pats of butter. She chose a table with four matching chairs and looked very pleased with herself.
Moses looked up with a beaming smile and said, “I am pleased to announce that our next recipient is soon to be married. Esau, you have chopped down 20 trees in the last week and cut them all up into firewood ready for next winter. Would you like to bring your future wife, Ruth to the front and choose your gift from God.”
Step and Tear looked with interest at Esau, Ruth’s future husband. He appeared much older than her but he didn’t look particularly evil. As the couple walked to the front Esau took Ruth’s hand but she withdrew it sharply. It was obvious to all that she didn’t like Esau one little bit. He looked at her and asked what she would like. She shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
Moses spoke quickly to recover the situation. “Let us all show our joy in the future union of our two Children of Jehovah. God has chosen these two to be together and I know that once they are married, they will grow to love each other.”
Esau chose an axe and a saw while Ruth stared grimly out of the window. He didn’t look at his future wife and seemed embarrassed by the whole situation, as well he might.
It was two weeks later, while Step and Sad were working in the shed, that Ruth came to the door to tell them Moses wanted to see them. Sad had been keeping his head down and his mouth shut so he wondered if he was in trouble. Step was also thinking back over the last week to see if he had broken any of the rules.
Moses was looking very serious and for once was not smiling.
“I have some news from your Matron, who telephoned me this morning.”
Moses has a telephone? I wonder how that works way out here? thought Step.
“Apparently there is a new home for the orphanage. It is a big, old house near the sea which has been bequeathed to the orphans by an elderly lady who only recently went to live with the Heavenly Father.”
Sad looked up in astonishment. It seems as if his dream from two weeks ago was actually coming true.
“Although much work has to be done to it, Matron wants all the orphans to return so they can help with the repairs and renovations. It looks as though you will be leaving in the Land Rover tomorrow, unless you want to stay?”
Step looked Moses in the eye. “Sir, I feel it is our duty to report to the new orphanage and help where we can, despite the wonderful time we have had with Jehovah’s Children. I would like you to accept our sincere appreciation of all you have done for us.”
“Well, that’s that,” Moses sighed. “You’ll be off at dawn tomorrow.”
The Curry Apple Orchard 