Sister Heart (3 page)

I'm on deck

searching waves for land

Reverend is on deck

searching waves for his straw hat

The wind tugged it from his head

and stole it away

No hat

thin white hair

he'll burn

if the sun shines hot

Hat bobs close

Sinks

Maybe the whale who swallowed Jonah

will eat it

Reverend talks, talks, talks

about Jonah and the whale

Jonah gave his soul

to God

then ran away

God sent the whale

to teach Jonah a lesson

The whale wasn't hungry or evil

It was just a messenger

So you see, it's important

to do what God tells you

Will a whale swallow me

if I don't?

Clouds race

sky rolls

lightning flashes

thunder growls

wind shrieks

storm breaks

Our ship rises

shivers

falls

rises again

Reverend says

If the ship sinks

every precious soul on board

will be flung into the sea

The Devil is always ready

to do evil work

Pray with me, child!

My guts have their own storm

I spew instead

It is a long time

before sea calms

wind dies

rain fades

When we are allowed

on deck again

I stand below

a river of colour

diving over the ship

into the sea

Reverend squints at the sky

A man named Noah

built a ship

to escape a great flood

that destroyed the earth

That rainbow you see

is a sign of God's grace

a sign of hope

I gaze at the rainbow

If I could reach you

I say in my head

would you slide me home?

Sunrise sparks a dim sky

Sea birds swoop and call

Reverend smiles

Our journey is over

This is our last port of call

The storm is behind us

civilisation ahead

People fuss and scurry

Reverend finds a quiet spot

I'm glad to sit down

I have something important to tell you

I have given you a new name

You are now called Anne

Do you like the name Anne?

I already have an english name

Lots of people on the station

have english names

Boss won't say language names

but I have one

My language name

is the name Mum whispers

when I'm sick

The name she croons

when she strokes my hair

I love my language name

Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary's family was blessed by God

Anne is a name to be proud of!

Reverend reaches for my hand

I hide it behind my back

His face twitches

I mean you no harm, Anne

But he won't let me go!

I am doing what is best for you

But he will keep me trapped

I hunch over

stare at the deck

He sighs

You are as stif-necked as Jonah!

When we leave the ship

don't run like Jonah did

A port is a dangerous place for a child

I'm sorry the Church didn't claim you first

But you will be in my prayers

And don't worry

you won't be alone

A government man

will meet us on the wharf

He will take you to a place

suitable for children like yourself

A new home awaits you, Anne

People rush about

Some talk loud

some laugh

some push

My heart is leaping

like a panicked bird

Reverend grips my arm

Stay close to me

People are eager to disembark

That terrible storm frightened everyone

It is only by the grace of God

we have arrived safely

I don't want to stay on the ship

but

I don't want to leave either

What's wrong with me?

I hear Mum's voice in my head

Be strong

When I am upset

Mum always says

Be strong

like I know you are

I take a shuddery gulp

Tell myself –
be strong

Reverend pulls me along

I breathe deeper

pretend I am bigger

taller

older

I walk like I'm not afraid

like I am brave

I step onto the wharf

The land doesn't move

with my feet

or sway with my legs

like the sea does

My knees crumple

ground rushes up

A hand grabs me

Makes me stand

A hurried voice says

Thank you, Reverend Dale

I'll take charge of the girl now

I'm taken

to a government place

given

to a government man

sitting

in a government chair

hard eyes staring

Hmm, you're a thin little thing

Well now

let me see

what Reverend Dale has written

He gazes at a paper

Ah yes

the Reverend has given you

the name of Anne

He glances up

What about Annie, instead?

He waits

Not talking, Annie?

He glances again at the paper

You spoke English on the station

It won't be long

before you are talking

to the other children

Go along with Nurse

make some new friends

this is your home now

My hands squeeze into fists

This

is

not

my

home

Outside

kids rush me

like a noisy flock of galahs

New girl, new girl!

What your name?

Where you from?

Who your family?

Nor'wester or sou'wester?

A girl with light eyes

and sun-bright hair

pushes through and yells

Go away, you mob!

Can't ya see she's scared?

Clang! Clang! Clang!

I jump in fright

Everyone scatters

except the sun-bright girl

She giggles

That's the bell

callin' us to eat!

Bet you a nor'wester, huh?

Sun cooked you up real good!

I'm a sou'wester

but we can be friends