by Helen Goltz
He nodded and poured boiling water into our cups. I reached past him and pushed a piece of bread down into the toaster.
“I’m sorry Lia. I wish I could help more.”
“You don’t have to Uncle Seb, you’ve done plenty. I love being here.”
“Do you?” he grinned. “That’s a relief.”
I smiled and looked away. I was a bit blown away that he seemed genuinely happy to have me here.
“I thought I might have cramped your style,” I said accepting the tea from him, after he added the milk.
Uncle Seb scoffed. “I think you can see I have no style. Argo and Agnes are my kids and we just hang here with the house don’t we kids?”
Argo barked on cue again on hearing his name, and Agnes appeared to nod.
“Now,” Uncle Seb continued, “we’re a family of five, hanging with the house.” He returned to his bench seat near the window and I spread some butter and Vegemite on my toast.
“You know there are counsellors and doctors who deal with grief if you wanted to chat to someone who knew what they were doing,” Uncle Seb offered. “It would be no trouble to organise it.”
“I’ve had some counselling,” I told him. “They gave it to me before I came here. Have you ever had counselling before?” I sat down on a stool near him with my breakfast.
Uncle Seb nodded. “I was married once.”
“Really? I didn’t know that,” I said.
“I was only about twenty-two. But my wife, Meg, she died and I had a bit of counselling.”
The house howled and the windows upstairs shook.
Uncle Seb looked up the staircase. “Thank you,” he said to the house. Yep, positively weird.
“How did she die? If it’s okay to ask?” I sipped on my tea.
“She drowned,” Uncle Seb swallowed and glanced out the window. “Out there,” he said.
I gasped without thinking, his answer was a shock.
“Very early one morning,” Uncle Seb explained. “I don’t know why she was on the rocks or what happened but someone saw her fall in and when they raced to help her, they couldn’t find her. It was still dark, just before dawn,” he shrugged.
“That’s awful,” I said looking out to the treacherous rock. “Did you find Meg, eventually?”
“Oh yes, later that day she washed ashore. So very strange, she was a capable swimmer.”
“She must have slipped, perhaps hit her head ...” I struggled to say something right. I knew from personal experience it was hard to say the right thing. “How long were you together?”
“We started dating in the last year of high school, got married after Uni and she died two years after that,” Uncle Seb said. He delivered the words without emotion, like he had said this a thousand times.
“That’s terrible,” I said, “terrible.” There was not one photo of Meg or the two of them in the house.
“A long time ago now,” Uncle Seb said, as he rose. “But I understand why you are not sleeping, Lia. But you will again, I promise.”
We heard a commotion at the door and Argo and Agnes jumped up and began to bark. Their tales wagged furiously as Harry and Holly appeared in the window. Holly waved and Uncle Seb let them in.
“Hey, thought we’d all walk to the bus station together,” Harry said.
“Great idea,” Uncle Seb said. “Leave those dishes, Lia,” he directed me as I started to the sink. “I’ve got plenty of time.”
Holly was playing tug-of-war with Argo.
“It was my idea,” she said. “We walk by every day this time, if you want to meet us at the gate.”
“It would have been my idea if you hadn’t beaten me to it,” Harry interrupted his twin sister.
I grinned and looked to Uncle Seb who was shaking his head at the two of them.
“See what I have to put up with everyday,” Holly rolled her eyes. “Where’s Adam?”
“He’s left for work,” Uncle Seb said.
“Got your lunch?” Harry asked me, as I picked up my school bag near the door.
“Ah, lunch! I didn’t think of it. I haven’t prepared anything for you yet, Lia.” He started for the kitchen.
“It’s okay Uncle Seb, really. I haven’t had a packed lunch since primary school, but thanks,” I assured him.
“I’ll have a packed lunch if you don’t want it,” Harry piped up.
“Money then, you’ll need to buy lunch,” he headed towards his office.
“I’m good, really, I’ve got cash,” I called after him stopping him in his tracks. “Bye Argo, bye Agnes, see you Uncle Seb.” I pushed Harry out the door in front of me and stopped to let Holly go next.
“Yeah, bye Uncle Seb,” Harry called.
I heard Uncle Seb laugh. I bet he wonders what he got himself into. At the bottom of the driveway, I looked back and saw him watching through the windows, a dog on each side and the house looking surprised—I gave him a wave.
HOLLY
She looked tired, the new girl—funny how the new person is always the new person until someone else comes along. Anyway, her eyes were dark. I put pencil on mine to get the dark look but she was so pale, that her eyes just stood out. We sat next to each other on the bus and Harry dropped into the seat in front of us, extended over it and turned side-on so he didn’t miss the conversation. I could tell he liked her already; I couldn’t read Ophelia but I don’t think Harry was in her zone. I decided to find out who was in her zone.
“So did you talk with Adam?” I asked her.
“Pretty hard not to when he lives there with her,” Harry piped up.
Ophelia nodded and said in a low voice. “We took the dogs for a walk along the beach last night.”
“Really? I’m so jealous.” I think I squealed then lowered my voice. “I’ve had a crush on Adam Ferrier since ... well forever! He’s gorgeous—those dreamy, deep blue eyes and cute smile,” I daydreamed for a moment then remembered I wasn’t alone. “Half the girls in school have a crush on him or did when he was at school anyway. He was seeing Vanessa Jones in the year above us, but they split.”
“What do the chicks see in him? I mean what’s he got that I haven’t?” Harry interrupted us. I looked at my twin brother with his ginger hair and freckles, his green eyes and slightly out of proportion nose. Whatever, someone would fall in love with him eventually. I ignored him and turned my attention back to Ophelia. “Do you like him?”
“Sure,” Ophelia answered. “He said to think of him as my big brother and that he would have my back. I like that.”
“I’d rather think of him as a boyfriend,” I said. “If you want my advice, don’t let him see you first thing in the morning yet ... you don’t want to scare him off too early.”
“But we’re all living together ... kind of like Uncle Seb’s extended family of strays,” she smiled.
“And I’m sure Lia’s head is better than yours in the morning,” my brother added. I continued to ignore him.
“I wish I could be that close to him,” I sighed again. “I even love the name Adam. Adam ... Adam and Holly, Adam and Holly Ferrier.”
“Give it up,” Harry said bringing me back to earth.
Ophelia started laughing and I joined in.
“Just make sure you don’t keep him out near midnight,” Harry muttered.
I nudge Harry and give him a warning look. I don’t think Ophelia saw it.
OPHELIA
Harry, Holly and I were in the same class for nearly every subject except I did accounting while they took biology and we were all in different sport houses. I felt a bit sorry for Holly—her two best friends left at the end of year ten; one took up an apprentice chef role and the other went to Sydney with her parents when her father changed jobs. She still saw Sally, the apprentice on weekends, but she was almost as lost as I was—good for both of us that we bonded.
I came from biology class and when I entered the history classroom Holly and Harry hadn’t arrived. I drew a deep breath and continued walking
in; I dreaded entering a room and having to find a seat and try not to take someone else’s seat or look pathetic and sit on my own.
I was relieved to see Peggy sitting in the corner and she waved me over and pointed at the seat next to her.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Peggy started talking before I could say hello. I smiled a greeting and dropped down beside her.
“What am I thinking?” I asked. I was pretty sure Peggy wouldn’t guess I was thinking about Adam and that guy I saw on the rocks at three o’clock this morning. Who was he?
Peggy drew a deep breath and said with confidence, “you’re thinking what project topic should you pick this term? Me too, but I think I’ve worked it out.”
“Of course. I was definitely going to be thinking about that soon,” I agreed, any day now for sure. Peggy was about to continue when a well-rounded, stocky man entered the room. Half a dozen students including Harry and Holly raced in behind him before he closed the door. Holly waved in my direction and dropped into a seat near the door.
“Just made it,” the teacher threatened them.
“That’s Mr. Meadows, we had him for history last year too,” Peggy whispered.
“A bit of quiet,” he called. “Project selection time for the term!”
The class groaned.
“Yes, I knew you would be excited too.” He glanced around the room. “Good to see a new face. Welcome Miss?”
“Ophelia ... Ophelia Montague,” I said, again.
“Ah, now there’s a name from history, literary history at least ... from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. But you all knew that of course,” he smiled indulgently.
Peggy nodded. The rest of the class looked blank.
Mr. Meadows continued. “So those of you who were in my class last term, which is all of you except Ophelia, will know we have one exam, one individual project and one team project for your assessment. This term, you will be doing your individual projects. You have one week to give me your topic for approval.”
The class groaned again.
“Does anyone besides Peggy know what they are doing?” Mr. Meadows asked. Peggy looked surprised. “I’m just guessing you’ve got that sorted?” he said to her.
She nodded. “I was thinking about what form World War III might take if there was going to be one and how different it would be from World War I and II—you know, better weapons, who might be enemies and allies. Is that okay?” Peggy asked, looking worried. I’m sure she’s probably top of the class but always a worrier.
“More than okay, that’s great. But if you find it gets too big, just select one of the wars to compare it to ... maybe the last one, World War II since it was more sophisticated in weaponry and warfare, supposedly,” Mr Meadows said.
A few hands shot up.
“Russell McCannes, is that your hand I see up before me? Let me sit down before the shock kills me,” Mr. Meadows moved towards a chair.
The class laughed and Russell grinned. “I’m going to discuss if the United Nations has a role as a peacekeeper ... or if they are just a waste of space.”
Mr. Meadows nodded. “So eloquently phrased. That sounds good Russell, very good, permission granted.” He looked at the few other hands remaining up and pointed to an attractive Indian girl in the front row. “Nami, what’s your proposed topic?”
“I was going to do the rise of India and China as possible superpowers, Sir,” she said.
“Love it Nami, go right ahead.”
He turned his gaze to me. “So Ophelia, that’s the sort of project topics we need. Everyone has until this Friday to pitch their idea.”
“I have an idea, Sir,” I said. What the heck, might as well get it over with.
“Good, shoot ...”
“Just to familiarise myself with the area, I was going to do the history of shipwreck’s on this West Coast and look at how much was human error. It’s probably been done a lot before though I guess,” I shrugged.
“There’s plenty of material around but I think looking at what was human error, what was an act of God—like weather—and what was structural like the fault of the ships and materials, would be an interesting comparison. Well done,” he said impressed. “There’s a couple of students you should speak with who are descended from shipwreck families. Anyone in this class?”
Garth Dart raised his hand. “We’re descendents from the Julia, Sir. William Dart was the captain and my great, great, something.”
The class laughed again. At least Mr. Meadows’ classes were going to be lively.
“What’s the Julia story then Garth?” Mr. Meadows continued.
“She lost her rudder in heavy seas, Sir, and came a cropper against the rocks. A whale boat with six men on board came out to help and all the crew from the Julia survived, but six of the whalers died helping to rescue them.”
Several female students gasped.
“Well thanks for that cheery tale, Garth,” Mr. Meadows said. “There you go Ophelia, have a chat to Garth. Also, in the year above you is Chayse Johann. He lost distant relatives on the La Bella.”
“And he’s gorgeous,” one of the girls in front of me giggled.
“And he’s gorgeous, thank you Jane, that will be of great assistance to Ophelia with her project,” Mr. Meadows teased and Jane went bright red. “Right,” he continued, “let’s begin with today’s subject—the world at the beginning of the 20th century.”
The class groaned again.
After class, Peggy invited me to join her for lunch and we headed out into the common area. We sat under a huge tree in the shade.
“That’s Chayse Johann over there,” Peggy nodded towards a tall, handsome blond student surrounded by a group of good looking other students, and one girl in particular hanging of him. He had hair to his shoulders and was tanned and athletic.
Harry and Holly dropped down on the grass beside us.
“Who are we looking at?” Holly asked.
“Chayse Johann,” Peggy said. “You know, Mr. Meadows said Ophelia should chat to him for her shipwreck project.”
“I’d talk to him if I could,” Holly said, “but I can’t speak in his presence. I get tongue-tied.”
“So he’s tall, sporty, blond and rich,” Harry shrugged. “Big deal.”
“Yeah big deal,” Peggy said fluttering her eyelashes at Harry. Ah ha, Peggy likes Harry and Harry ... seems oblivious. I’ll have to work on that—yeah, fast worker ... here for a few days, I’ve got the locals sorted, met a guy on the beach and am matchmaking Peggy and Harry. Makes you wonder how they got by before I came, I kidded myself and then felt a wave of missing my best friend.
I heard a shrill laugh rise from Chayse’s group and we all looked over again. The girls in his pack were looking at him adoringly and one snuggled in closer to him—she was beautiful. I don’t think I’ll be asking Chayse Johann anything. I can’t imagine getting through the pack to even get close enough to spring a question on him.
“I’ve seen him around,” I said and pulled my skirt down as I stretched my legs out in front of me on the grass. “He was surfing yesterday afternoon and rode a wave all the way in. He said hi but gave Adam a bit of a shirty look.”
“Yeah no love lost there,” Harry said.
“Why?” I asked looking over at Chayse again.
“Long story,” Harry started before Holly interrupted him with gossip.
“That beautiful girl hanging off Chayse is his girlfriend, Imogen Harper ... she’s so full of herself. Why do beautiful girls always have to be full of themselves?” Holly sighed.
“Amber’s not,” Peggy said. “Neither is Alice.”
“Yeah, that’s true,” Holly agreed.
“Neither are you three,” Harry said.
We all looked at him and smiled. Smooth, Harry. I didn’t know the girls they were talking about but I studied Imogen Harper, Chayse’s girlfriend. She was beautiful—a beach type with blond hair, super slim with a glowing, natural tan but she was bigger up top already than
most of my class and the seniors. She had a body that probably looked great in a bikini.
“She suits Chayse,” I said, “they look good together, like Barbie and Ken.” I glanced down at my own white ‘city’ arms. “I look more like a vampire than a surf girl.”
“Vampires are in,” Harry assured me. Two compliments, sort of. Harry was going to win on charm if nothing else.
“You and Imogen have something in common—your names are both from Shakespeare plays,” Peggy said. “Dried apricot?” she offered the bag around and we all tried one.
“You’ll have to get by Imogen and her flock to get to Chayse,” Holly said, ignoring the literary connection. “She’s always with him, very territorial.”
“But she’s gorgeous,” I stated the obvious. “Surely she has guys after her too. She can’t be that insecure that she has to hang off him.”
Holly shrugged.
“Maybe he doesn’t make her feel secure,” Peggy offered with great wisdom. We all turned to look at her and she blushed. “That’s what happens in Bold and Beautiful. They get really clingy until they’ve won the guy over.”
I sighed looking back at Chayse. “Yeah, well I can live without his shipwreck version of events.” Just as I said that he looked right at me. For some reason only known to the universe, he must have recognised me from the beach yesterday and he raised his hand in a wave. Way to go new girl ... great way to make new friends. I felt everyone turn to look at me. I smiled and waved back and looked away super quickly.
“OMG!” Holly said, “Chayse just waved to you ... and you should see the death stare his girlfriend is giving you.”
Peggy grinned. “You’ve got an admirer already, Lia!”
I shook my head. “No he just recognises me from the beach yesterday; I’m just that girl who was with Adam.”
“It’s good to have an admirer though,” Peggy said, pulling at her long dark plait and with a glance in Harry’s direction, again. “You know the first dance is only two months away.”
Harry groaned. “That means I’ve got to start hiding now ... Paige Stark will be after me.”
Peggy frowned. Harry couldn’t see her.