Running from the Tiger
Page 12
Costaleena, Teena –
Accidentally killed September 14th, aged 11 years.
God took you by His hand and whispered,
‘Come my Angel, it’s time to come back with me to the Holy Land.’
Loved and remembered forever, sadly missed,
beloved daughter of Nick and Caroline (deceased), sister of Luke.
I cry every time I read that, but I can’t help myself. It’s a piece of her, after all, and I cherish it.
Every day I make sure I water Teena’s sundew, which Nick sent back to me. I couldn’t believe it when it flowered the other day. I’ve kept all the seeds. Teena would be so proud!
At school, it’s a new year, a new class and a new teacher. Same old group of kids. Nothing much happens in a small place like Driscoll, but I guess you already know that. I’m back to sitting by myself, but I don’t mind so much. I’m used to it. Angus still picks his nose and anything else he can get his finger into. Kyle and Jake are as silly and as smelly as ever.
Typical boys.
Chloe and Miranda still show off, although they have been nicer lately. I think they feel sorry for me, but more than that, I think we’re finally becoming real friends. Not just default friends.
Dad and I still have a long way to go, but things are better at home. I think Teena’s accident changed a lot of things for Dad. He never really got to know her but hearing about what happened to her seems to have made him appreciate me and the other girls much more. A lot of the anger seems to have seeped out of him, out of the house.
Sometimes I catch him looking at me with a kind of sad, guilty look on his face. He’s made a huge effort to stop drinking and he even comes to watch me train and race whenever he can. That in itself is a huge improvement. It makes me happy when he takes an interest in my running and when he congratulates me when I do well. Sometimes, I even get a hug. I can’t tell you how good that feels.
For now, the tiger has released his hold on Dad. I hope the tiger stays away forever. My Dad, and our family, are much stronger and happier without it prowling around.
Mr Gordon has gotten in early this year to train us for the zone athletics carnival. He has his sights set on the state championships in a big way. He’s promised that if I make it through to the championships this year, he’ll take me to Rathbone if my parents can’t.
Now all I have to do is prove I’m good enough.
Some afternoons after school, I go running with Chloe and Miranda. Minus the pink gumboots, of course. The twins haven’t lost their competitive streak, but neither have I really. We’ll see what happens in a few months.
I guess that’s all I have to say about Teena for now. The counsellor said I should write all of this, by the way. I didn’t realise how long it would take me. I didn’t realise I had so much to say. All the counsellor told me was that maybe writing about Teena, about our time together, would help me heal a little. Would help me remember her so I would keep her with me always, but would also help me let go of her a little so I could move on.
It’s that fight to let Teena go and to keep her with me that battles inside me each day. I don’t know if there will ever be a winner. I don’t know if there even can be. But writing this all down has helped. Even if it is in a bittersweet kind of way.
One thing I know is that Teena will never age. She’ll never change. My best friend, my diamond kind of friend, is forever. And I will never forget her.
Teena Costaleena is as solid as a rock. A diamond amongst the dust.
She’s as sparkling as the sea.
She’s a friend you can count on no matter what.
Even now Teena’s gone, the memories of her shine so bright.
The End
If you or someone you know relates to the issues faced by Ebony in Running from the Tiger, the following organisations can help to get support and advice:
Australian Childhood Foundation
1800 176 453 (free call)
www.childhood.org.au
The Pyjama Foundation
admin@thepyjamafoundation.com
www.thepyjamafoundation.com
YGAP
info@ygap.com.au
www.ygap.com.au
National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN)
02 8073 3300
contact@napcan.org.au
www.napcan.org.au