Marly and the Goat

by Lucia Masciullo

‘Maybe I should speak to your grandpa,’ suggested the woman on the phone.

  ‘He doesn’t speak English, so that’s why I’m calling.’

  ‘What about your mum?’

  ‘She doesn’t either. I translate for them.’

  ‘Oh, I see,’ said the woman.

  Marly worried that this lady might refuse to speak to her, and was relieved when she started speaking again.

  ‘Well, according to council regulations, we have a Dog Act of 1970, but no law relating specifically to other pets.’

  It sounded like the woman was reading from something, Marly thought. She had no idea what the law meant, and wanted to tell the woman that she was just ten years old and didn’t understand.

  ‘But all pets must be domestic animals unless you have a special licence,’ the woman continued after a long pause.

  ‘What do you mean, domestic animal?’ asked Marly.

  ‘For instance, a cat or dog. A goldfish. A house animal. But not wild animals.’

  ‘Is a goat a domestic animal?’ Marly asked.

  ‘Umm, let me see. Is this goat kept on farming land or in your backyard?’

  Marly thought for a moment. ‘Both!’ she said. Grandpa had farmed the whole backyard where Agnes was kept, so he’d probably turned it into farmland, she figured.

  ‘Young lady, the answer can’t be both. It must be one or the other. Do you understand what farmland is?’ asked the woman.

  ‘Yes,’ said Marly. ‘Farmland is land you grow things on.’

  ‘Well, I suppose then your goat is okay, as long as it has plenty of room to roam, and does not cause a nuisance to the neighbours by wandering over to their property. You do have a fence between the properties, don’t you?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Marly. ‘Thank you. You have been most helpful.’

  Marly hung up, feeling pleased with what she’d just been told. But then realised that the woman had used the word ‘nuisance’, which was exactly what Nolene had said Agnes was.

  ‘What did the council say?’ Grandpa asked. ‘Did they give us permission to keep Agnes?’

  ‘I think so,’ replied Marly. It probably didn’t mean anything that the lady used the word ‘nuisance’, she told herself.

  ‘Someone is going to get a special treat in their lunch tomorrow,’ promised Grandma.

  Marly watched her open a cupboard and take out two Milky Way bars. Marly didn’t know Grandma had a secret stash of goodies! Marly smiled to herself and felt proud that, in her house, she was such a problem-solver.

  ‘AY, Marly, there’s another letter!’ Grandpa exclaimed, gesturing for her to sit at the kitchen table with her mum and Grandma.

  A week had passed and nothing new had happened, and so Marly had started to relax. But now, the dread was back as she opened the letter.

  Dear Mr Ly,

  Due to the lack of resolution of your dispute with Mrs Nolene Fryer of Cornwall Road, Sunshine, Sunshine Council requires you both to attend a mediation roundtable session . . .

  Marly stopped reading. The letter made no sense to her, but she got the feeling that it wasn’t good. She could sound out the words, but had no idea what it all meant. Morons! she thought. Why can’t they write in simple English?

  ‘What does it say?’ asked Grandpa.

  ‘I don’t understand it,’ Marly admitted.

  ‘Aiyoh,’ complained Grandma. ‘It’s only a few sentences, and she can’t even read it. What is the use of sending her to school for so long?’

  ‘Leave her alone,’ said Grandpa. ‘It probably has some really difficult words in it.’

  ‘Oh, it does!’ said Marly.

  ‘Why don’t you call the council again,’ said Grandpa. ‘And ask them to explain the letter.’

  Not again! thought Marly. But she picked up the phone and called the council anyway.

  ‘Hello. We got a letter from the council and we’re not sure what it means,’ Marly said when a lady answered.

  Marly was asked for the matter number, which she read from the top of the letter, and was transferred to a woman named Cathy, who asked to speak to Marly’s mum or dad. Marly gave her usual explanation – that no one else in the house spoke any English. She was feeling confident and calm while she spoke.

  ‘I don’t usually speak about these things with children,’ said Cathy. ‘But a roundtable meeting means that we are just going to sit around a table and talk about the matter. And see if we can come to an agreement about your grandpa’s goat. Ms Nolene Fryer will be there, plus some council members, and your grandpa will have to attend.’

  ‘The meeting date is set for two weeks’ time,’ Marly explained to her mum and grandparents when she hung up the phone. She was feeling pleased with herself about having solved another problem for her family.

  ‘Grandpa can’t go alone,’ said Marly’s mother. ‘He won’t understand anything. Your dad will have to go with him.’

  But Marly’s dad wasn’t able to take the time off work. They were discussing the letter while they ate dinner, and Marly could tell that all of the adults were feeling anxious, which made her so nervous she couldn’t enjoy Grandma’s fried fish.

  ‘I can’t take more time off work. Not if I want to take my days off when the new baby arrives,’ Dad said.

  Marly rolled her eyes. The baby comes first again, she thought. Marly felt sorry for her grandpa. She knew her mum was right – Grandpa couldn’t go alone.

  ‘But you know I can’t speak much English, so even if I went with him, we’d still have no idea what’s going on,’ Marly’s mum was saying.

  ‘Well then, Marly will just have to take a day off school to go,’ Dad said.

  Marly dropped her chopsticks on her plate with a clatter. ‘That’s not fair! Why do I always have to do these things? You’re all the adults around here!’

  ‘But Marly,’ coaxed her mum, ‘You’ve been so helpful and grown-up with the phone calls to the council. This won’t be difficult for you.’

  Marly had felt grown up when she’d made those phone calls, but this was something much bigger than a phone call.

  ‘But what if I don’t understand them?’ Marly said. ‘I don’t know anything about laws!’

  ‘Neither does Grandpa. Just translate what everyone says for Grandpa, and if they ask you a question, give it your best go.’

  Marly wasn’t sure. She was feeling worried just thinking about the meeting, and she was still concerned about Agnes and Chooky. Marly didn’t know what she would do if anything happened to them.

  ‘What if someone comes and takes Agnes and Chooky?’ she asked. ‘Someone out there already chucked a rock through our window. What if they do something worse?’

  Everyone sat in silence for a while, and Marly started to wonder if they’d heard what she said.

  ‘What about your work friend, Peter Zolj?’ Marly’s mum suddenly asked her dad. ‘He moved to that farm in Hoppers Crossing, didn’t he? Maybe he could take Agnes and Chooky until after the council meeting.’

  Marly didn’t realise that Peter lived on a farm. She didn’t like the idea of Agnes and Chooky leaving, but she didn’t mind that Peter would be the one to look after them. She’d liked him when she met him before. And if he has a farm, he must like animals, she thought. The important thing was that Agnes and Chooky were kept safe.

  Marly spent every moment she could with Agnes before Peter came. It was the weekend, and she was just feeding Agnes another apple when Peter’s truck drove down the driveway.

  Agnes seemed jumpy, and Marly was sure she knew something was going on.

  ‘It’s okay, Agnes,’ Marly whispered into the goat’s fur as she gently hugged her.

  Marly stayed next to Agnes, with one hand stroking her, and watched Peter climb out of his truck as her mum and dad came from the house to meet him. He was a large man, who looked like he could lift Agnes up with one arm, and his eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled.

  Marly untied Agnes’s leash and gently pulled at it, bu
t Agnes dug in her heels and refused to walk. Marly’s dad came over and gave it a go, but still Agnes would not budge. It seemed that Agnes would only go on walks with Grandpa, Marly thought. But then Peter stepped in and pulled hard at the leash. Agnes stumbled, bleating in panic. Marly rushed to her, wanting to reassure and calm her, just as Grandpa ran into the backyard with no shoes on.

  ‘Ay! Ay!’ he called. ‘What do you think you’re doing with my goat?’

  ‘This man has a farm, Father,’ explained Marly’s dad. ‘Remember, we talked about this? He’ll take good care of Agnes and Chooky.’

  ‘No! No one takes better care of my animals than me. Will he feed Agnes apple cores? Will he brush her back? Will he take her for walks?’

  Marly felt sorry for Grandpa. He looks so small all of a sudden, Marly thought.

  ‘Don’t make such a fuss, Father,’ said Marly’s mum. ‘Agnes and Chooky will be well taken care of, and they’ll be safe from the angry neighbours, which is why we’re doing this.’

  Peter sighed as Marly’s dad told him what had been happening. ‘Things haven’t changed then,’ Peter said. ‘That’s why we moved to Hoppers Crossing as soon as we had enough money. Nice open farmland for us and the kids. And no racist neighbours!’

  Marly liked the sound of that. She wished her family could save up enough money to move away, too. But then, she thought, why should they leave when they’d done nothing wrong?

  Peter tucked Chooky underneath his arm. ‘Don’t worry, my friends,’ he said. ‘I’ll take very good care of your pets, and return them when it’s safe.’

  Marly followed Grandpa to the front of the house as Peter drove away, with Agnes in the back and Chooky in a small box on the front seat. Marly watched Grandpa. He clutched the sides of his pants with his hands and slowly sat down on the driveway. Grandpa waved an angry fist in the air. ‘I wish I never came here!’ he cried. ‘It’s not fair!’

  Marly sat down on the cold concrete with Grandpa, because she knew exactly how he felt.

  ‘MY aunty’s taking youse to court,’ Kane said to Marly in the corridor at school on Monday morning. Marly wished that he would leave her alone. She didn’t want to think about the council meeting, and hated that Kane kept reminding her.

  She looked around for Yousra, and spotted her down the hall. She wanted to go over and get away from this idiot Kane, but they were still not talking. It had been weeks now since their stupid argument. Yousra sure can be stubborn when she wants to be, Marly thought. She hung her bag on her hook and headed to the classroom. But Mrs Louden wasn’t there yet, and so Kane kept talking.

  ‘My aunt’s taking Marly’s grandpa to court!’ he announced loudly to the whole class.

  ‘Shut up, Kane, you der-brain,’ Marly said. She felt her cheeks flush red with anger as everyone looked at her.

  ‘My aunt Nolene says that the reason boys from Sunshine aren’t getting jobs in factories anymore is because youse keep bringing in your relatives to steal them!’ said Kane. ‘My brother finished at Sunshine Tech College last year and he still can’t find work.’

  ‘Well, it’s not our fault!’ protested Marly. ‘Grandpa doesn’t even work so he can’t be stealing jobs.’

  ‘Oh yeah? Well my aunt Nolene says youse bring your family here to steal government money. Your grandpa’s freeloading off the government. And then he buys a goat to annoy the neighbours. You just wait. My aunt’s gonna kick your grandad’s butt in court!’

  Marly wanted to punch him in the face.

  ‘What’s going on in here?’ Mrs Louden said as she walked into the classroom behind Marly. ‘I could hear you shouting from down the corridor, Kane. Marly, sit down please. I don’t want to hear a peep out of either of you for the rest of the lesson.’

  As Marly sat down at her desk, she thought about what Kane had said. His aunt wasn’t just annoyed about the goat, she realised. Nolene didn’t only want Agnes gone. She wanted Marly’s whole family gone. Marly glared at the back of Kane’s head. She hated him and his mean aunt. She tried to understand everything that her dad had said about the factories closing down, and people not having jobs, and more refugees moving to Sunshine. But she still didn’t get why everyone blamed her family for it. All she knew was that she was now really, really worried about this roundtable discussion next week.

  Something wasn’t right. Marly got home and found Grandpa slumped on the couch. He was staring at the television, and it wasn’t even on!

  ‘What is the point of being in this country if I’m so useless?’ he asked. He looked at Marly as if he wanted her to answer, but Marly didn’t know what to say. She sat next to him and tried to think of something for Grandpa to do.

  ‘What about your vegetables, Grandpa?’

  ‘All the planting is done. Not much else I can do. Should I just sit in the backyard waiting for the turnips to grow underground?’ said Grandpa. ‘Maybe it’s time I should be underground, too. I’m useless!’

  ‘Don’t say that!’ Marly told him off. She wanted to cheer him up, and had an idea. ‘Hey, Grandpa, do you want to do ‘Tai Chi’ with me? We can practise moonwalking again.’

  ‘Hmmph,’ grumbled Grandpa. ‘What is there to dance about?’

  Marly sighed. Grandpa’s even more stubborn than Yousra, she thought.

  The next day after school, Grandpa was not sitting in front of the television. Marly was relieved. She found him in the backyard, stomping on the soil in his sandals.

  ‘The ground is rock hard!’ he complained. ‘How will anything grow from this dirt?’ He picked up his hoe and shook his head slowly. ‘I miss my animals. Chooky kept the ground churned up, and Agnes removed the weeds.’

  Marly followed Grandpa back inside and watched him slump back into the couch, where he slept sitting up until dinnertime.

  ‘Hey, Grandma, what’s wrong with Grandpa?’ Marly asked on the way home from school the next day. It was an unusually hot day, and Grandma was walking even more slowly than usual. ‘Is he so sad because he lost his pets?’

  ‘Oh, it’s a little more than that,’ explained Grandma. ‘Your grandpa thinks he’s lost his purpose in life. You see, he’s been working since he was eight years old. Your mum told him that he could relax and retire here. Back in Vietnam, we dreamed of this paradise called Australia, of a life where we would never have to work again. But working is in our blood. Your grandpa feels useless just sitting around the house. Every life has to have a purpose.’

  Wow, thought Marly, this is the longest Grandma has ever spoken to me without telling me off. I wonder what my purpose in life is. Will it be translating for people forever?

  ‘But you don’t have to worry about your grandpa,’ Grandma said. ‘He’ll be all right. He’ll find something to do. He always does.’

  When Marly and Grandma got home, they were happy to see that Grandpa wasn’t sitting in his usual spot on the couch.

  ‘See?’ said Grandma. ‘I told you he would be up and about!’

  Marly ran into the backyard, but Grandpa was lying face down on top of his dug-up garden, his rake and shovel sprawled next to him. Marly’s stomach dropped.

  ‘Aiyoh!’ shrieked Grandma, running over and crouching next to him. ‘He’s dead! Dead!’

  Marly ran into the garage, shouting for her mum. Her mum turned off the sewing machine and rushed with Marly into the backyard.

  ‘He’s dead!’ Grandma wailed.

  Marly felt tears prick the back of her eyes. ‘Please don’t be dead, Grandpa,’ she whispered.

  Marly’s mum crouched down, her baby bump almost touching the soil, and lifted up Grandpa’s wrist.

  ‘What are you doing, Mum?’ Marly asked.

  ‘I’m feeling for a pulse. He’s okay,’ she said, closing her eyes and sitting down on the muddy ground. ‘Call triple zero, Marly. Now!’

  Marly ran inside the house, picked up the phone and dialled. ‘My grandpa has collapsed in the backyard and we need an ambulance!’ she told the operator. The operator asked her a
load of questions, but Marly couldn’t think straight. Everything seemed to be happening in a blur. She gave the address and went and waited with Grandpa, like the operator had told her to. She found her mum and grandma holding each one of Grandpa’s hands. Grandma had put a wet towel on Grandpa’s forehead.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Marly heard the wail of the ambulance siren. She ran to the front of the house. The ambulance pulled in to the driveway and two paramedics jumped out the back with a stretcher. Marly led them to where her grandpa was lying, and watched as they checked his pulse, lifted Grandpa up onto the stretcher and took him into the ambulance. They put a needle in his arm and attached it to a bag of clear liquid.

  The paramedic asked how long Grandpa had been out in the sun. Marly translated the question for her mum.

  ‘The last time I saw him was an hour ago. I didn’t even know he fell over! I couldn’t hear anything above the hammering of my sewing machine,’ said Marly’s mum, which Marly translated to the paramedic.

  ‘He’s just dehydrated,’ said the paramedic.

  ‘What does that mean?’ Marly asked.

  ‘It means that he hasn’t got enough water in him. We’re giving him some electrolytes to replace the liquids that he has lost. And then we’ll take him to hospital for an examination.’

  Marly climbed into the back of the ambulance with her mum. The paramedic suggested she stay home with Grandma, but Marly explained she was the only one who spoke English.

  ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Well then, hop on board.’

  MARLY was amazed at how many things could fit in the back of an ambulance. There were little cupboards filled with complicated-looking machines and medical equipment, two stretcher beds, and two sideways-facing seats that Marly and her mum were sitting on. A constant beeping was coming from one of the machines next to Grandpa. Marly was trying to figure out which one when Grandpa woke up.

  ‘Wah! What’s going on here?’ he asked.

  ‘You had a fall, Grandpa,’ explained Marly. ‘We’re taking you to hospital.’