|
"Laura's Dream" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1986. |
| CHAPTER 14 |
| In the study, Laura was dressed in a long, white slip. Her new notebook computer was open and displayed part of a school project she just finished. Laura hit the "Enter" key, and ran to her bedroom, while the printer began its work. |
| Carla was waiting impatiently, holding the beautiful blue evening frock that Laura was to wear that night. |
| "It's about time, young lady." |
| "Sorry, Mum. Joey, leave my things alone." |
| The boy was trying to open Laura's make-up bag, but the catch defied his inquisitive fingers. It took both Laura and her mother's efforts to draw the dress over Laura's head. The result was worth much more than the small effort involved. |
| Carla scrutinised her daughter with care, then nodded. "It's an absolutely perfect fit. The gold and red dragon across the bust looks much better than I thought it could. Definitely no jewelry for your neck, though. Now let's see about your make-up." |
| Laura had a date with Doug to attend a formal dinner-dance at the school. She insisted on wearing the dress Gran had bought her. Laura's wardrobe was growing, and she had discarded several older dresses in the two months since Gran's return from Brazil. |
| When Gran arrived, she had more presents for Laura's family; one of the gifts was a pure silk, black sheath, that had been the real beginning of Laura's new image. Out of place among the richer colours within the wardrobe, was a new Venturer uniform, on the right breast of which was a small badge; Laura's gallantry award was almost lost among the other badges on her Venturer shirt. |
| |
| "Can I watch?" John asked, as he entered Laura's room. "My goodness, Carla! Who is this beautiful lady? Is she a princess from an European royal house?" |
| "Do you like it Daddy?" Laura asked anxiously. |
| "I don't know what I can say. You're too beautiful for words." |
| Laura smiled. Her shoulders relaxed inside the soft material. The momentary silence was broken when headlights heralded the arrival of a car in their driveway. |
| "It's Doug! Daddy, can you tell him I'll only be a second?" Laura started to panic. "Where's my shoes?" |
| "Laura, settle down," Carla said. "Sit still or you'll smudge the eye liner." |
| |
| When she finally stepped confidently down the stairs, Laura did feel like royalty, because not only was Doug there, but so was Suzie and her date. Every eye followed her progress. The only sound was the rustle of her dress. |
| Suzie was the first to speak. "Laura. You are going to knock everyone dead the second you walk into the dance hall." |
| "Holy cow, Laura!" Doug exclaimed. "I'm... Ah..." |
| John stepped into Doug's search for appropriate words. "You're going to be late. Have a really wonderful time." |
| |
| Suzie's prediction was very close. Nobody actually died, though a majority of the boys had bulging eyes, and made strangling noises, before their own dates poked or elbowed them. |
| After the excellent dinner, while everyone enjoyed their coffee, Simone stood up and tapped her water glass with a spoon to get attention. |
| Laura was surprised, and whispered to Doug, "What's Sim doing? She never speaks up in public." |
| Clearly, Simone was nervous, yet she read in a loud voice from a small sheet of paper. "Fellow students, on behalf of the teachers and parents of this school I was selected to make this announcement. There is to be a new library extension put on next year, and the school trustees have decided to name it the Laura Shell Library, to honour our most courageous and inspiring student." |
| Loud applause erupted, and hands lifted Laura to her feet. There were whistles and calls for a speech. Laura stood stunned, while dozens of her schoolmates and teachers waited for her to speak. |
| "Thank you all. Very much. I'm at a loss for words, because I thought it was all in the past. I feel undeserving of all that has been given to me for my small part in the safe return of the children and teenagers who were kidnaped. As for having a library named after me, I have to say that the real honour is mine. Thank you all again." Laura sat down quickly. |
| Cheers and more applause followed, and Simone ran to Laura and kissed her. Laura's evening ended even better than it began. Several boys nudged Doug aside, so they could dance with her. She was exhausted and glowing with delight when Doug took her home in his father's station wagon. When Doug walked her to the door and kissed her, Laura's joy was complete. |
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| Across the road from the Shell home, one man sat inside a darkened car. He had a device with a large black tube that he aimed at the couple on the front step. The clicking and whirring of the light-amplifying camera was unheard from that distance. |
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| Laura danced around her bedroom and told her parents all that had happened. John and Carla sat together on their daughter's bed, smiling at the unbound happiness of the teenager. When Laura wound down enough to stand still, Carla helped her out of the dress and shooed Laura off to the bathroom. |
| "Have a nice, warm shower, then I'll brush your hair. If you still aren't tired by then, you can give me one of your famous back-rubs." |
| "I've never had so much fun in my life, Mum. Oh, Daddy, you should have seen all the boys waiting to dance with me!" |
| Carla gently, but firmly, led her into the room next door. John heard the shower start, while Laura's voice kept on its monologue. There was a smile of pride on his lips, yet a hint of sadness too, because John Shell realised Laura was growing up faster than he wanted. He pulled the covers back on Laura's bed, closed the curtains and laid out her nightie. |
| He walked out of the bedroom and stood for a few seconds outside the bathroom, listening to the excited voice inside. Then he looked in on his son, who was muttering in his sleep. |
| In his study, John paused to check that Laura's computer and printer were off. Sheets of printouts were waiting for Laura to collect, so he put them neatly aside. With that done, he went to his own bedroom and undressed for bed. |
| Occasionally, a girlish laugh came from across the house. He lay staring at the ceiling, his eyes shining, remembering a little girl with skinned knees, dirty shorts and big eyes full of wonder. |
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| Carla leaned against the bathroom wall, arms folded. A patient smile was on her face, while Laura talked and talked and talked. When the water was turned off, Carla handed Laura a towel, still listening. |
| Even after she was dry, Laura kept going, as if years of pent up energy had to escape her. They returned to Laura's room, where Laura pulled the nightie over her head. Carla sat her down in front of Laura's dresser and began brushing the shoulder length hair. |
| It only took a few minutes of soothing brush strokes for the torrent of words to slow to a near stop. |
| "Laura," Carla kissed the top of her daughter's head, "are we going to go through this same routine every time you go to a dance?" |
| Laura looked perplexed, then sheepish. "I guess I talked too much, huh?" |
| "Just a little. Would you like a cuppa?" |
| "Love to, Mum. Let me make it. It might calm me down." |
| |
| Laura was the only one in the house still awake. Her clock said it was two thirty six when she stepped out onto her verandah. No lights were on anywhere, and a new moon darkened the world. Above her, the universe wheeled. Mars was not in sight. Somewhere up there, Laura knew, ships that held Russian and American citizens were speeding through the heavens unbound by their mother planet. One day she would be there, amongst the planets. For now, she would return to bed. |
| When Laura lowered her gaze, she thought she saw movement in the trees next door. Shadows within shadows. It was humanly impossible to see inside the trees, yet Laura had the uncanny feeling she was being watched. |
| Cautiously, she backed into her room and locked the door. Working by feel through the darkened house, Laura made sure her home was secure. Lastly, she checked that her parents and Joey were sleeping soundly, then went to bed herself. |
