|
"Laura's Dream" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1986. |
| CHAPTER 9 |
| Laura's father drove Jem straight to Jem's home. She and Laura jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped moving, and raced for the door, which was wide open. |
| Jem's parents were sitting on the lounge holding Liz between them. Liz had red eyes and clutched one of her father's handkerchiefs. |
| "Is she all right, Mum?" Jem asked. |
| "They stole Annie!" Liz wailed. "I went inside for a minute and then she was gone! No one saw it happen. I didn't even hear a car. She didn't call out or anything. And I just stood there calling her name until her dad came to see what was happening." |
| Liz started crying, while Mrs. Cheng stroked her back. |
| Laura's father had come in. "Is there anything I can do?" |
| Mr. Cheng shook his head. "The police are looking into it. And my little Lizzy will be praying very hard for Annie. Would you mind very much if we asked to be alone?" |
| "I understand. Call us anytime, for anything. Come on, Laura." The Shells went home. |
| "I don't believe it, Daddy. Liz is... Why do people do that!" Laura was so angry, her voice broke. She was ready to start crying herself. |
| "I can't answer that, baby. I don't know how animals like that think." |
| "What can we do, Daddy?" She searched his face for an answer, but all she saw was sadness. |
| "All we can do is what little Liz is doing," he shook his head. "Pray that Annie and all those other children are safe." |
| He parked the car in the garage, locked it, and went into the house. Laura wandered into the backyard, then on into the trees next to the house. She sat on a fallen log and pounded her fists against the dead wood. |
| It was all so wrong; so evil. |
| |
| That evening, Joey, who usually was the most affectionate member of the family, threw a tantrum, because his parents and big sister kept too close to him, checking that he was still safe. |
| "Can't I get any privacy to play with my toys around here? I'm going to my room, and none of you can follow me!" |
| As he stormed up the stairs, Laura heard her parents start chuckling, then laughing. In a moment, she was laughing too. |
| "The poor kid," Mr. Shell said. "He doesn't know why we're paying so much attention to him." |
| Laura stood up. "I'm going to do some studying." |
| "Did you call your Guide leader yet?" Carla asked. |
| "Uh, no. Thanks, Mum, I'll do it now." |
| Her first call only lasted the two minutes it took to get a few details from her own leader, then Laura rang the Cub leader. "I'm Laura Shell from Guides. I was told to call you about doing my inservice work with you." |
| "Very good, Laura. We run on Mondays between six thirty and eight. If you arrive about twenty past six, I'll arrange your duties for the evening. I'd like you in full Guide uniform, and it might be nice if you brought your badge collection to show the kids." |
| "I'd be glad to, Akela. See you at twenty past six on Monday." |
| "Good bye, Laura. I'm sure you'll be happy with us for the next few weeks." |
| Laura hung up the phone and went upstairs to finish reading about the colonization of space. It was nice to dream, but Laura's mind kept drifting towards the child stealing that was getting so close to home. |
| She had no fears for herself; it was Joey she was concerned about. Though he was a brat, Laura loved him deeply, and wanted him to stay safe. |
| |
| On Sunday morning, the Shells went to church, where special prayers were said for the missing children. Afterwards, when Laura was back home, Jem arrived on her bike. |
| "Ready for your run Laura? I'm going to pace you on wheels from now on. We'll do the same each day before school. If it's too hot to run in the afternoons, then we'll double each other on the bike." Jem told her, while an evil grin split her face. "Now get out of that dress, girl, and into workin' clothes!" |
| Laura threw a snappy salute, then was gone for the five minutes it took to change. |
| "I don't think I want to do more than ten kilometres at a time," Laura decided, "otherwise all my strength will be in my legs and I'll look like an emu, all drumstick from the hips down." |
| "Start running. I'll stay close beside you," Jem commanded. "Your dad and I already decided five kay's is enough. Come on!" |
| |
| Laura was worn out when she followed Jem's bike back into their street. However, she had an instant surge of new energy when she saw the huge, white Mercedes coupe parked in her driveway. With a burst of speed, Laura sprinted past Jem, through the open front door of her home, and into the arms of a grey-haired woman. |
| "Gran! You're here!" |
| Her grandmother hugged her, lifting Laura off her feet, even though they were of similar size. |
| "How's my favourite grandchild?" |
| "Fantastic, now that you're here, Gran. Can you stay awhile?" |
| "I'm here for tonight, but I'm off again tomorrow afternoon." |
| "Where to this time? You only just got back from Hungary." |
| "Brazil again. There's no rest for the wicked, and you can get pretty wicked after nearly seventy years!" The impish grin made Laura laugh. "Tomorrow, your Mum will take me to the airport, and then bring the car back. I'll return in a couple of weeks." |
| Laura finally released the older woman and realised how she herself must appear, after the run. |
| "I'll get cleaned up and be back down in ten minutes. You remember Jem, don't you?" Laura said as her friend walked in. |
| "Of course. You're the one that's putting my best girl through all this torture? Keep up the good work, we don't want her getting lazy." |
| Laura kissed her grandmother on the cheek, and was gone. In less time than she had promised, Laura was back, hair damp, but she was dressed in a pretty white and lemon frock; around her neck was a triple string of pearls, while from her ears hung emerald ear rings, jewelry which her grandmother had given her. |
| "I'll see you later, Laura," Jem said. "I promised my parents I'd be home for lunch. I'll probably come by later. See you later, too, Mrs..." |
| "Call me Gran. There's only one Mrs. Shell, and that's Laura's mother." She told Jem. |
| After Jem had left, Gran asked Laura to show her to Laura's bedroom. |
| "You'll sleep in my bed," Laura declared, "and don't bother arguing, Gran. Besides, I can have my airbed close to the verandah. It's been pretty hot lately." |
| "If you think this is hot, try spending a few weeks in Rio or Sao Paulo in midsummer. I'd walk out of the shower and by the time I fell on the bed I'd be dry," Gran told her. "I'd get up at five thirty and be on the go till one in the morning, and sometimes later." |
| "What on ever for?" Laura was surprised. |
| "Business. You can't have an organisation like mine without putting the hours in. That's a very pretty dress. Those colours suit you. Then again, your skin tones would go well with nearly anything. I have to say, though, that this particular combination of jewelry doesn't quite make it." |
| "I wore them because I wanted you to see how proud I am of them. I only wear these on special occasions, or for special people." |
| "You must be part Irish, and have kissed the Blarney stone," Gran laughed. "And I love you for saying it!" |
| Laura led her into the bedroom, then moved her chair out from the desk for her grandmother. After the woman was seated, Laura threw herself down across the bed, chin on her hands and gazed at Gran. |
| "I love hearing your stories, Gran. I don't know anyone with as much energy who's your..." |
| "Age? Pity them, Laura. You're only dead when you decide there's nothing to get excited about. Me... I've always got something exciting to do. I'm not here to talk about me. Your mum tells me you want to fly to Mars?" |
| "Yes, Gran. I am going to do it. I don't know how, and there's no real space programme for it, at the moment, but I'm going to do it." |
| The grey headed woman studied the young girl's determined face, as if searching for something. Then Gran nodded to herself, as if she had found what she was looking for. |
| "I know you will. Go down to my car and bring up my valise. And while you're on the way back, get my handbag too, please." |
| With a swirl of skirts, Laura was off the bed and out the door. Gran stepped onto the verandah in time to see Laura lean over the side of the car and lift an overnight bag from behind the seat. Gran smiled fondly at the girl who could look so graceful at such an ordinary task, and after having run so far a few minutes before. |
| Laura came up with both bags. She found Gran sitting in the same position. |
| "Open the valise and get the black book... That's it. See the tags sticking out from the pages? Open it to the one marked Goals." |
| Laura did as she was told, moving a green parcel to get the book, and found the indicated four pages of numbered items, many of which had tick marks next to them. |
| "Read out number twenty seven." Gran directed. |
| "Take a ride on a Space Shuttle." Laura was amazed. "When did you write this, Gran." |
| "That was on my original list, over twelve years ago. It doesn't have a tick next to it yet, but there's a half a million dollars I've invested, that will pay all or most of the fare, once there are regular commercial flights. Read some of the things that are ticked off." |
| Laura started at the top: "A white Mercedes 500SL. A cottage overlooking Sydney Harbour. Fly the Concord from the pilot's seat... Did you really, Gran?" |
| "At twice the speed of sound for five minutes, but don't let it get around. It was one of the few times I broke the law." Gran grinned. "It was as smooth a ride as the Mercedes on the expressway. Keep reading." |
| Laura read in silence, until she reached an entry highlighted in yellow. "Give one million dollars to UNICEF... A million dollars?" |
| "The cheque was anonymous, and it cleared from the bank account last week," The woman spoke with a serene happiness that impressed Laura much more than the money. "I've given them lots of other money in the past. Almost another million all told, I guess. But that amount, in one lump sum, given for the children, was just something that I've been aiming at for ten years. I know a million dollars is a drop in the bucket. That doesn't matter. What does matter, is that some children will survive." |
| Gran's eyes were shiny. After a brief moment, Laura put the book down, leaned over and hugged the woman who was her grandmother by choice, instead of by birth. |
| "I love you, Gran." |
| Their embrace was interrupted by Joey squeezing himself between their bodies, and climbing onto Gran's lap. |
| "Leave some cuddles for me, Gran!" |
| "My goodness, Joey! You've become such a big boy. Look at how much you've grown. And such strong muscles!" |
| "I'm pretty tough, you know, and Daddy said I'm going to be a Cub Scout soon." |
| "That sounds exciting," she said. "Tell you what. Get the green paper bag from inside that bag on Laura's bed." |
| "Is it a present?" He asked, eagerly obeying her. |
| "Open it and see." |
| Paper was ripped away, exposing the surprise. |
| "My uniform! And a Cub hat!" Joey's eyes were wide and his mouth gapped. "Can I try it on?" |
| Without waiting for her answer he was out of his clothes and into the uniform. |
| Laura was worried. "Joey. Don't get too excited. It can take months for you to be taken off the waiting list. There are lots of boys and girls who are waiting to join the Cub pack before you." |
| "Laura," Gran touched her arm. "Let him have his dreams. Even a boy of his age can set himself goals. Wouldn't you agree?" |
| Laura thought about it for a few moments. "You're absolutely right. I'm thinking the same as all those others who say I'll never go past the clouds. Let me help you with the belt, Joey." |
| As soon as he was in full uniform, Joey saluted Gran, then dashed down the stairs. |
| "Mummy! Mum! Dad! Look at me!" |
| Laura smiled after him, then turned to see that Gran was taking an envelope out of her bag. |
| "Open it, Laura." |
| Inside the envelope were several sheets of paper: an application for a passport, and booking receipts for air fare and accommodation. |
| "Hawaii?" Laura whispered in wonder. |
| "Look at the dates." |
| "My birthday is in the middle... Why, I mean..." |
| "I'm going to do some business in Hawaii, and I decided I'd like a companion for the couple of days I'll be free. The only problem is that you will be on your own for the rest of the time. Do you think you might be able to amuse yourself for awhile?" |
| "In Hawaii! Oh Gran, thanks!" Laura stared at her, then back at the evidence in her hands. |
| "I spoke to Mum and Dad before you came back with your friend, and it's all right with them. In fact, they were pleased." |
| Laura could not say anything, she kept rereading the papers. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks and onto the front of her frock. Her grandmother used a silk kerchief to wipe Laura's face dry. |
| "Your eyes will be all red when we go down for lunch. Now smile and put on your prettiest face. Which reminds me, your skin will need looking after, the way you spend so much time in the sun and wind. I happen to be pretty knowledgeable about skin care. I'll show you later what you need to do to make sure your skin stays as beautiful as it is." |
| Laura smiled and hugged her grandmother once more. "Oh, Gran, why are you so nice to me?" |
| There was a moment of silence in which Gran watched Laura's face. "Don't you know by now? I was adopted too." |
| There was a knock at the open doorway. |
| "Aren't the rest of us going to get any attention?" Laura's father demanded. "Do you have a kiss for your son?" |
| "Of course, John. Pretend I'm a senile old lady who's returned to her own childhood." |
| "Huh! That'll be the day, Mum. Laura, go and help your mother, while I tell this old lady what I think of her excuse." |
| "Sure, Daddy." |
| As she left her room, Laura saw her father sit beside his own mother and put his arm around her shoulders. |
| "I love you, Mum." Was what he said, before Laura was out of hearing. |
| |
| "Mum," Laura asked, as she buttered bread. "Why didn't you and Dad tell me Gran was adopted?" |
| "We thought about it," Carla replied. "Don't you think it was better coming from her? I think it meant more to Gran to tell you herself." |
| "What do you think about my going to Hawaii?" |
| "My honest opinion?" She waited for Laura to nod. "I thought about what I would have felt when I was turning fifteen to be given that chance... Promise me one thing, though." |
| "What is it?" |
| "Don't come back with an engagement ring." |
| Laura burst into laughter. "You can bet on it, Mum." |
| |
| That night, after everyone had gotten ready for bed, Laura was with her mother and Gran in Laura's bedroom. A towel was wrapped around the younger woman, and she waited on a stool while the two others discussed the best methods of attacking Laura's features. |
| "Cleanser first, on her face, neck and chest, right up behind her ears. Most girls forget that," Gran poked Laura as she spoke. Her eyes were only centimetres from Laura's face. "Then skin toner and eye balm. Each morning, as soon as you're out of bed, use the moisturiser. This one has a sunscreen built in." |
| "Do you think she might need a masque? I use the one you showed me, once a week." Carla suggested. |
| "Good idea. Let's get started. Nurse, scalpel, please!" |
| Laura giggled until Gran began working. Laura found the treatment was very relaxing, and she imagine she could feel the cleanser getting all the accumulated grime out of her pores. |
| "I think," Carla observed, "that this young lady might fall asleep on us, if she's not careful." |
| "I will not, Mum!" Laura was indignant, because she realised she was drifting off. |
| "I'll leave you two to work out your own sleeping arrangements. Good night, Gran. Good night, Laura." |
| |
| "Gran," Laura called softly from where she lay on her airbed by the verandah door. "I was kissed yesterday." |
| "I know I kissed you a few times today, and your parents and brother..." |
| "Not that kind of kiss. A boy, Gran. Doug kissed me, and I felt all weak and tingly at the same time. I was embarrassed, but I didn't want it to stop." |
| "Well, that does sound like a Kiss, all right. Was it your first?" |
| "No... Yes. Oh, I've kissed other boys, but there wasn't anything special about it. But when Doug kissed me, I... I don't know! But I really liked it." |
| "Good. That's how a first kiss should be. Now roll over and dream nice dreams of your Doug. I'd like to meet him one of these days." |
| |
| Laura did dream. |
| It was not Doug she dreamed of. She was with other girls and boys, and she was only Joey's age. Ugly men were chasing them with ropes and sacks, grabbing the desperately running kids. |
