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Authors: Sally Rippin
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âWell, I never!â said a stout man on Linaâs left.
âWho would have thought?â said the woman beside him.
âTurn the radio up!â someone called out.
From close behind Lina, the crackly sound of a newsreaderâs voice came over the radio. Everybody quieted down to listen: âFor the first time in Olympic history, athletes participate in the Closing Day Ceremony. A local Chinese boy made the suggestion, the IOF approved, and thus began an innovation for the Olympics. Indians alongside Americans, German with French, Australian with Orientals, Occidental with European, the Forward March imbued with common ideals . . .â
âA new Closing Ceremony!â exclaimed the woman on her right.
âSuggested by a local boy,â cried out another.
âI wonder who he is?â
âYes, who could he be?â the crowd wondered aloud.
Lina covered her mouth to hide her smile. She couldnât believe it. They had read Johnâs letter! And used his idea!
Where are you now? Lina wondered, looking up into the vast Melbourne sky, turning pink as the sun slid towards the horizon. In the distance the faintest stars were beginning to appear. John Ian Wing you are famous . Have you seen this? Do you know?
Lina couldnât wait to find out.
The next morning, Lina woke up feeling like her world had shifted. Everything that had once seemed so gloomy floated out of her like specks of dust lit up by the sunshine, floating, spinning away from her and out the bedroom window. She felt bright and clear and strong. The magazine was finished and, just as sheâd secretly hoped, her father was proud of all the work sheâd done. On her grandmotherâs cupboard the green dress shimmered like an exotic beetle. Suddenly, her room no longer looked small and dingy and crowded with her grandmotherâs musty old things. Now it was interesting and colourful and full of treasures.
Lina couldnât wait to see John again on the bus to find out if he knew how his letter had changed the Games. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. She knew someone famous. Someone whose words had made a difference, and he had only just turned seventeen! Lina was desperate to tell someone. Anyone.
She thought about Sarah. Maybe she could tell Sarah? Only Sarah â and then make her swear to secrecy? Lina knew that Sarah would be impressed. Mary wasnât interested in the importance of words but Sarah was. Lina didnât even need to tell Sarah who he was, just what heâd done.
Lina imagined what Sarah might say. Sheâd be surprised. She might not even believe Lina at first, but when Lina told her all the details, Sarah would definitely want to know more. After all, what was the fun in knowing someone famous if you couldnât tell a friend?
But is Sarah my friend? she wondered. We did that whole magazine together, she told herself sternly. Of course weâre friends. And maybe . . . maybe sheâd even want to come back to my house? Maybe once she meets my family, and sees how lovely they all are, sheâll understand that just because we speak Italian doesnât mean weâre not hard-working or clever.
Linaâs daydreaming lingered all morning through breakfast and her chores, and even made her miss the early bus to school. Arriving just in time, she ran through the gates, past the library and straight to the lockers, where she knew she would find who she was looking for. Lina caught a glimpse of Sarahâs swinging blonde ponytail down the hall and jogged to catch up with her.
But just as she rounded the corner, Lina caught a glimpse of Mary, coming straight towards them. Lina slipped back behind the wall to wait until Mary had passed. She certainly didnât want Mary eavesdropping on her exciting news. To her surprise, instead of walking straight past Sarah like she normally did, Mary stopped.
âSo,â
âWell, I never!â said a stout man on Linaâs left.
âWho would have thought?â said the woman beside him.
âTurn the radio up!â someone called out.
From close behind Lina, the crackly sound of a newsreaderâs voice came over the radio. Everybody quieted down to listen: âFor the first time in Olympic history, athletes participate in the Closing Day Ceremony. A local Chinese boy made the suggestion, the IOF approved, and thus began an innovation for the Olympics. Indians alongside Americans, German with French, Australian with Orientals, Occidental with European, the Forward March imbued with common ideals . . .â
âA new Closing Ceremony!â exclaimed the woman on her right.
âSuggested by a local boy,â cried out another.
âI wonder who he is?â
âYes, who could he be?â the crowd wondered aloud.
Lina covered her mouth to hide her smile. She couldnât believe it. They had read Johnâs letter! And used his idea!
Where are you now? Lina wondered, looking up into the vast Melbourne sky, turning pink as the sun slid towards the horizon. In the distance the faintest stars were beginning to appear. John Ian Wing you are famous . Have you seen this? Do you know?
Lina couldnât wait to find out.
The next morning, Lina woke up feeling like her world had shifted. Everything that had once seemed so gloomy floated out of her like specks of dust lit up by the sunshine, floating, spinning away from her and out the bedroom window. She felt bright and clear and strong. The magazine was finished and, just as sheâd secretly hoped, her father was proud of all the work sheâd done. On her grandmotherâs cupboard the green dress shimmered like an exotic beetle. Suddenly, her room no longer looked small and dingy and crowded with her grandmotherâs musty old things. Now it was interesting and colourful and full of treasures.
Lina couldnât wait to see John again on the bus to find out if he knew how his letter had changed the Games. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. She knew someone famous. Someone whose words had made a difference, and he had only just turned seventeen! Lina was desperate to tell someone. Anyone.
She thought about Sarah. Maybe she could tell Sarah? Only Sarah â and then make her swear to secrecy? Lina knew that Sarah would be impressed. Mary wasnât interested in the importance of words but Sarah was. Lina didnât even need to tell Sarah who he was, just what heâd done.
Lina imagined what Sarah might say. Sheâd be surprised. She might not even believe Lina at first, but when Lina told her all the details, Sarah would definitely want to know more. After all, what was the fun in knowing someone famous if you couldnât tell a friend?
But is Sarah my friend? she wondered. We did that whole magazine together, she told herself sternly. Of course weâre friends. And maybe . . . maybe sheâd even want to come back to my house? Maybe once she meets my family, and sees how lovely they all are, sheâll understand that just because we speak Italian doesnât mean weâre not hard-working or clever.
Linaâs daydreaming lingered all morning through breakfast and her chores, and even made her miss the early bus to school. Arriving just in time, she ran through the gates, past the library and straight to the lockers, where she knew she would find who she was looking for. Lina caught a glimpse of Sarahâs swinging blonde ponytail down the hall and jogged to catch up with her.
But just as she rounded the corner, Lina caught a glimpse of Mary, coming straight towards them. Lina slipped back behind the wall to wait until Mary had passed. She certainly didnât want Mary eavesdropping on her exciting news. To her surprise, instead of walking straight past Sarah like she normally did, Mary stopped.
âSo,â
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