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Authors: Kelli Bradicich
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forgetting.
*
Later that night, Emmy turned to the old dictionary. She discovered that cancer was just as they described, cells that grow and multiply rapidly through the body. She bit her lip and snapped the book closed, hurling it across the table.
Maths seemed the thing to take her mind off everything. She worked on some probability questions. Each time she completed a problem she checked the answer at the back of the textbook. Sometimes her answers were right and sometimes they were wrong. Yet she seemed to be using the same process over and over again. So when they were wrong she had no idea why.
If cancer was a group of cells gone a bit manic through the body, surely there was something that can be done to stop it and get them out.
Chapter Ten
It took Emmy longer than usual to trudge up the hill. She ducked under the wire fence and followed the track through an empty paddock to the gate. In the Bexleys’ garden she stopped to smell the rose blooms before she took the stairs one at a time and knocked on the front door.
The windows and door were wide open but the Bexleys weren’t home.
She sat on the doorstep, enjoying the quiet on the porch. There among the blooms in the garden and behind the line of conifers, the air felt lighter. It was as if the bees knew it too, the way they bobbed from flower to flower.
It was better to be on that porch than at home. Back there with her family there was nothing she could do or say to make things return to the way they were. It was hard looking at the dark circles under their eyes. Their faces were dead, as they plodded around completing everyday tasks on autopilot.
Everything changed though, when they were with Maya. It was strange the way everyone suddenly found all this brightness from somewhere. It lit up the room. They chatted about anything other than sickness, death and how unfair it all was. The falseness of it drove Emmy crazy. Yet there was no way she was going to be the one to bring up the truth.
The doorstep of the Bexleys ’ house was safe.
Alone.
She rested her head against the timber post and closed her eyes. The edge of the wood dug into her skull, but she felt nothing.
*
The Bexleys’ 4WD purred up the track. The girls rolled out of the car, squealing and laughing, but stopped when they saw Emmy. She rose slowly. Her eyes found Libby’s familiar face, the olive skin, arched eyebrows and unruly dark hair.
Libby cocked her head to the side in an unspoken question.
Emmy’s mouth was dry. Her lips stuck together as she tried to find the words, “Maya’s sick. She has some cancer. She’s at home sleeping. They know I’m here. I’m allowed to tell you all.”
Libby’s lips twisted as she mouthed the word. Her face went slack.
Mrs Bexley stepped forward, “Oh, honey. There’s a lot they can do these days with cancer.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. But Maya’s decided not to do any of that,” Emmy replied.
Libby took Emmy’s hand, leading her through the door. “Do you want to play cards?”
“Let’s have a round,” Matilda said, pushing past them.
“I’m dealing!” Cassidy yelled.
“I’ll make some Milos,” Mrs Bexley murmured.
Emmy’s mind shifted to the card game. But Mrs Bexley came back to the doorway waving a teaspoon. “You girls better keep quiet on that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or whatever it is you are into these days. News like this tends to take a life of its own and makes things far worse than they need to be.”
“I don’t think it will matter much Mrs Bexley,” said Emmy.
“Okay,” Mrs Bexley nodded, “You’re probably right. Okay.” She mumbled to herself as she stepped back into the kitchen. She lifted her voice to a new level of cheer, “A round of Vegemite sandwiches, Emmy?”
“Mum ,” Libby moaned.
“Right. Right. Milos are enough.”
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
F lowing
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Chapter Eleven
At the weekend markets, the first person Emmy served
*
Later that night, Emmy turned to the old dictionary. She discovered that cancer was just as they described, cells that grow and multiply rapidly through the body. She bit her lip and snapped the book closed, hurling it across the table.
Maths seemed the thing to take her mind off everything. She worked on some probability questions. Each time she completed a problem she checked the answer at the back of the textbook. Sometimes her answers were right and sometimes they were wrong. Yet she seemed to be using the same process over and over again. So when they were wrong she had no idea why.
If cancer was a group of cells gone a bit manic through the body, surely there was something that can be done to stop it and get them out.
Chapter Ten
It took Emmy longer than usual to trudge up the hill. She ducked under the wire fence and followed the track through an empty paddock to the gate. In the Bexleys’ garden she stopped to smell the rose blooms before she took the stairs one at a time and knocked on the front door.
The windows and door were wide open but the Bexleys weren’t home.
She sat on the doorstep, enjoying the quiet on the porch. There among the blooms in the garden and behind the line of conifers, the air felt lighter. It was as if the bees knew it too, the way they bobbed from flower to flower.
It was better to be on that porch than at home. Back there with her family there was nothing she could do or say to make things return to the way they were. It was hard looking at the dark circles under their eyes. Their faces were dead, as they plodded around completing everyday tasks on autopilot.
Everything changed though, when they were with Maya. It was strange the way everyone suddenly found all this brightness from somewhere. It lit up the room. They chatted about anything other than sickness, death and how unfair it all was. The falseness of it drove Emmy crazy. Yet there was no way she was going to be the one to bring up the truth.
The doorstep of the Bexleys ’ house was safe.
Alone.
She rested her head against the timber post and closed her eyes. The edge of the wood dug into her skull, but she felt nothing.
*
The Bexleys’ 4WD purred up the track. The girls rolled out of the car, squealing and laughing, but stopped when they saw Emmy. She rose slowly. Her eyes found Libby’s familiar face, the olive skin, arched eyebrows and unruly dark hair.
Libby cocked her head to the side in an unspoken question.
Emmy’s mouth was dry. Her lips stuck together as she tried to find the words, “Maya’s sick. She has some cancer. She’s at home sleeping. They know I’m here. I’m allowed to tell you all.”
Libby’s lips twisted as she mouthed the word. Her face went slack.
Mrs Bexley stepped forward, “Oh, honey. There’s a lot they can do these days with cancer.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. But Maya’s decided not to do any of that,” Emmy replied.
Libby took Emmy’s hand, leading her through the door. “Do you want to play cards?”
“Let’s have a round,” Matilda said, pushing past them.
“I’m dealing!” Cassidy yelled.
“I’ll make some Milos,” Mrs Bexley murmured.
Emmy’s mind shifted to the card game. But Mrs Bexley came back to the doorway waving a teaspoon. “You girls better keep quiet on that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or whatever it is you are into these days. News like this tends to take a life of its own and makes things far worse than they need to be.”
“I don’t think it will matter much Mrs Bexley,” said Emmy.
“Okay,” Mrs Bexley nodded, “You’re probably right. Okay.” She mumbled to herself as she stepped back into the kitchen. She lifted her voice to a new level of cheer, “A round of Vegemite sandwiches, Emmy?”
“Mum ,” Libby moaned.
“Right. Right. Milos are enough.”
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
F lowing
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Chapter Eleven
At the weekend markets, the first person Emmy served
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