Heathcote School was only a short bus trip
away but still too far. Always while scurrying to the bus stop in the
cul-de-sac Rene and her three children would be soaked and the gale force winds
blew them off balance with every step taken. Their ‘Mac’s’, ‘Gum Boot’s’ and
rain hats did nothing to ward off the unpleasantness of dampness, and making
useable function of an umbrella was out of the question due to the winds
intensity. When they reached the bus shelter it gave a little relief but the
wet blew in from all angles. The bus was an hour late due to the many road
accidents, and together with the flooding and the inclemency of the conditions
all who travelled on this day were delayed.
When the bus finally arrived the driver said it would probably take an
extra hour to reach the Heathcote stop. Rene was in two minds, one
wanted to get off and go home, but much to the disapproval of her three damp
unhappy children, the other mind succeeded and she decided to continue on her
mission to school. The trip, as expected, was not without drama. In various
places the water was lashing the road up to and above cars hubcaps. Many
vehicles were conked on the side of the road but most were simply traffic jammed.
Rene’s eyes glassed over in dismay. She felt tormented as if someone upstairs
was not only adding insult to her injury, but they were also conniving to
dampen her spirits in assessment for a final showdown. She had to be seen to
remain calm in front of the children, and although depressed worked hard to
restrain from breaking down completely into a weeping mess of gloom; her wet
tangled hair still dripping down around her face helped hide the tears and
facial trauma associated with such physical abjection. Arrival at the school
provided encouragement, for the registration was simplified by the kindness and
consideration given by the teaching staff. They took the time to dry everyone
and care for the children and hear Rene’s story from England to date.
They themselves mostly immigrant’s, embraced her words with compassion and
understanding and gave her hope with assured reports of better days ahead. The
rain did not ease on the way home or anytime in the immediate future. On this
Thursday Tim and Zoe were given a few days reprieve from school because they
did not need to attend classes until Monday, but the rain did not ease and they
still needed their raincoats in play for the week ahead.
Now with Zoe and Tim at school Rene was allocated a little more freedom.
Factors in relation to parental responsibilities and the frustration of
organising and amusing three bored children had been somewhat alleviated, but
there was still Don to contend with, and at times he could be more of a handful
than the other two put together. At least this phase of resolve did offer a
little more sanity in Rene’s day-to-day chores but in retrospect it also
allowed more time to reflect and ponder the choices made in travel. With so
much time on her hands the days became long, and regret was constantly mindful.
Boredom activated adverse emotions plaguing her senses, she had to do more than
just housework to attempt interruption of negative reflections, so instead of
staying home staring at four walls she sought the company of others by
regularly taking Don to the communal hall (the canteen) for hot beverages, food
and games such as cards and ‘Housie’; but even this was not enough to replete
her sedulous personality, she needed more.
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