THE CHASM

A CROSS THE CHASM  By Tessa Harvey     Renate leaned back in the comfortable armchair and closed her eyes to rest for a few minutes. Slowly her health and strength were returning. That lovely young man, Dylan was admitting her new friends.     Esther ushered them into the lounge. Shayla and baby Archie came in. The young woman had brought a colourful collapsible playpen and toys and snacks for the infant. He toddled up to the old lady, happily smiling. How innocent this child looks, Renate thought. He will be a blessed child, not forced, coerced to be different even as a tiny child.     The world was always cruel, she thought, but today her news was happy. After greetings and refreshments, Shayla looked at Renate nervously. "I didn't understand," she said slowly, "and am sorry."     Ariella arrived a few minutes late, and Renate noticed how Dylan watched her as she settled and helped herself to coffee and cake.     Esther exchanged ...

A CROSS THE CHASM  By Tessa Harvey     Jono went upstairs after tea to talk to his little brother. "Hey, buddy, high-five." Mischa smiled, looking happy.     All through tea he had said nothing and the family were concerned. Mischa was somewhere on the autism scale, but being at school had helped him. He said he liked the songs and prayers, fun and learning.     "You didn't wait for Luka and Livia," Jono said gently, trying to look less threatening by sitting on the carpeted floor. He had grown so much lately and kept bumping into stuff.     The brothers exchanged high-fives, grinning. "They spitted at me at out time. They said 'Go away, Jew boy.' What is Jew boy, Jono?" "I need to think," the older boy paused. "Maybe it was rain sprinkles," said Mischa. "No Mischa it was sunny - no rain." The fourteen year old tickled his brother, but felt sad. "It is bad if anyone is different," Jono said carefully. ...

A CROSS THE CHASM  By Tessa Harvey         Shayla knew where the old lady was staying and taking little baby Alfie, she arranged a visit. The child was visibly delighted to be going on an outing. He was growing strong and sturdy with inquisitive dark eyes. At six months he was able to sit up if wedged in by cushions. People loved his gorgeous thick, curly hair turning in sunlight to the colour of shiny new chestnuts. When he saw the elderly lady, he surveyed her carefully. She smiled. Delighted, he gurgled and laughed. It was an infectious little chuckle. Even Daniel, home that afternoon had been captivated.     He even forgot his unreasonable resentment of having no son of his own. Now he had to cross his chasm of selfishness, and reach out to someone he knew disliked him - the lawyer, Gavin Dufaye.      The little boy raced out of the kinder class, dropping his backpack by his big sister, Eva. He raced the quickest way to the gate...

A CROSS THE CHASM  By Tessa Harvey     Ariella walked into the room, humming, clearly expecting only her mother to be there. Her stepfather, Daniel felt the old bitterness rise.      But before he could say a word, Ari said, "dad, I need your help, and yours too, mum." The young woman turned to face them both. "There is a sick old lady in my car and she needs this family to help her. Before you start," she added, "she wants "Uncle" Gavin to be her lawyer. For some unfathomable reason, she believes he is a good man - a good Jewish man."     "Now, let's get her immediate needs attended to. You worked in a medical centre." Ari faltered, her breath hitching in her throat, chest tightening as she fought the asthma.      Esther moved first. "Okay, Ari. Relax." She glanced at Daniel. "We've got this. Questions later."     The family trio tried to hide their shock when they saw the very frail elderly lady. Ari and he...

A CROSS THE CHASM   By Tessa Harvey     Esther stared out at the blustery rain-patched early spring day. She noted with surprise that the wild plum tree over the fence, having had some early new leaves and blossom ripped away had paused seemingly in its growth, yet forming tiny new flower buds.     She rubbed one hand across her tired eyes and wondered once again where he had gone. he often nipped out without telling her. Esther wanted to quibble but it was never worth the effort. Instead she prayed again to the God she was not suppose to know anything about  - the Messiah who had been, and who was coming again.     Sensing a presence, she turned slowly, trying to smile. To her surprise, Daniel, her husband, looked somehow vulnerable.     "Esther," he began, unusually tentative, "what are you doing?"     His wife had the strangest feeling he had been going to say something of importance. Taking a brave approach, she suddenly l...

THE LONELY DESERT PART 2 - THE BROKEN WOMAN   By Tessa Harvey But Shayla had stopped her small vehicle, now glistening in the rain, threatening all day, now tumbled down. She thought for a few minutes.     To be honest, she didn't really see how racing after that old woman and Ariella would help. Turning around and no longer following was a huge step for her, but all she longed for now was her dear beautiful baby Alfie and her mother figure of Auntie Ruth.      She drove back through the dashing rain and calmly walked up to the front door of her recent work place. It was still hanging open. Aware of twitching lace curtains and blinds, Shayla glanced up at the door, miming horror she had left it open and calmly hurried to shut it, but first she glanced inside for anything else useful. She made a show of searching her black and silver carry bag as though she had forgotten something, then went inside.     Well, the absence of the patient could not be...