THE CHASM

By Tessa Harvey



    Ariella hopped off the bus, so happy to be coming home at last. She had settled well into college and eventually, at her parents' earnest pleading, changed her surname to McDermott. "It was your grandmother's name before marriage. Please, dear, do this for us," Esther asked, softly. "Anti-semitism is very bad now, Ariella, and you still have your faith, your belief in God," Daniel added.
    Feeling cowardly, Ariella had reluctantly agreed, but knew nothing could ever lose her faith.
    Her parents were delighted to have her home for a few days, but she noticed how much older and more frail they looked, even after a few months.
    Ariella began telling them a funny story. Then there was a loud knocking.
She was quickly on her feet. She smiled at her parents. "I'll go."
    Shutting the lounge door behind her to keep out the cold, the young woman opened the front door.
    It was Mr. Dufaye and he did not look happy. Looking at the cheerful, guileless face of Ariella, Gavin hesitated, feeling a qualm of conscience, but he quickly smothered it. "Er, my nephew is walking out with Sandra."
    He braced himself. "You do not need to see him." He turned and walked stiffly away, scowling.
    Ari felt angry and sad. The old man had deep lines of bitterness etched into his face. Obviously he was not a happy person.
    She turned to go back inside, wondering if she could explain this in a good way to her parents.
    As Gavin walked away, he felt a little ashamed. Ari was much nicer than Sandra. Too late.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE CHASM  By Tessa Harvey     Driving into the school parking lot, Margaret saw her eldest loping towards the car. "Mum! I'm to represent the school in the Science Fair next week. Charlie, Joe and me with out spinning, adjustable wind tower. One of the two in our shopping centre never works,  or barely. Isn't it great?!"      Eva arrived next with Mischa between Luca and Livia. They had all had a good day and her smallest was smiling.     "Jeus love us," said Mischa in a clear high voice. The family were astounded and all fell silent. Mischa was on the autism scale. After a few months at school, he was looking people in the eyes and beginning to smile. Margaret did not minimise all the care the whole family had showered on Mischa, but now he was coming on in leaps and bounds. And now she had some more wonderful news, but that could wait for Nicholas. Ariella was perched on the edge of the hospital bed, swinging her feet like a child. Her par...
Read more
Image
THE CHASM   By Tessa Harvey     Sandra felt road beneath her feet. It felt so good. She closed her eyes in relief. Then light swept towards her. She waved frantically. The car slowed. The people inside opened a window.     Sandra was sobbing, but managed to explain. "I can't get a phone signal," she cried. "Please, can you try?" A  woman got out of the car and tried to phone, but there was no signal. The man said "I'll go down the road a bit." Breathless, Sandra begged to be in the car and climbed in. The other lady got a torch from the boot. "I will look while you get help." It felt surreal. Darkness was deepening the mist. The woman flashed the torch. It illuminated her feet and a little bit of the path. It was enough. "Lord, you are a lamp to my feet," she prayed. As she went, she called out. There was a faint answering cry. The woman knew that voice. "Hold on Dylan. I'm coming. It's time to pray, friend."  ...
Read more
Image
THE CHASM   By Tessa Harvey     Soon Eva sauntered over. At eleven, she was growing fast. "Where is Jono?" she asked. "Coming, we hope, and hello to you, Eva." "Oh, sorry, hi mum, hi kids." Margaret hid a smile. Eva had obviously decided it was teenage time.     A tall boy hurried up. Like his siblings, he had many of his mother's Italian features, but his hair was more auburn like his Irish father and his eyes a stunning blue, not a lovely toffee brown.     "Mum, the principal wants to talk to you. Someone rang up to ask about us." "Then it will be later, son. We have to eat."     "Yum, what's for tea!" "I'm starving," several voices asked. "I could eat a horse," Luka said. "How did you guess?" responded his mother, laughing.     Margaret hastened down the corridor dodging visitors, doctors, hospital trolleys, tea and coffee volunteers. She saw a young man ahead of her and slowed, puz...
Read more