THE CHASM 

By Tessa Harvey


    The twins were chattering excitedly. There was a sports carnival soon. Children and adults swirled around them like the patterns of a kaleidoscope, but Margaret was missing a small one.
    "Luka, Livia, where is Mischa?" The eight year olds looked upset. "Oh no," they chorused in unison, "we forgot. Sorry, mama." "Stay here in the van. Don't touch anything at the front, ok? I will go."
    The children watched as she strode away, anxiously. Quickly Margaret headed to the kinder class. Relieved to see a teacher was holding her little boy's hand, she was amazed. Mischa wasn't a one for much physical contact.
    Thanking the teacher, she crouched down, gently lifting her son's chin.
    Patiently she waited until he looked at her. "The children forgot," she said. "We are all sorry, Mischa."
    The teacher helped her hoist the little boy onto her back. It was less babyish for her son than being carried like a baby. "Say thank you to Mrs. Moore, Mischa." Margaret paused, waiting. To her surprise, the delighted teacher said "thank you for smiling and waving, Mischa!"
    Nearing the van, she helped Mischa scramble into his seat. Both twins helped fasten the buckles. "We are sorry, Mischa." Livia spoke softly. Luka added, "We have a carnival, Mischa. You can watch with mama and dadda if you want or you can run!" They spoke excitedly, trying to explain the delights of the egg and spoon race. To their surprise, the little guy bent over and laughed and laughed. "Egg-poon," he said and again. Margaret remembered the last school. He had spent the last day rocking in a corner. Could this Christian school help?

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