Last Days in Africville by Dorothy Perkyns

Author:Dorothy Perkyns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn

SEVEN

Although the possibility of leaving Africville wasn't discussed again in Selina's presence, she sensed a nervous uncertainty beneath the surface of life at home. In contrast to this, the atmosphere at school was the happiest she had ever known. She enjoyed the challenge of increasingly difficult schoolwork, often gaining such high marks that Miss Neill singled her out for special praise. Selina was embarrassed by the teacher's comments at first, but learned to accept them. She sensed they helped her earn respect from the other students.

Along with the rest of the class, she looked forward to the gym lessons most of all, keeping up her own training by jogging to and from school instead of riding the bus. Extra practices were held outdoors on fine days, and Mr. Ellis soon noticed she was one of the most promising runners.

At first all the students trained for every race, but by the end of May, Mr. Ellis encouraged them to concentrate on their strongest events. Since it had been agreed that the whole class should participate, he was slow to make his final decisions, wanting to build up the best team possible. After lots of trials and a great deal of discussion with Miss Neill and Mr. Fisk, he finally posted the lists of names on the notice board near the cloakroom. Selina could hardly believe her eyes when she saw she was chosen for three events: the one-hundred and two-hundred-yard races, and the final leg of the relay.

“Will you be able to come and see me run?” she asked her parents and grandmother after telling them her news.

“Try to keep us away!” Jake said. I'll trade a shift with one of the other porters.”

“And I'll simply take a morning off,” her mother declared, hugging her warmly. “Oh, honey, I'm so proud of you.”

Only Grandma said nothing. She looked straight at Selina for a few seconds, then went over to the window and stared out. Selina was puzzled until she watched the old woman take hold of the corner of her apron and wipe it across her eyes.

“She's very happy for you,” her father whispered.

Selina nodded uncertainly before going up to her room. Gazing over the rooftops, she wondered whether her grandmother was unwell. Suddenly an icy fear gripped her, tightening her stomach muscles and making her head swim. Had those men from the city been to her home? Was the threat of being forced to move creeping ever closer to her own front door? Angrily she dashed back downstairs, fled the house, and ran down the hill, across the lower rail line, and along the road below the church until she stood on the rocky bank above the water. Furiously she seized a heavy stone and flung it as far as she could into the sea, watching the ripples spread into bigger and bigger circles.

She picked up another stone and another, hurling them with all her might as she remembered uneasily the number of times adult conversation had ceased abruptly when she entered a room.

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