Our Australian Girl: The Lina Stories by Sally Rippin

Author:Sally Rippin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781760146627
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

I can’t believe the Opening Ceremony is only three days away!’ Lina said to Sarah, as they worked side by side in the school library.

Sarah giggled. ‘I know! It will be funny going with the Mother Superior, though, don’t you think? I hadn’t really pictured her as being interested in sport!’

‘Well, it’s not just about sport, Sarah,’ Sister Rosemary said, appearing from behind a shelf, a load of books in her arms. ‘It’s about countries from all over the world coming together in friendship.’ She placed a hardback book on the history of the Olympic Games on the table in front of them.

‘I know,’ Sarah sighed. ‘We’ve been talking about it for weeks in class. And it’s a symbol of global unity and all that. But it’s still sport!’

Lina always felt a little shocked at the disrespectful tone Sarah used towards Sister Rosemary. She might only be an old nun to Sarah, but Sister Rosemary had read more books than anyone Lina knew and this made her the most interesting person in the school.

Lina opened the book she had put in front of them and read the introduction aloud:

‘In ancient Greece, wars would stop for the Olympic Games. It was not merely a time out for recreation, but rather an opportunity for humans to honour the gods by achieving acts of human excellence.’

‘Boring!’ Sarah whispered when Sister Rosemary had wandered off.

Lina forced a giggle. She actually found the history of the Olympics quite interesting but she didn’t want to seem like a square.

‘Who are you going to write about for your Olympics article?’ Lina asked a little nervously.

‘Oh, I don’t know yet,’ said Sarah shrugging. ‘I haven’t really thought about it.’

‘Well, I’m writing about Dawn Fraser,’ Lina said as firmly as she dared, hoping this would be enough to discourage Sarah from doing the same.

The bell went, and they packed up and made their way out. A warm wind swept through the courtyard and the paving stones were covered in a swirling sea of pink and white blossom. Butterflies and dandelion spores spun in the air.

‘Oh, I love springtime!’ Lina said, breathing in deeply. ‘Don’t you?’ She turned to face Sarah, who was pinching her nose with her head tipped back.

‘Except for all the pollen,’ Sarah groaned, then sneezed noisily and the two girls laughed. ‘I’m going back to my locker for my handkerchief.’

‘Okay,’ said Lina. ‘See you next lunchtime?’

‘Sure thing,’ said Sarah. ‘Bye, Lina!’

Lina watched Sarah go, feeling springtime happy.

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