The Secret Mother by Victoria Delderfield

Author:Victoria Delderfield [Delderfield, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-9932874-5-9
Publisher: Bookline & Thinker
Published: 2015-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

Snapshot

The idea came to me on waking, the way good ideas often do. It wasn’t new clothes or fancy shoes that workers wanted most, they could save up for those themselves. What they couldn’t buy was freedom. We heard on the radio that the new ferris wheel had arrived in town and everyone wanted a ride. If I could get permission for a few of us to go, the others would be jealous. They would soon pick up speed if the reward was excitement and adventure away from the line. I had little more than a week.

I searched under my bunk for the tin box. It had been a while since I’d spoken to my wooden figurines, what with working so hard all day and visiting Manager He. I stroked the smooth pinewood of Madam Nie’s head. She smelt of the forest back home. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, hoping Mother might hear my apology.

Mrs Nie agreed the ferris wheel was a good ploy. I lay her back inside the tin box and set off in search of Fei Fei.

In the empty courtyard I wavered, disorientated and weary. My memory was increasingly hazy and I couldn’t remember the exact location of Fei Fei’s dorm. The cold, petrol-filled air assaulted my senses and I jolted as someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to see Fei Fei.

“I was just looking for you,” she said.

What a funny habit she had, popping up out of the blue. “Shouldn’t you be tidying the canteen before breakfast?” I asked.

“The boss sent me on an errand. What are you doing?” Her question was strangely pressing.

“I have some good news.”

“Oh?”

“Manager He’s agreed to let me out for a night. I worked my backside off last week for a big order. As a reward, I’m allowed to take two friends into Nanchang to see the new ferris wheel. I’m going tonight.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. Managers don’t let us out at night.”

“It’s true and he suggested I choose you because of the great work you did cleaning our equipment in time for that order. Say you’ll come, Fei Fei? We’ll have fun. It will be like the last time.”

“That can’t be right.”

The alarm reverberated in the courtyard.

I squeezed her hand. “Listen, meet me after work. I’ll wait by the gate. Wear something nice.”

Like a dupe, she nodded in agreement.

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