Jagged Edge of Joy by Liz Newton

Author:Liz Newton [Newton, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction - Thriller
ISBN: 9781925282702
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Published: 2017-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

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Early in the year Dave became increasingly preoccupied about the day when he could finally get away from Ferntree Cove. His travel plan took shape as he carefully timed his departure to occur a week after his mother’s birthday in early February. Enlivened, his preparations firmed and fell into place. Just the thought of traipsing the world lifted his spirits and lightened his days. Dave was struck as he realised that for a long time he’d been treading water and waiting… for what, he asked himself. A couple of his mates had already set off for Europe a month or so ago and he hoped to catch up with them overseas. Convincing himself nothing was going to change at home in the foreseeable future, and having achieved well in his last year at Uni with the offer of a good job when he returned, he knew the timing was perfect.

It also hit Dave that he’d spent years not only waiting, but also watching. Watching others’ lives, observing his mother’s moods, always at the ready to sooth her crushed heart. Meanwhile Bethany and Nellie had pushed on with their lives.

Growing up Dave looked on as Bethany and their cousin Ali made their mark standing up against the Vietnam War in protest rallies, singing ‘It’s Time’ in 1972 as Whitlam came to power, and relished in their mature status as the first generation allowed the eighteen-year-old vote. Dave chuckled to himself as he recollected some years ago when his Aunty Mary chaperoned the then fifteen and sixteen-year-old Beth and Ali in the late 1960s to the Hair musical at Kings Cross. The girls let their long locks dangle as they wrapped Indian braided headbands around their foreheads, put on their faded blue jeans and suede fringed jackets, topped off with strings of tiny multi-coloured hippie beads. They seemed so grown-up when he was an eleven-year-old — half his lifetime ago. So much was happening in those days as his sister and Ali chorused; This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius… So much was happening in other people’s lives as he watched in wonder.

Dave also watched his sister Nellie, five years his junior rapidly grow up into a teenager who spat feisty outbursts to her parents when she didn’t get her own way. Dave had always tried to keep the peace and keep an eye on Nel as she hung around with her dope-smoking, heavy drinking friends. All the while he had somehow not fully comprehended he was waiting for his own life to begin — and now it was his turn.

For some weeks he’d talked about travelling to visit his sister, planting the idea in his mother’s mind he would be going no matter what — assuming that he’d be alright, it wouldn’t be forever and he’d be back before she knew it… and yes, he’d write regularly.

Dave’s Qantas flight, partially paid for with money saved from his twenty-first birthday gift from his parents, was booked for mid-February.

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