Women & Children by Tony Birch

Author:Tony Birch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Published: 2023-09-10T05:33:25+00:00

After the argument outside the church, Marion and Oona settled on an unspoken truce. Later that evening they sat together on the lounge watching television. By the time the late movie ended, Oona had drifted off to sleep with her head on a cushion. Marion looked vacantly at the test pattern on the screen. She was too weary to bother getting up, either to turn the set off or go to bed.

Marion was angry that Ray’s violence had impacted so many people. Not only Oona, but herself, Joe and her father. Once Ruby was home, she’d also be drawn into the drama, as she was too sharp a girl to keep any secret from. Born with an inquisitive nature, Ruby would ask questions, and wouldn’t be put off until she had an answer. Marion felt sad for her father. Charlie was a gentle man, helpless to protect his own daughter, which left him full of guilt. Only Oona could save herself from Ray Lomax and Marion doubted that her sister would be able to do what was needed.

Marion had known others in Oona’s situation. Fresh-faced young women a few years out of school, excited with the idea of getting married, dreaming of a romantic future ahead of them. Marion would occasionally run into the same women on the street just a couple of years later. Their faces had become featureless, and they would attempt to disguise their hollowness with lifted voices and fractured smiles. The exhausted performance would end as soon as the women walked on, shoulders hunched once again, their eyes meeting the ground.

Marion caught a glimpse of her own reflection in the television screen. She couldn’t allow herself to escape criticism. In some ways, she felt she’d made a greater mistake than Oona. Marion had not only gone out with a man she didn’t love. She’d married him.

Oona coughed and Marion turned to watch her sleeping sister. She looked peaceful. Marion was reminded of the nights when they were younger and would curl up under a blanket watching television.

She gently shook Oona. ‘Come on, love. Bedtime.’

Marion helped her sister to her feet. Oona was confused, unsure of where she was. Recognising her sister’s face she smiled and said, ‘It’s you, Marion.’ Oona kissed her sister on the cheek. ‘It’s really you. I’ve been having a beautiful dream about our mum. Let me tell you about it.’

Marion put an arm around Oona’s waist and guided her towards the bedroom. ‘You can tell me in the morning when you’re properly awake.’

‘Oh, I can tell you now,’ Oona said. ‘In the dream I’d gone to Heaven. And I was back with Mum. It was beautiful, Marion. So beautiful.’

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