THE JOURNEY 

By Tessa Harvey

    A few weeks later both Patrick and Josie had arranged a fortnight's leave from work.
    Patrick was responsible for keeping the noisy printing presses going at some very busy newspaper offices.
    Despite earplugs, the loud torrent of sound from endless machines gave him headaches. He suspected he was slowly losing some hearing. This saddened him as Josie was so soft-spoken. He also loved listening to the local birds, especially in springtime, and the sound of wind in the pines nearby.
    Despite their mature age, it was very exciting boarding a ship! They had written to both their children but had heard nothing from either.
    Josie had left word with their neighbours on either side, just in case Thomas or Alice arrived to find an empty house. They did not take much luggage. It was not easy walking up the gangway, gripping the side ropes tightly. They listened to the crew calling and people saying or shouting goodbye. So much to see, to hear, to experience!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE JOURNEY  By Tessa Harvey     Hope danced a bright tune in Josie's mind. Mindful where she was treading, she hurried to the row of dustbins. The enemy planes were veering away, probably low on fuel and the intensity of noisy bombing eased.     "Josha, Jenna!" she called, it's me, Josie. Please answer." One of the bins shivered violently. She heard bangs but no voices. Quickly she ran to steady the rocking bin and eased away the lid. Two frightened faces looked up. Jenna was clutching a tiny kitten. Josie hugged the trembling children.     "Marie," she called, "here's Kitty!" The neighbour hurried over to the little creature, a small shine of happiness in a dark place.      "I saw your husband looking up and heading to the factory to sell some groceries cheap. Mind if I tag along? If the little girl holds Kitty, we could carry your boy turn and turn about?"     Josie was grateful for the help. The factory was nearby. Was Patr...
Read more
THE JOURNEY  By Tessa Harvey     Alice shut her eyes against the sun's glare. She felt disorientated and confused. Suddenly a voice yelled in English "Get outter the way!" A bike was heading straight for her. A man was waving frantically with one hand, trying to steer with the other.     He crashed spectacularly. A jangle of tangled metal, cry of pain and some words in several different languages that Alice thought she probably ought not to know. She untangled herself from a broom bush in the hedgerow and bent to help the 'Flying Cyclist'. "Brakes worn out. Sorry. Hard to get parts. War on, don't you know!"     He looked at her. "You are English, aren't you? Tell by the clothes." His face was scratched and grimy. He looked tired, worn out and wore a clerical collar.     With a smile, he rubbed one hand on hid jacket, then held it out. "Name's John Paul." "I'm Alice," she said, "are you okay?"     ...
Read more
THE JOURNEY  By Tessa Harvey     It was a beautiful day as Thomas walked along, grateful for yesterday's tasty chicken broth and the cheese sandwich and water bottle he had kept for today. He heard larks singing high in the sky, such an inspiring sound, liquid music.     A flower caught his eye. The young man was amazed. It was a small yellow globe flower shining in the grass, a buttercup but curled around. He thought of all the strife involving so many in the world and prayed. He was on sick leave, but would have to return in a few weeks to the war.     That night he had strange dreams. He dreamed that his parents were once again in that small life-raft. In his dream he saw them asleep, battered, wounded, weakened by their ordeal. A woman, dark-featured with long black hair was towing two small children. With the desperate strength of a mother, she pushed the larger child into the raft, who then helped her mum with the little one. The woman cried for ...
Read more