THE JOURNEY 

By Tessa Harvey

    The Catholic priest had loaned them his small car. Carefully the family helped him lift the vehicle off the blocks where it had been "for the duration." As a grocer, Patrick had a small amount of petrol. He hoped it would be enough. They set off early.
    Alice was watching from the hospital lounge window. As soon as light dawned, even a little before, she had been there. Until then she had not realised how much she had missed her family.
    Soon they came chugging round the corner. The small car spluttered, jerked and banged a few times. Apparently it had a personality all its own. Adults and small children poured out. As quick as she could, Alice was out in the cool, fresh air, hugging her strong dad and her beautifil mum, her lovely brother, a stray neighbour who for some reason was clutching a kitten. 
    And two children? Alice stared at them, assessing. Something tore at her. She saw the boy with his long musician fingers and curly hair and baby face with big dark eyes, the small girl with her intelligent face and strong chin. She knew these children! They were backing away from her, uncertain - the boy behind her mother, the girl behind her father.

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