When you are seven years old and at Primary School, you learn to follow instructions. This particular day was very hot and everything smelled of smoke. ‘Children you are to go straight home to your parents.’ My teacher told us after lunch. I was pleased because it was so hot and Mum would let me run under the sprinkler hose to cool down. I was only five minutes from home and as I started walking I noticed the sky was black as if it was evening. Smoke swirled around like a fairy dancing on the wind. I was the only child who lived in this direction and I wondered where all the other children had disappeared to.
My mother was at the front door as I entered the gate, telling me to hurry along. ‘Is it a special day,’ I asked?
On the lounge room floor Mum had a large bed sheet spread out and on it were all sorts of items. Our photo Album, several photo frames with pictures of our family. The tongs Mum curled our hair with, curlers and our brush and comb. A pile of tea towels and a tablecloth our Nana had embroidered with pansies in pretty colors of mauve. A couple of saucepans we had just bought. Dad’s tennis racket in a frame! My sister and my new Sunday best dresses folded neatly, adjacent to our black patent leather shoes and socks popped inside the shoes....
TO READ MORE, OPEN THIS DOCUMENT ON THE TITLE AND CLICK ON THE PDF LINK.