Sister Heart (5 page)

Meet Emmy and Dot

They nor'westers, too

Emmy and Dot

are bigger girls like Nancy

Emmy has curly hair like mine

Dot has a round face like Nancy

They nod at me shyly

Nancy says

Nor'westers stick together

Sou'westers stick together

Got it?

Janey elbows past Nancy

Hey, I'm sou'wester

and I got sou'wester and nor'wester friends!

Nancy teases

Ooh — prickly little sou'wester

Emmy pokes Janey

Dot laughs

Nancy towers over Janey

Mind ya own business, sou'wester!

Janey puts her hands on her hips

If I minded me own business

you wouldn't have any stuff …

Shut up!

Talk soft!

You too cheeky, Janey!

Nancy growls

Blab about the stuff ya got us

we all in trouble!

Janey glances over her shoulder

Sorry, Nancy

Learn to shut ya trap, Janey!

Rain drizzles down

Janey grabs my hand

Gotta run!

Nor'westers and sou'westers

run to school together

School is a room filled

with big kids

in-between kids

little kids

Janey points to a neat lady

standing

stiff and straight at a table

Her face is tight with watching

That's Teacher

Boss of our school

She's not smiley

We had two teachers before

but the nice one left

None of 'em stay long

Nancy reckons

this one's still here

'cause no one else wants her!

She can't see nothin'

without her glasses

that's why they tied

round her neck with ribbon

So kids can't steal 'em!

Boys did that once

Got the strap bad!

I sit between Janey and Nancy

When everyone is quiet

Teacher says

A new girl has joined us today

Is she talking about me?

Her name is Annie

I duck down

Let my curls flop over my face

Pretend I'm not here

Say good morning to Annie

Everyone says

Good morning, Annie!

My cheeks burn hot with the stares

Janey whispers

So that's your name

Annie

I like it!

I don't

I – am – not – Annie!

Annie belongs

to the government man

and his lying government papers

Tap – tap – tap

Teacher's stick hits my table

Not a digging stick

not a fighting stick

for big trouble

a skinny useless stick

I see you are a quiet girl, Annie

Nice to have a well-mannered

child in my class

Why does Teacher talk so loud?

Everyone can hear

what she says to me

I burn with more stares

In school you will learn

to write your name

and count to ten

I will also teach you

the days of the week

and months of the year

If you tell the truth

pay attention

work hard

you will do well

Do you understand, Annie?

I glimpse Nancy nodding

Reverend liked me to nod

when he talked

Is Teacher the same?

I rub my hands on my dress

and nod

Teacher gives a sharp smile

Very good, Annie!

There is one more thing

we only speak English here

English is the language of kings

She bends closer

We never speak native gibberish

Her glasses slide down her nose

Not ever!

She pushes her glasses back

Janey will tell you what happens

if you speak the native tongue

Won't you, Janey?

Janey speaks so loud

everyone hears

You get whacked, Annie!

Laughter spills out from the other kids

Silence!

Teacher snaps

Her angry look sweeps the room

No laughter now

Teacher glares at Janey

Janey lowers her head

Bites her lip

Not because she's scared

Because she's trying not to smile

I don't think Janey likes Teacher

Teacher sounds out a big word

O – B – E – D – I – E – N – C – E

Obedience

is an important word

If you do as you are told

and respect your betters

you will find a place in this world

Teacher shows me a small word

Cat is easy to say and spell, Annie

c – a – t

spells cat

Can you say cat?

Can you say c – a – t?

Tap – Tap – Tap

goes Teacher's stick

Pay attention, Annie!

This is not walkabout time

Don't let your mind

wander in the never-never!

Slowly and loudly

like I am deaf and stupid

Teacher repeats

Can you say c – a – t?

I twist my hands together

There's too much english in this place

english hurts my head

english is hard on my tongue

english is missing good words

english is lonely

I wish I could talk my language

I wish I could talk to my mum

Janey, does Annie understand English?

Yes, Teacher

This mornin'

I told her to sweep

and she swept real good!

Janey shoots me a proud smile

I see

And does Annie speak?

No, Teacher

Teacher rolls her eyes

Another backward child!

Teacher keeps

me and Janey after school

She takes her glasses off

wipes them with a cloth

Glares at my hair

Annie's hair is like a bird's nest

Does she have nits, Janey?

No, Teacher

Hair was checked last night

when she got clothes

No nits

Janey is a big liar

The grumpy lady didn't check my hair

She said there wasn't time

Hmph

says Teacher

Annie looks too wild to be in school

Help her comb her hair

flatten it down

This is not the bush!

I don't want flat hair like Teacher!

And Janey

make sure Annie

does her after-school jobs properly

If she doesn't get them right

she must do them again

The sooner she gets used to the routine here

the better

Yes, Teacher

Outside

Janey says

You like school?

Teacher hates my language

Teacher hates my hair

I can't read

I can't write

I shake my head

Janey sighs

Me neither

I like writin' stories and singin' songs

Sums make me brain hurt

Everythin' else makes me tired

Come on, we got jobs!

Doing jobs stops me

thinking of home

for a little bit

Stops me wondering

if Aunty Adie needs help

cleaning the Big House

now I am gone

If Grandpa Mick is planting seeds

in the station vegetable garden

If little sister is crying for me

If I'll ever see Mum again

Stops me missing everyone

but only for a little bit

When jobs are done

Janey says

If ya think about bad things

ya feel badder

How does she know I feel bad?

Janey's stomach grumbles

I'm hungry

Bet you are too

You didn't eat much

breakfast or lunch

It's too soon for dinner

Swallow your spit

and pretend it's juice

from an apple

Sometimes that helps

Now

you wanna help me

find me little brother?

He gets in trouble, Annie