1973 School Magazine

the new maths they were doing, or perhaps the classes were too large. She doubted if his parents would have much idea about the seemingly round- about new method, which she had gathered from her young brothers and sisters. One hour a week would be enough, just to straighten out the week's work - but the Finleys would not be able to afford a coach for Tim. Now that the netball season was over, Marion had free Saturday momings - perhaps she could offer...no, she was trying to study for Senior, arryway. Looking at her watch, she realized that the Finleys would be home in an hour and she had scarcely even begun her work. After breakfast on Saturday, Marion resolutely turned away from the neat piles of textbooks on her desk, and changed into her togs. As it was a long weekend, she felt justified in accepting Beth's invit- ation to try out their new pool. Doubtless all the other kids in the neighbourhood would feel the same way about the Eastman's generous hospitality, but a crowded pool was better than a crowded desk, especially on such a beautiful morning. After the first thrilling dive and subsequent outlet of high spirits in a brief underwater tackle with her hostess, Marion dodged flailing arms and legs and circumnavigated children performing shoulder dives until she reached the rail. Hauling herself up onto the edge, she dangled her feet in the water and, letting the sun soak into her body, threw back her head just in time to catch a gentle breeze full in the face. She could easily understand why the two birds far up in the blue dazzfe werc soaring and wheeling in such strong,joyous, exultant curves. Even the sturdy yellow wild flower, whose leaves were prickling the palm of

.her,hand, seemed to be reaching up and up into the glorious day! Marion, too, was impelled to stretch up for one more dive. She shot through the water, deep down this time, right beneath the mass of writhing, inter- locked bodies. Suddenly, as she turned onto her back to surface, a cold fear swept through her. Above her was an endless ceiling of movement, but there were no breaks, Frantically, she paddled further along - still no breaks. Her mind seemed empty, so empty that the flashing memories of her whole life did not even begin to fill it - the pleasant ramble of pre-school days, the childish bustle of primary school, first day at high school - and there was no future - no more hours of study, no more babysitting, Mum would never get the vase she was making for her birthday. She was not afraid of death, only...life had been so short...she had achieved so little... The terrific pain in her lungs made her powerless to preventherself frombeing carried up, from crashing into someone's"back - and breaking through into the air. With one arm flung over the pool edgtng, and the other hand clutching the rail, Marion found herself staring at a little yellow wild flower, bobbing on its stout stem. She raised her head, and the two birds were still gliding as gracefully as they had been - only five minutes ago? "Hey, what happened? Are you all right?" called Beth. "Nothing; I'm O.K." she answered, her incredulous gaze still fixed on the birds. But something had happened - and Tim was going to get his maths coaching every saturday' Helen Gehrmann. vIA

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