Sister Heart by Sally Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

Margy’s bed
    do jobs
    go to school
    eat stinky soup
    help Tim
    get bossed by Nancy
    Same
    but not the same
    Not without Janey
    I dream I tell Mum about Janey
    Dream she holds me
    Dream I am crying
    I wake up
    Crying

    I sit in the crying tree
    looking out at the bush
    watching birds
    insects
    lizards
    Like I used to
    with Janey
    Wildflowers are fading
    No more billy buttons
    pepper and salt
    bacon and eggs
    boronia
    No more Janey
    talking
    giggling
    whispering in my ear
    Tim finds me in the tree
    crying for home
    crying for family
    crying for Janey
    crying for him
    crying for me
    He slips in beside me
    You watchin’ the bush, Annie?
    Won’t see no more flowers
    they all gone
    Look, Tim
    I open my hand
    He gasps
    The last billy button!
    Tim looks at me
    eyes wet and shining
    We gunna give it to Janey?

    We lay the last billy button
    on Janey’s grave
    So bright
    here
    in this place
    It’s a smile
    A sad smile
    but a good sad smile
    Like Janey
    smiling at us for the last time
    Like us
    crying our hearts out
    but smiling back
    Tim stands tall
    I ain’t a baby no more!
    I don’t forget what Janey told me
    I got country
    I got family
    Dad’s tall as a gum tree
    and he’s a good bushman
    Mum likes blue dresses and cuddles
    Granny Alice sings real sweet
    and drinks black tea
    I remember, Annie!
    I nod
    I remember my family too
    Mum’s high voice
    bright as the stars
    Little sister’s sloppy kisses
    Aunty’s hugs
    Uncle’s bush food
    Grandpa’s jokes
    Granny’s stories
    My mum will tell little sister
    Big sister has curly hair
    And she’s a fine singer
    My mum will tell her
    like Janey told Tim
    They won’t forget me
    I won’t forget them

    A kookaburra calls
    KOO – KOO – KAA – KAA
    The bird skims the treetops
    swoops low over me and Tim
    soars away
    Tim’s eyes go big
    Janey loved kookaburras
    They special to her
    like mudlarks are special to me
    What you think, Annie?
    Is sister flyin’ home?
    Tears stream down my cheeks
    Yeah, Tim
    she’s gone home
    We gaze after the kookaburra
    You know what, Annie?
    Someday
    I’ll grow me own feathers
    Fly home to Mum and Dad
    and Granny Alice
    like Janey wanted
    I give Tim a shaky smile
    If birds have wings
    so do songs
    Tonight
    when all the girls are sleeping
    I will send a song
    on the moonlight
    to my mum
    She will hear my song in a dream
    Listen to my voice
    Know it’s me
    I will sing
    I am not lost, Mum
    Watch for me
    Someday
    I am coming home
    Tim looks up at me
    Home’s waitin’ for us, Annie
    And we are waiting for home
    I squeeze his hand
    Someday, Tim
    we’ll all fly free

    Sally Morgan was born in Perth, in 1951.
    She has published books for both adults
    and children, including her acclaimed
    autobiography,
My Place
.
    Sally is also a celebrated artist and has works
    in many private and public collections.

First published in 2015 by
    FREMANTLE PRESS
    25 Quarry Street, Fremantle 6160
    Western Australia
    www.fremantlepress.com.au
    Copyright © Sally Morgan, 2015.
    The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
    This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
    Cover design by traceygibbs.com.au.
    Printed by Everbest Printing Company, China.
    National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-publication data
    Morgan, Sally, 1951– author.
    Sister heart / Sally Morgan.
    ISBN 9781925163131 (hbk)
    Children, Aboriginal Australian—Juvenile fiction.
    Children, Aboriginal Australian—Institutional care
    â€”Juvenile fiction.
    A823.3
    Publication of this title was assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

    Fremantle Press is supported by the State Government through the Department