Red Ribbon

Chapter 1 - Dream

Sunshine in the morning
Beam of light through the glass
The reflection fills the room
Sat on the bed
Looked through the window
Flock of budgies
Lifted off the tree
Flew up in the air
Cried
Directly to the mountain.

“Elizabeth!”

Leap as unexpected
Mother called me from downstairs

“I’m coming”

Grab a CD player and a novel from the study desk
Shove into my backpack
And throw it over my shoulder
Climbing down the stairs
Bumped my young sister Ruby
Blind spot from the corner
Wrestling and pushing each other
Giggle and racing to the car
Touched the car back passenger door

“I win”

Ruby beat me
We laughed and hopped into the car
Slammed the door
Put the seat belt on
Dad started the engine
Motor sang like a bird
Radio switch on automatic
I detest the tune
Pulled the CD player out of my backpack
Headphone over my ears
Playing my favourite song
Volume up to a comfortable level
A long journey is beginning
On the road trip with the family.

Bored…

Looked out the passenger window
Window rolled down
Airstream is breezing
My hair in the wind
As a wild flame
Fresh air
Forests pass.

Saw something unusual
Black smoulder
It shifts like a spirit
Through the woods
I never seen this before
I can see the stranger
Standing in the middle of the freeway
Suddenly disappearing
Smoke like a nuclear bomb.

“Daddy, what is that?”
“Can you see this?”
“Is it a big kangaroo or some kind supernatural?”

Everyone is confused
No one answers the question
We are anxious.

A stranger inventive
Looks like a human
Deadly white sallow
Hard to see individual visage
Smoke all over the place like a veil.
Jumped on top of the engine
Thump and wreck
Engine spilled
We are screaming and I hold Ruby’s hand
Tighten my grip
Dad tried manage the skid but jammed
Brakes, the tyres,
Lost control
Bumped and slide
Flipped in the air
Broken glass smashed all over the place
Slice my left shoulder
Blood split everywhere
Crash into the tree
Knocked out…
Black out like dead…

Wake up
Gasp for air
Sweating, shaking and stifling
Panic
Pushed off the wool blanket
Same night terror for eight years
Since my family were killed in the car accident
Room as pitch black
Sound of heavy rainfall
Tapping the window
Waves hit the cliff
Washed off the shore
My head turns to check the time
It was three forty-six in the morning
There are two frames
Pictures of my family and grandpa.

I took a big deep breath
Calm down
Off the bed
Barely foot on the wood floor
Room is half empty
Almost everything in the boxes
Like building bricks
Next to an old wood drawer
I walk out of my room
To the bath room
Switch the light on
Flash and warm up the globe
Become brighter
Turn the tap on from the basin
My hands dip in the cold water
Sprinkled on my face
Feel the fresh
Grab the towel
Dry my face
Eyes staring the mirror
I looked appalling and tired
Red circles under my eyes
Hair a mess in the pony tail
Pulled the rubber band
Dropped down
Long waves over on my shoulder
Right hand holds the basin
I stare in the mirror
A large scar from my right shoulder
Left hand holds my sister Ruby’s favourite necklace
Red crystal on a white gold rope
I sit and curl on the floor titles
It is cold
Head down to knees
Drained out of the tears
Don’t understand why I survived
I should be dead…
Just like rest of my family…
Thunder like drums
Heavy rain and a hailstorm.

Chapter 2 – Farewell

Four hours since I woke from nightmarish
I lived Northeast coast in Northern Ireland
A town called Portrush
Popular for international tourism
Nothing like my old hometown
In Australia
I miss the weather, smell and sound of wild life
But my life drained in Portrush
It was freezing
Looked through the window
Stones fence and rich green grass
Strong current rip
Waves were chopper
No surfing today
I wish I would go to surfing
Clean my mind
Dark grey cloud flowed
Looked like going to rain
In any minutes.

Four months ago
Graduated from Queen’s University in Belfast.
Looking for a job
Until a month ago
I got a job in France.

Cold breathe of breezing
Put on pair of sweaters
And grab the kettle
Filled up from tap
Put top of the store
Flicked the gas on
Matched the stick
Blue blaze
Started to boiled
Steam flow to fan
There are full books in the kitchen
All over the shelf and some on the table
I wasn’t happy when Grandpa put the book on the table
I wish a room for library
We can’t afford to buy or building other room
But soon I move out
My room will be replace to library.

Hear the footsteps approach
Someone wearing moccasin.

Slip.
Slop.
Slip.
Slop.

“You are up early”

Deep Irish accent
Grandpa kissed my forehead
I give him a cuddle
Pale skin with winkle
Short grey hair
Thick glasses with gold frames
Wearing dark red robe with hot pink fur slippers
He can’t find his own mule
And pitched my slippers
He has haze eyes just like my mum
Grandpa is all I have in my family.

He took two mugs from shelf
Put on the diner table.

Whistle louder
Violent steam comes out of kettle
I took the kettle
Put on the cool surface
Switched off the gas
Pick the tea bags from the jam
Throw the tea bags into the cups
Pour the hot water.

“Do you want sugar?”
“No, thank you.”

Pulled a chair and sit on
Grab a handle of mug
Drink my tea slowly
It was hot
I rubbed my eye and then knot my long hair
Grandpa studies my facial.

“You don’t have enough sleep.
I heard you were screaming
while you were sleep.”
“Don’t want to talk about this.”
“I understand how you feel –“
I cut off the conversation

“Can you please drop it?”

Rhythm by tapping
Raining…
Stand up and thrust the chair
Grab a mug
Tip in the sink
Mug shoves into the tub
Storm all the way to my bedroom
Walk into room
Picked up the cardboard
Folded the boxes
Opened the draw handle
Took the clothes
Put into the box
A note fell on the ground
From the drawer
Pick up the note
It was a letter wrote in French
About a new job in Brest
Put on the desk next to bed
A passport, checkpoint card and Channel tunnel ticket.

Gently knocks
I turned and look at the doorway

“Do you need any help?”

I stand and looked at the combination boxes

“Yes, can you put these boxes in the Van?”
“Sure”
“Thanks, Grandpa”

He walks into my room
Not say a word about last night
Lifted a box
Groan noise

“Damn, this box is heavy!”

I ran and help him
We carried the box to the van.

A Volkswagen Kombi van
Murky green side of dehydrated mire
My leg up for holds the box
Free hand grabs the door handler
Slide opened
Inside of van is very clean
Hand grabs the box and my leg into the van
Grandpa free his hands
I lead backward and turn
Put the box on the ground
And dragged all the way back of the van.

“Why your box is heavy?
You got loans of clothes and make-up?”

I laughed

“I packed the bunch of books
and there will be couple more”

He groans

“Alright, I will bring the jeep!
We don’t have to worry carried boxes.”
“You need some serious work out, old man…”
“Hey!”

He mildly punching my arm
We chuckle all the way back to my extent
Carried more boxes
Loads in the vehicle
Full board of packages
Crowed and squared
I slide the door
Closed…

Went back to room
Dig up the handbag
Passport
Wallet
Money
Checkpoint card
Map
Ticket
A job accept letter
Strap over my shoulder
Checked around the block
Make sure I don’t forget
Picked up the car key top of old drawer.

Grandpa has sad face and stared at me
Teardrop
Wipe his face with his jumper
I knew he doesn’t want me to leave
Other side of country
I would misses him very much
Shoved my things in the van
And I turned and give him a good cuddle
My voice whisper near his ear

“I will miss you”
“Call me when you arrive there.
If you don’t like there
You are welcome to stay with me.”

Tears come out of my eyes
I do not want to leave him
I let him go
Hopped into the van
Closed the door
Started the engine
Rolled the window down

“Goodbye, Grandpa”

Started drive
Leaving home
But will be great occupations
For me…