WRONG WAY - GO BACK

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey Eden was rhythmically chopping carrots. She often prayed for the blessing of God on the food she helped prepare. Today though, images crowded her mind, her tiny lost son, so perfect in death. Then her kind, beautiful husband's face twisted in pain, looking at her with such love.         She saw again her little girl, so full of sweetness and promise, torn from her by the cruel storm. She knew they were with Jesus, but she felt so alone.     There was a shadow over her. Glancing up, she saw the heavy shape of her boss. He glared at her. "Yes, Mr. Ahmed," she spoke hesitantly. "Yes, Mr. Ahmed," he echoed mockingly. "You brought the police here, woman," he accused. "You send them away again or...." He drew his finger across his throat. Eden almost rolled her eyes at his dramatic threat, but stifled the action just in time.     She knew 'Ahmed' was not his real name. "Real names is trouble,...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey James Roberts shuffled some papers on his desk. He had a job to do he didn't much like. He switched off the computer, fiddled with a pen, rubbed at some dust. Finally he pushed his chair back and left the room.     On his way out he paused to congratulate Blanche Isaacs. It had been clever of her to follow the little refugee boy and the big man.     She beamed at his praise. "Are you going to see the lady who called us?" she asked. He looked at her dark smooth skin and warm brown eyes. "Yes," he said, heavily, and sighed.     "Could I come?" The older man considered and nodded. Blanche was ready almost at once, pausing only for her cap and to turn off her iPad.  She liked the big imposing man. He had a conscience, which was rare.

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey Eden was clutching the phone. It had taken all her courage and much prayer to call. Finally she was put through to someone in authority.     He heard her hesitant story, prompting her at intervals, asking questions softly as though sensing her nervousness. The inspector was very good at assessing character and was seldom wrong.     Finally he decided to share with the woman. "Eden," he began, "I believe you are telling the truth. We are aware that few refugee boats actually make it to that harbour, and a few children disappear for want of a better word. "However,"  as he heard her quick intake of breath, "even one is one too many."     "I believe you yourself are a refugee - no, I have no intention of reporting you, but you must get proper authorisation to stay here." "There is a little boy," Eden ventured. "The old man says he is 'Uncle' but he is not." Tears choked her, but...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey Uncle came back. Taking a deep breath, Eden told him her story and the story of Jesus.  "But, how can you believe in this....this God, after all He has made you suffer? It don't make sense." "God did not do it," Eden replied. "Evil men and women are responsible." She looked straight at him. "He will help and accept you if you turn from your bad ways and ask Jesus to help you."     She forestalled his next objection. "It's never too late to change. Now I must go." She took care not to be followed.     Over the next few months the woman did her best for the little boy and also she looked for Alice,  asking at the school. All they would tell Eden was that she had been placed in care. So Eden reassured the small Eddie she would look also for his sister.     When Eddie could slip away, he also looked at different schools, wishing he could go to school also. By now he was nearly four.     Once he...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey After a week she felt strong enough to see the boy.  He wasn't there.      "We passed him on," Uncle said, avoiding her gaze! "Sold him," she answered bitterly, "you sold him?" "So," the man said gruffly, "you pay more, I can keep him here - you didn't come back, after all!"     Eden sat down on a broken chair. She felt sick and weak. "Uncle" leaned out of the door which hung at a slight angle, causing people to stumble when they unexpectedly came in and down a steep step.     "Hooker!" he yelled. "Get the boy. Lady here made a better offer!"  "I want my share," growled the tough-looking man of around thirty. He wore flashy rings, but his clothes were shabby. "I'm not getting him back without some more..."     Uncle glanced at the slim woman, slumped on the dilapidated chair, and felt an unusual twinge of compassion. "She ain't g...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK By Tessa Harvey A few months later she woke up from a bright dream. Her baby boy was smiling up at her, clutching her finger. Little Susi was leaning over her lap, trying to get the tiny boy to notice her.     He did, and chuckled, grasping her thumb. Susi gasped in surprise and happiness. The baby couldn't hurt, but held her so tightly. Then Dali came, so proud to see the three of them together. He swept his arms around them, wordlessly, face alight with happiness     But then the dream faded. Eden shivered so hard, her teeth rattled, then she was so hot she tried to throw off the ragged blankets, but couldn't. There was a knock at the door and her landlady came in.     "Thought you wasn't up," she said roughly. "What's wrong. 'Ere you ain't got Covid, 'ave yer?" Her voice rose, belligerent and sharp. Her eyes searched the room and saw money. Through blurred vision, Eden saw her take some "for the doctor." ...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey For weeks Eden came regularly to visit the boy. Usually she waited until "Uncle" was out.      But one day, he came back unexpectedly. He stood staring at her, menacing and tall. The small woman stood her ground. "Why did you take him?" she asked firmly. "He is not yours, is he?"      The big man slumped down on an old crate. It said "Ceylon" on the side. Very old, Eden thought, distractedly. "No, but I lost my son to disease, so I needed another one. I will train him to be useful."     "Thieving," thought Eden, but said nothing. "So where do you work," Uncle asked - but Eden evaded the question. It was important not to trust everyone. "I will come back with food," she said firmly.     And, hugging the boy, she promised to come back. He cried a little, but nodded, saying nothing. Her heart wept for him, but she had nowhere for him. Her tiny room was too small. She wor...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey It took all her money to book a place on the rickety boat waiting at the coast. The cost was exorbitant, but none of them had had a choice. The voyage had been terrible.     No matter how hard she had clung to her daughter, the storm had torn her away savagely. Helping the children had come naturally to her. Her son had died in childbirth. Now as she watched that man take Eddie - stuffing some kind of sweetmeat in his mouth, she felt once again helpless. "I will come back for him," she whispered softly to herself. But it had not been possible to keep Alice, after all.     The shock of seeing her brother snatched away seemed to have drained her of all life. She did all she was told, ate, cared for her normal necessities and slept, but otherwise she just stared, unseeing.     Reluctantly, the woman left her at a nearby school, instructing an older student to take her to the principal.     Then Eden went to ...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey When the boat limped into harbour, There seemed there was more water in the boat than out. A broad, tall, dark-complexioned man scanned the voyagers carefully. He saw Eddie. "That one mine," he averred and reached down for the boy.     No-one challenged him. Eden thought he was a relative and waited for him to claim the girl, but he did not. He looked at her dismissively, noticing the blank stare and assessing her usefulness.     Eden, helpless, closed her eyes, remembering she had looked down at her dying husband. The tears refused to come. She leaned closer to listen to his whispered voice. "If you get the chance, marry someone else." Seeing her  shake her head, Dali added, "You look so pretty." He sighed, sadly. "Feed the last animals," he whispered. "Get our money and take Susi and go love."     Now the tears came, flowing soundlessly down her tired face. "They will come back. You cannot s...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey ALICE     We tried to play games with Eddie - string games, clapping games, I spy games, though there wasn't much to see, just our boat sputtering across a huge amount of water. I looked and still couldn't see ancestors, so I stopped praying.     Then the engine spluttered and made some strange noises and then stopped. You could hear the boat creaking, people whispering. The ones in charge looked very angry, but also afraid, which made them snappy and cross.     Someone pleaded for water for her child. No!" a man said loudly. The sky turned very dark and a bit orange.     "Quick," the people said, " try and catch water. Bowls, hats, empty tins for bailing all held out hopefully.     Then the rain came, slashing at us. We huddled close to our parents, afraid. There was jagged bright lightning and deep crashes of thunder. Soon there was so much water in the boat. We drank as much as we could and ...

WRONG WAY - GO BACK   By Tessa Harvey ED     "Hurry up," the boat man said. His face looked angry, scrunched up. Dad lifted me up and held me out for someone to catch.     I was stiff and afraid. The water looked dark and deep. The boat smelled bad. Then dad swung Alice into the boat. She was bigger than me, but still scared. I could tell.      Last dad helped mum. The boat man looked even more angry and glared at my parents. "You didn't pay extra," he growled. "We didn't know extra," dad answered calmly. "Well, no extra care," "That's fine," said dad. The quarrel faded before it began. I didn't know why my mum had god fat. We didn't have much food. All our money was for the boat. It wasn't big, though. There was no shade for most of us.     Not much water. Not much food. Dad and mum held us close. Then we moved away across the water, the endless sea. Some birds called and flew away. The boat bounced on the wave...