Beside the Brook by Paulette Rae Page B

to explore the sound, but had wanted first to get into a routine with Sarah and her schooling. Sarah had proved to be an astute student. She was keen to learn and worked hard for her seven years. She had a wonderful imagination but was limited to what she wrote about because of her confinement to the same people and surroundings day in and day out. She desperately needed more social contact. Kirsten thought her creative writing would blossom if she had more inspiration.
    Hence, the motivation for the field trip.
    After first telling Craig where they were going, in case anyone came looking for them, they set off in the Toyota. Kirsten had never driven on a shingle road before, much less a road that twisted and turned on what was practically a single lane, rising and falling around each hill like a rickety rollercoaster. She drove slowly, picking her way around the tranquil bays marked with dusty yellow road signs. She soon discovered it was not easy to get lost for the road would on in one direction and there were very few cross roads. Another positive was that oncoming traffic churned up a huge trail of dust, giving Kirsten plenty of time to pull over or slow down.
    After nearly an hour they came into a wide sweeping bay which seemed more densely populated than those they had already passed. The road here had been tar sealed in places and a small community hall set back off the road seemed to be the centre of the community. Next to this were tennis courts and three tiny buildings. Kirsten pulled the car over by the side of the road and stared in surprise. It was a school. Children played on a field, set high above the main room on a large flat area. Young girls donned roller blades and zoomed up and down the pathways, while boys kicked a soccer ball and others played a semi coordinated game of basketball at one end of the tennis courts. A large backboard for this purpose had been erected at either end of the courts, the nets hung in disrepair from much use.
    “Huh, who would have thought,” Kirsten muttered under her breath. Then to Sarah she said, “I don’t suppose you knew there was a school here?”

    Sarah shook her head, but her eyes were fixed on the scene before her as if she had never seen so many children in one place. And of course she hadn’t. Her life was filled with adults and grown up things, with the occasional play date with a girl down the road, thrown in for good measure.
    The handbrake creaked as Kirsten put the car in park. “Do you want to go take a look?”
    Sarah stared at Kirsten as if she had suggested there was a giant spider in her hair.
    “Come on. Let’s go see what the kids are up to.”
    They climbed out of the car and Kirsten felt Sarah take hold of her arm. The thumb of her other hand slid into her mouth as they walked up the steps. The old galvanized gate squeaked on its hinges as they entered, and clunked noisily shut behind them, announcing their arrival.
    They located the small staffroom, where a middle aged man and two portly women sat with hot drinks, enjoying their break from the children.
    “Hi,” the elder of the two women greeted them. “Can we help you?” She looked to be in her mid thirties, which a bush of unruly sand coloured hair. She had a generous figure which had long ago out grown jeans, into wide tracksuit pants and long, loose fitting shirts.
    “Hi, I’m Kirsty and this is Sarah.” She squeezed Sarah’s hand. “We were just in the area and I thought Sarah might enjoy seeing your school.”
    “Great, how old are you, Sarah?” The woman’s knees popped as she brought herself down to Sarah’s level.
    “Seven,” Sarah whispered. She rested her head against Kirsten’s arm for reassurance.
    “Well, my name is Anne, and this is Tania.” She pointed to the younger woman who smiled. “And this man is Gary, he teaches the big kids.”
    “How many children do you have here?” Kirsten asked.
    “We’ve got thirty-three at the moment. Next year we get