Splintered Lives by Carol Holden Page B

of travel was time consuming.   Julian hoped that the airport would have re-opened by the time Joe and Mary arrived.     
     
    There was a thick fog in Kathmandu the following morning because of all the pollution and the plane was delayed.   The troubled parents had to wait endlessly for the air to clear before the plane could take flight.   Eventually it was time to take to the air and the white mountaintops stood magnificently over the lower greener hills and the beauty of the place enthralled Joe and Mary.
     
    “If only we had come before “, mutters Joe almost to himself.
     
    “I can’t believe the splendour of it all,” says Mary, as she feels sad because of the circumstances of their journey.
     
    “Sarah must love it here” she whispers to Joe.   “Perhaps not any more because of her loss of Taj          
     
    They arrive at the airfield and as they step off the plane they feel the immensity of the tragedy.   They stand close together as if their nearness will protect them from the awful hollow feelings they have.   They know no one and the strangeness of the place, makes them feel helpless.   There is a taxi outside the airport and they ask the driver if he will take them to a suitable hotel.
     
    “The only suitable hotel in Pokhara for Western tourists is the Fishtail Lodge” they are told.
     
    They are taken to the edge of the lake where the boat is tied and a porter from the Lodge helps them to place their luggage into it.   They marvel at the surrounding views and begin to understand the enthusiasm of their younger daughter and the love she has for this heavenly place.
     
    They settle in to their allocated room at the hotel where they quickly freshen up, ready for the next step of their journey.   Joe makes his way to the Reception so that he may find some information about the way that they can go up the mountain, to find their lovely daughter. They can hire a four- wheel drive vehicle belonging to the hotel that will take them on their sad journey.
     
    Sarah had just arrived home from school, where she had tried to keep her thoughts on the work she was doing with the children but was having little success.   Her class was aware of her unhappiness and had acted with sympathy, giving her gentle smiles and looks.
     
      There was a gentle tap on her door.   She can’t believe her eyes when she sees her parents there on her doorstep.
     
    “My God.” she cries.   “However did you get here, I’m so glad to see you both,” she says as she falls into her parents’ arms and sobs as though her heart will break.   Her father gently leads her inside and sits her down with her mother who cannot let her go.
     
    Joe can see how hard this loss is for Sarah and on no account are they leaving her here on her own.   He gathers her few belongings together and ushers Mary and Sarah into the four-wheel drive and they descend the mountain for the last time.   He takes them back to the hotel and then contacts Julian to tell him that they are taking Sarah home.  
     
    “May I use your telephone again,” he asks the receptionist at the hotel desk.   “I need to book plane tickets to Kathmandu.”
     
    “Of course” she replies.   “I will do it for you if you wish.”
     
    “Do you want the first flight I can get or would you rather wait until tomorrow?”   She asks.
     
    “Tomorrow will be best so that we can rest before starting on our long journey.” He replies
     
    “I’ll get on to it and let you know.” She smiles kindly at Joe and proceeds to telephone the airport.
     
    Joe goes back to the room and he decides that they will stay together for the night as there are two queen size beds in the room and he doesn’t want Sarah to be alone.  
     
    He arranges room service for a meal and they settle down eventually to sleep.
     
    Mary holding Sarah in her arms until they finally sleep.
     
    We arrive home after a long journey, exhausted, and after a cup of tea, we