Kendra

by Jane Keehn

  Kendra was wearing Emily’s red jacket, the one that had covered her nakedness.

  She hid her face under the jacket hood as she observed Emily at work.

  A Maritime Centre shirt's cuffs hung loosely at Emily’s wrists as she pointed out features of the exhibition with her with ink-stained nails.

  A chunky metal diver’s watch with a leather strap wrapped itself around her left wrist making Emily’s hands seem elegant against its weight.

  Emily went to the computer desk, watching the kids react to the simulation of the hundred-year-old storm. Photographs of her grandmother, Meg faded into earlier images of her growing up in Mandalay, imagined scenes that Emily’s had carefully edited into the slide show.

  Emily had created the visuals using photographs from the museum’s donated collection. She’d scanned them into manipulation software to project the faces of the drowned over the storm which was footage she’d filmed from her platform lookout.

  Sound effects of blasting winds whipping through the masts had been made using computer recordings from her kayak.

  Emily flicked a switch on the electric control panel and the replica ship started swaying on hidden beams balanced in the hull of the ship on metal cranks.

  The class of children held tight to their sailor chairs while they giggled with surprize at the sudden movement.

  Melanie smiled approvingly.

  Kendra swayed forward from her hiding spot taking in the images flashing over the ship’s replica.

  She leant forward on one of her crutches and watched closely as Emily moved from her seat and approached the deck, gripping onto the ropes for balance.

  Standing firmly with the storm projected all around her, Emily watched her grandmother’s ten-year-old likeness flung overboard on a violent wave.

  As the front of the ship dipped dangerously into the ocean, the mermaid figurehead was dunked so strongly into the oncoming wave, that her back cracked from its holding position and her split double-ended tail came apart.

  The child, Meg was flailing in the ten-foot waves as the Mandalay’s mermaid thrust forward through the storm bobbing up suddenly near the young girl’s outstretched hands.

  Meg wiggled her fingers, pushing herself against the waves until her arms could wrap themselves around the "Mandalay Mermaid"’s neck, gripping against the ripples of wooden hair.

  With thrusts from her scrambling legs, the animated image of Meg hoisted herself out of the water and wrapped herself around the bobbing figurehead. Looking around her for other survivors but seeing no one, Meg made the decision to hold on to the wooden mermaid and use it to save herself.

  A child gasped, and Emily’s animation ended with the image of Meg floating towards the Mandalay Bay shoreline gripping onto the figurehead as the cog works on the ship replica tipped the hull forward, simulating the wreckage sinking to the bottom of the bay.

  Kendra moved away from the wall until she was near an exhibition cabinet that held lines of silver Dutch coins.

  She rested a hand on top of the cabinet to hold her balance and gazed at Emily.

  The children clapped politely.

  - Was that Real 3D?

  Emily grinned.

  - No. I don’t even know what that is, but no.

  In just one month it will be a full moon and the centenary of the Mandalay wreck. If you go to Meg’s Cove on that day, you’ll see the tops of the masts of the real Mandalay ship poking through the waves.

  Some of the kids murmured excitedly and Melanie walked to the rope ladder, ready to lead them out into the main gallery for the continuation of their visit.

  Emily gave them all a round of applause.

  - Thanks for your attention and I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit here at the Mandalay Coastal Maritime Centre.

  Bring your parents next time and don’t forget to look out for the wreck next month on the full moon.

  Melanie followed the last child out of the doorway and began to lead them to their next destination. She turned to smile at Emily.

  - Well done, Em. It looked amazing. I think they really enjoyed it and were even a tiny bit scared.

  - Thanks Melanie.

  Emily touched the back of Melanie’s shoulder as she left with the class.

  She moved towards the computer desk to turn off the projector when she noticed a figure standing at the coin display in the middle of the gallery.

  Thinking it was one of the primary school teachers, she swung around to face the woman and flicked the wall’s light switch.

  - Melanie’s just taken the class through to the cafeteria, if....

  Kendra’s ash hair and pale eyes came into Emily’s view.

  Emily thought she’d seen this teacher before but when the lights caught the short, wind-blown hair and shone on the metal rods draped over her arms, she realised why the visitor was familiar.

  As was the red jacket she was wearing.

  - Hello. It’s you...and my jacket.

  Kendra shuffled forward, her crutches banging against the jarrah beams of the floor.

  - Yes, thanks for letting me use it...that day.

  Emily’s mind drifted to the scene of her near drowning and her naked saviour’s body tattoos.

  Kendra balanced her rods against the coin cabinet and began to take the jacket off.

  Emily inched closer.

  - Why don’t you keep it?

  She liked giving gifts.

  Kendra continued to remove her other arm from the jacket sleeve.

  - No, really, I don’t need it.

  She held it out waiting for Emily to come closer and take it from her hand.

  Emily’s mind raced to some work duties she needed to complete before the end of the day.

  She looked down at her watch – she could spare ten minutes.

  - So you remembered where to find me?

  Kendra’s eyes darted around the replica lingering on the figurehead mermaid.

  - I just wanted to know that you were okay and return your jacket.

  - Thanks, I’m glad.

  Emily was intrigued.

  - What about you? What's happened to you? You didn’t have … the crutches that day.

  Kendra gripped onto the handles.

  - I’ve always had them, since I was a child.

  Emily gently took the jacket from Kendra’s slight grip.

  - You look different.

  - You look… good…the cut on your face is…

  Kendra went to run her finger along the fine scar but under Emily’s gaze, she had to look away, her thoughts too close to the surface of her eyes.

  - Yeah, I’m fine, thanks to you. And Leo. I suppose...

  Emily touched the back of her hand against the scar.

  Look can I thank you in some way? Do you want to grab some lunch? I could take an early break and go outside for ten minutes?

  Kendra clutched her sticks.

  - No, it’s okay. I really just wanted to give this back to you.

  She was running out of words.

  Emily draped her jacket over her arm and smiled, leaning toward Kendra.

  - Are you sure you didn’t just want an excuse to see me again?

  Kendra smiled. Something pulsed inside her at Emily’s attempt at humour.

  - Actually, I was hoping to see your dog with you. Is he doing alright?

  - Sure, Leo’s always good.

  Emily couldn’t stop staring at the strange pale face of this new acquaintance.

  She wished they could stand here all day, smiling at one another.

  Emily shot a glance at her wrist watch.

  - Unfortunately, I’ve got to get back to work soon but if you can come back at five o’clock we could...I could take you to dinner or we could walk over to the Fun Fair at the Esplanade and talk?

  Kendra hesitated, slowly tapping the tip of one of her crutches on the floor.

  - I should really go home.

  She could not get too close. If her secret was revealed her exist
ence would be dragged down like an animal in a zoo.

  And yet, something made her look at Emily. Something made her hesitate.

  Kendra was lost for something to say. She caught the glint of aged-battered metal clasped around Emily’s wrist.

  - I like your watch.

  - It was my Grandfather’s.

  Emily breathed out, her mouth flattened almost to a frown.

  Kendra's eyes prickled with indecision but her voice too action.

  - Okay.

  Emily’s eyes widened.

  - Okay?

  - I’ll meet you.

  Kendra got the words out quickly, before she had time to change her mind.

  - Great! At the front entrance, five fifteen?

  - Yes, I'll meet with you.

  - Great.

  Emily was about to walk away when she turned and held a hand to her head as though she’d forgotten something.

  - I’m Emily, by the way. What’s your name?

  Kendra was still staring at her.

  - I know; Meg’s Granddaughter. I’m Kendra.

  - Kendra? Unusual.

  Emily repeated the name, feeling the placement of it between her teeth so she wouldn’t forget it.

  - It’s an old family name.

  - Okay, Kendra – see you again, soon.

  Emily spent the rest of the afternoon quickly finalising her projects on the computer archive and in the wood-working gallery.

  Melanie walked past the corridor of the archive collection but doubled back when she noticed Emily browsing at a photo drawer.

  - Hey, Emily. What did that teacher say to you after the wreck simulation? Was she part of the disability awareness program?

  Emily flipped a photo into an envelope and turned to Melanie.

  - No, she wasn’t a teacher.

  - Really? You seemed to know her from somewhere.

  - Yeah, we met at the caves last week. I did something stupid and she…Kendra was there and...

  - And, what?

  Melanie stood with a hand on one hip.

  Emily glanced at her watch for the tenth time that last hour.

  - Nothing...I owe her a favour, that’s all.

  Melanie stared into Emily’s face looking for clues.

  - She likes you, doesn't she?

  - No! We only just met.

  Melanie folded her arms and smiled.

  - Since when has that stopped you?

  - Give me a break, Melanie.

  Melanie leant against the door frame.

  - I’ve got a meeting in five. Have fun.

  She swung around on her heels and clomped down the corridor to the meeting room.

  Emily watched until she was out of view.

  - Yeah. I might.

  Kendra – Emily - Chapter 13

  Kendra sat on a low stone fence opposite the museum entrance.

  She dangled her legs in time to a tune that kept flowing through her head...the one Emily had been singing at the karaoke pub.

  - Oceans apart, two lives together my destiny…

  She tried to retrieve the lyrics as she watched the door open and close to the staff leaving the building for the day.

  She felt a heartbeat of familiarity when Emily appeared in the doorway, her dark hair jutting over her forehead like a wave about to break.

  Emily's lithe body, clad in jeans and her work shirt, took large strides, two steps at a time, down the front entrance of the Museum, scanning the surroundings.

  Kendra felt slightly guilty admiring Emily's confident outline; her quite-nice bottom in those jeans; it was one of the most pleasing things Kendra had ever seen and her face warmed as Emily smiled and waved.

  She loved the way Emily’s footsteps were strong and made a steady rhythm on the cobblestone path with her boots.

  Emily came close to Kendra as though positioning herself for some kind of physical greeting that Kendra was not familiar with.

  Kendra swivelled on the crutches and moved slightly out of reach. Emily took the chance to adjust her welcome and instead pointed to the silhouette of a lizard against the red and yellow stripes on Kendra’s t-shirt.

  - Good band - Frilly Lizzy. Did you see them when they played Wave Rock?

  - No. I just liked the picture on the front; I found this on the beach. Is that what it is? A band?

  Kendra pulled the front of the t-shirt out and hunched her shoulders and lowered her face to look at it again.

  - Yeah. Four cool chicks from Freo.

  Emily looked quizzically at Kendra and tilted her head slightly.

  - Hungry? I know a place...let’s go.

  She held out her hand for Kendra to take, but her hands were already on the grips of her crutches.

  Kendra's smile was brief. The type of smile she’d seen on people queuing for the Mighty Mouse roller coaster - unsure of what was in store.

  She had to gallop a bit faster on her crutches to keep up with Emily, who quickly learned to slow her strides so they could walk side by side.

  They made their way to a cafe seat under a tree pinned with tiny outdoor lights that shone like a glowing jelly fish.

  Kendra stowed her crutches under the table as she looked up at the shining branches. Emily admired the way Kendra's profile shone under the glow.

  The cool light hair that swept up from behind her neck like a sun-bleached conch shell embracing the tanned skin of her face.

  The shy, pearl iris of her serious eyes, staring away from Emily's gaze.

  - I love how everything stays open later when the Fair’s in town.

  Have you been yet?

  Kendra touched an earring.

  - Yes, I come here sometimes to sell my things.

  A glistening chain caught Emily's glance. It reached behind the hair at the base of Kendra's neck.

  - Did you make the necklace too?

  Dangling on the end of the chain was a ragged tooth of scrimshaw carved with black ink lines and dots. It was like nothing Emily had ever seen.

  During her years at the museum she’d seen many strange and fascinating objects, but this was unique; she couldn’t make out what animal the tooth had been taken from.

  - Where did you get it?

  Kendra reached for the inked tooth.

  - My parents gave it to me.

  Emily reached for the pendant too, briefly brushing Kendra’s fingertips.

  - Do you mind if I take a look at it?

  - Sure.

  Kendra dislodged the safety catch and transferred the pendant into Emily’s outstretched hand.

  Emily turned the horn or tooth over in her hand, feeling the weight, examining the side markings. The main face had a series of straight lines and black inked dots.

  - Star sign?

  Emily asked.

  - What’s that?

  Kendra asked shyly.

  - You know - when you were born? Are the markings from Astrology?

  Kendra shook her head.

  - I don't know enough about it.

  - I don't recognise the markings, but this looks like a constellation. It's pretty old. Did your parents ever say where they got it?

  - Not really, just from their family.

  - In the family? Do you know if it’s a tooth or a horn? I can’t think of anything in the collection at work that looks remotely like this.

  She twisted the scrimshaw between her fingers.

  - Do you know anything else about it?

  Emily asked her, holding up the artefact by its gold chain, twirling it in the light, watching it spin.

  Kendra looked at Emily’s intrigued face and it occurred to her that Emily’s museum might hold some tiny scrap of information about the scrimshaw and therefore, her Mother's tribe.

  She swallowed hard with excitement.

  - Could you show me the ones in your museum?

  Emily raised her eyebrows.

  - Show you? What?

  Kendra decided to ignore her mothers’ advice; she needed to get to know Emily.
>
  - Other chains like this. Other bones or teeth. It might tell me something about my family history.

  Emily edged closer in her seat.

  - What don’t you know?

  - Just about everything. My parents died when I was nine. This is one of the only things I have to remember them by.

  - I'm so sorry. What happened?

  Emily looked to Kendra’s crutches. Kendra had not told her life story to anyone.

  - They drowned in a fishing boating accident during the Oil Rig explosion. I got swept away and was somehow saved.

  Emily shuffled in her seat.

  - I don’t usually talk about it, but my parents were working on the Sunshine rig when the accident happened. I lost them both, too.

  - Oh, no. I didn’t realise.

  Kendra’s thoughts were flooded by the black water memories.

  Her Mothers hadn’t really been in a boat, but they had been fishing and had been too close to the Sunshine Petrol Rig Works.

  - Obviously, you know how that is. At least I had my grandmother to take care of me.

  The café staff came by to take their order, interrupting the flow of memories.

  They waited for their order to arrive.

  Emily handed the chain back to Kendra.

  - After we eat, we could go have a look at something.

  - At the museum?

  - No, right here on The Esplanade. Every year, the Fair has a kind of Side Show. There might be something you’d be interested in…?

  Kendra couldn’t imagine what Emily could show her that she hadn’t already seen.

  - Alright. Are you sure you don’t have something better to do?

  A half-smile lurched on Emily’s face.

  - Well, I just have to go home to feed my dog, Leo, at some point.

  You could come with me. I’m sure he’d love to see you again and I could log into the Centre’s digital database from my laptop – look at some other scrimshaw images?

  Kendra’s head felt light with too many decisions.

  - Maybe.

  Their food arrived. They smiled and ate, filling in the silences with small talk about the flashing lights and loud pop music of the Fun Fair’s rides.

  When they had finished eating, Kendra held the pendant up to Emily's gaze.

  - Could you fasten this for me?

  Emily quickened at the chance of brushing the hair back from Kendra’s neck and dangling the chain around it.