Monsoon

by Di Morrissey

  ‘Have you told her?’ said Tom quietly.

  ‘In my own way.’ He looked down at a rose bush. ‘It’s been harder talking to Sandy. She and her brother had a hard time with me. Going to Long Tan was good. Hard, but good for me.’

  ‘You’ll go back?’

  ‘Maybe. I’ve kept in touch with my platoon mates. But Sandy is determined to drag me round the country. Pat’s looking forward to it.’

  ‘How do you feel about her getting married to a Frenchman she hasn’t known very long and living in Vietnam for a bit?’

  Phil lifted his shoulders. ‘It’s her life. I want her to be happy. He sounds a nice enough bloke. We talk on the phone.’

  ‘A lot’s come out of going to Vietnam,’ said Tom. ‘For all of us. You, me, Anna, Sandy . . . Even Carlo seems to have found his feet after a bit of a fall.’

  ‘What’d you get out of it, Tom?’ asked Phil. ‘I figured it was a job for you. Once a journo always one.’

  Tom thought for a moment. ‘I had a few ghosts to lay to rest from the war too. I was sad at what I saw happening to a nation of people with such a wonderful heritage. It’s opened my eyes to how a country can survive such devastation. It also makes you realise the bloody futility of all that fighting.’

  ‘Yeah. I guess I need to spend a bit of time there,’ said Phil and grinned. ‘I might have grandkids there one day.’

  ‘Ah, they tend to come home when the babies arrive. But who’s to know, eh?’

  The two men strolled back to join the group on the verandah.

  Sandy watched her father chatting amiably to Tom. She nudged Anna and nodded towards the two men who’d seen so much and were now looking forward to the calmer years to come.

  ‘What a gift Tom’s been to us,’ she said.

  ‘For sure.’ Anna sighed. ‘I wish my mother was here to share all this.’

  ‘She might be. Remember what the nun told you . . . that she’ll always be around in spirit. I think Aunty Thu is here, too, and that she is very happy you made the journey.’

  Anna touched the chain around her neck with the tiny cross. ‘You’re a good friend, Sands. I’m so glad you dragged me over there. It was a special time.’

  Sandy smiled. ‘It’s not over, Anna. The adventure is just beginning.’

  The End