Rose in Bloom

by Lucia Masciullo

  Father came forward, and grasped Rose’s hands. ‘Well done, Rose. That was absolutely astonishing! Wasn’t it, Elizabeth?’

  Here it came. Mother’s icy tone, her steely glare. But I can face her – I’m not going to be a chicken, Rose thought. She lifted her head, squaring her shoulders.

  ‘Astonishing doesn’t quite describe it, Daniel,’ Mother said.

  To Rose’s amazement, Mother didn’t sound angry at all.

  ‘How did you know to come?’ Rose asked.

  ‘Edward told me,’ Father said. ‘After seeing you play on New Year’s Day, I knew your mother and I just had to come and watch you.’

  ‘You should have told us about it, Rose,’ Mother said sternly.

  Father took her arm. ‘How about we go inside for some tea?’

  During the afternoon tea, Miss Guilfoyle gave out three awards, and Rose received a little silver cup for her bowling. Many people came up afterwards to congratulate Rose and tell her parents how talented she was. ‘You must be so proud of her,’ they said over and over, and Mother would nod and smile and say thank you. Rose kept waiting for her to erupt, but even when Mother saw Rose give Tommy some cakes she’d wrapped up for him, she said nothing. Rose felt on tenterhooks, waiting for a storm that never came.

  At dinner that night, Father told everyone about Rose’s wonderful bowling and Edward winked at her across the table. Finally, Rose was sure everyone was sick of hearing about it and tried to change the subject.

  ‘Has the scholarship fund started yet?’ She launched her question into the space somewhere between Mother and Aunt Alice.

  They glanced at each other, and Mother said, ‘Yes, in fact a luncheon tomorrow will be my first fundraiser. Why do you ask, Rose?’

  ‘I just wondered,’ Rose mumbled.

  ‘Your mother and I have been drawing up a list of pupils at my school who would benefit,’ said Aunt Alice. ‘And looking at which schools would suit them best. Not all schools treat scholarship pupils well.’

  ‘Mine doesn’t,’ Edward said. ‘We’ve had two boys on scholarships this year and they’ve both left.’

  ‘Why’s that?’ Father asked.

  ‘I’ve heard Edward’s school has a problem with bullying,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘We’ve crossed it off our list.’

  Father looked taken aback. ‘Have you had problems, Edward?’

  There was a short silence, then Edward said, ‘Not anymore. Could you pass the mutton, please, Rose?’ Rose took the opportunity to wink back at Edward and grin.

  Later, just as Rose was settling down in bed with a book, there was a light knock and Mother came in.

  Oh dear, thought Rose, here comes the storm. But Mother sat in the chair next to the bed and said, ‘How is your ankle, Rose?’

  ‘Fine, thank you, Mother.’

  ‘Did you enjoy playing cricket today?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You must have been playing for quite a while to be so good.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ What did Mother want? Rose creased the bedcover between her fingers, then smoothed it out again.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Mother said, and sighed. ‘I’m not angry. I just wish you’d told me. When everyone was congratulating us on our wonderful daughter, I felt as though I hardly knew you. That you had shut me out. And it made me sad.’

  Rose bit her lip. ‘I’m so sorry. I was worried you’d stop me from playing, that was all. I promise I’ll tell you in future, really I will.’

  ‘That would be lovely, Rose. I do worry about you, though. About your … prospects. Who on earth is going to want to marry a cricket player?’

  ‘Another cricket player?’ A giggle popped out of Rose, and surprisingly Mother laughed, too.

  ‘You may well be right.’ She frowned. ‘You’ve seemed rather sad lately, my dear. Is something else wrong?’

  Rose looked away. ‘I’ve got a good friend at school, but … she had to leave. And I miss her so much.’ Tears prickled in her eyes. ‘I wanted to ask if I could visit her tomorrow.’

  ‘Hmm, I can see this is important to you.’ Mother hesitated. ‘Very well, you can take the buggy, but Edward must go with you.’ When Rose looked doubtful, Mother added, ‘Don’t worry, if it’s a choice between that and the luncheon, I’m sure he’ll agree.’

  Sure enough, Edward grumbled but he climbed into the buggy with Rose and, once they were away from the house, he persuaded Tommy to let him take the reins. They crossed Hawthorn and clip-clopped over the iron Church Street bridge and on to Prahran. Tommy sat with Rose and chattered away, getting very excited when they passed a motor car on the side of the road.

  But as they drew closer to Abigail’s house, doubts began to wiggle through Rose. What if Abigail wasn’t pleased to see her? She hadn’t said she was coming. What if they weren’t even home?

  7

  Locked Up!

  THE tiny white-painted cottage looked deserted. But Abigail answered Rose’s timid knock, and her face glowed with happiness. ‘Rose! What are you doing here? It’s so good to see you! Do come in.’ She called down the passageway, ‘Mama, look who’s here.’

  Abigail’s mother, Irene, stood in the doorway of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘Rose! How lovely. And who’s that behind you?’

  Edward shuffled forward, his boater hat in his hand. ‘Edward, Rose’s brother. How do you do.’

  ‘Very well, thank you. Is that your stable lad out there? Tell him to come into the kitchen and I’ll make us all some tea. There’s lemonade, too.’

  Rose couldn’t help noticing that there were no cakes or sandwiches with the tea and lemonade, just some water crackers and a sliced apple. She felt guilty about eating their food, realising that maybe there wasn’t much in the cupboards.

  ‘How is school?’ Abigail asked.

  ‘Oh, just the same,’ Rose said. ‘Boring without you.’ She didn’t want to upset Abigail by reminding her of what she was missing.

  But Abigail poked her in the ribs. ‘Don’t fib. Tell me all about the cricket game. Tell me everything!’

  That set Rose off on a long description of the match. It felt like months since she’d seen Abigail, and while her mother listened politely, Edward yawned several times and looked in danger of falling asleep.

  ‘What about you?’ Rose asked. ‘Are you going to school?’

  Abigail shrugged. ‘Sort of. Mama said it was better if I stayed home and she would teach me.’

  ‘Are you still going to the suffragettes’ meetings?’ Rose asked Irene.

  ‘Yes, and I see your aunt there, too.’ Abigail’s mother frowned. ‘She’s looking so tired. We have a protest meeting tonight. I hope she’s coming to that. She has such a level head and can calm people down.’

  ‘Are you going to the fireworks when they open parliament?’ Abigail asked as Rose put on her hat to leave.

  ‘I hope so,’ Rose said. ‘Maybe we can go together.’

  Never mind the fireworks – Rose would rather have Abigail back at school with her.

  When they got home, Rose decided to read a book for the rest of the afternoon, her ankle resting up on a stool, and was startled when her door opened and Aunt Alice peered in.

  ‘Rose, have you been out?’ she said.

  Rose explained about visiting Abigail. ‘Did you know she had to leave St Swithin’s?’

  ‘Yes,’ Aunt Alice said.

  Rose couldn’t keep her idea to herself any longer. ‘Is there any chance Abigail could have one of your scholarships?’

  Aunt Alice rubbed her brow thoughtfully. ‘I don’t know. Your mother was adamant the funds will help the poor. Irene isn’t really poor, just not … wealthy.’

  ‘Oh. But their house is so tiny, and they don’t have food to eat like us.’

  Aunt Alice nodded. ‘Yes, but the house does belong to Irene. Her husband sent back enough money from the goldfields to buy it before he died. That makes a difference.’

  ‘Oh – Abigail never said, but I guesse
d he’d died. How terrible. But it’d be wonderful if Father could pay Abigail’s fees, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘Hmm, Irene wouldn’t accept charity from anyone, I’m afraid. But we’ll see what we can do. Now, I must get ready for the meeting. It’s at the Hawthorn Town Hall this time so it’s close, at least.’

  ‘Will it be rowdy, like that last one?’ Rose asked.

  Aunt Alice sighed. ‘It’ll be fine. I suspect the troublemakers who were going to attend will be put off by having to come so far from the city.’ She smiled. ‘Maybe I’ll take John’s boxing gloves with me.’

  It was all very well to joke, but Rose shuddered. She still remembered the fight that had broken out at the last debate, and how close they’d come to getting hurt, all because some silly men argued and pushed people around. She wanted to go with Aunt Alice, but she knew she wouldn’t be allowed.

  Mother and Father came home for an hour to get dressed, and then they were off again to a dinner in the city, taking Martha with them. Edward and Rose ate their meal of roast chicken and apple pudding on trays in front of the sitting-room fire. Rose thought it was exciting to be trusted on their own, but Edward was like a skittish cat, stalking around the house, picking up books and newspapers and throwing them down again.

  ‘I wish we had a magic slide lantern, or a gramophone,’ he said.

  ‘We have a telephone,’ said Rose.

  ‘Huh. And nobody to call up.’ He peered out of the sitting-room window. ‘At least it’s stopped raining. Hang on, there’s someone running up the driveway!’ Edward went to the front door.

  ‘Don’t let them in,’ Rose called. ‘You don’t know who it is.’

  But the stranger outside rang the doorbell and then pounded on the door.

  ‘It must be urgent,’ Edward said, and opened it. Rose went to join him, staring at a boy dressed in ragged clothes standing in front of them, who seemed to be talking gibberish.

  ‘Slow down,’ Edward said. ‘What do you mean – Miss Alice sent you?’

  Rose sucked in a quick breath. There must’ve been trouble again! She grabbed the boy’s arm. ‘What’s happened to her? Is she hurt?’

  ‘No, ma’am.’ The boy shook his head wildly. ‘Leastways, I don’t think so. But the men were shouting at them sufferin’ women, and there was pushin’ and shovin’, and then the women all sat down in front of the town hall. They said it were a protest. And now she’s been locked up. She sent me to get her brother.’

  ‘Locked up?’ Rose shivered. ‘Why?’

  ‘They all got arrested for disturbin’ the peace, see.’

  ‘That’s so unfair!’ Rose said.

  The boy pulled his sleeve out of Rose’s grip and put his hand out. ‘She promised I’d get a shilling, maybe more.’

  Rose and Edward looked at each other. ‘I don’t have a shilling,’ Rose said. ‘Do you?’

  ‘I’ll get it.’ Edward glared at the boy. ‘Don’t run off until you tell us where she is.’

  ‘Lockup, I told you already,’ the boy whined.

  While Edward went to search for money, Rose said, ‘Where’s this lockup?’

  ‘Behind the police station, Miss, down Burwood Road.’

  Edward came back with a sixpence and a threepence. ‘That’s all I could find. If you come back tomorrow, I’ll give you the rest then.’

  The boy took the coins and ran off.

  ‘We have to go and rescue her,’ Rose said. ‘How dare they arrest her just for sitting down?’

  ‘But he said she was disturbing the peace. We’d better wait until Father gets home.’

  ‘Anything could be happening to her. She might be in handcuffs, or chained up. There might be … rats!’ Rose clenched her hands. ‘You mightn’t care but I do. I’m going to get her out of that awful place.’

  ‘You can’t,’ Edward said. ‘You have to stay here.’

  ‘You just try and make me,’ Rose said. Within minutes, she was warmly dressed, her boots laced, and heading to the stables. Inside she was faced with a choice between Aunt Alice’s bicycle and trying to put a bridle on Ruby and ride her.

  When Edward spoke behind her, she jumped.

  ‘What are you doing now, Rose?’

  ‘I need to get there quickly. It’ll have to be the bicycle.’ That scared her almost as much as climbing onto Ruby’s back. The memory of flying down the hill and falling into the river was still fresh in her mind, but she stepped forward and pulled the bicycle out. John had recently attached a frame and a very large basket to the handlebars and she wondered if she should take it off.

  ‘Here, let me.’ Edward took the bike and wheeled it onto the lawn, then brushed down the seat and sat on it.

  ‘Get off,’ said Rose. ‘I’m in a hurry.’

  ‘If I let you go off on this, Father will string me up on the gum tree out the front.’ Edward sighed heavily. ‘I suppose I’ll have to take you.’

  ‘How?’ Rose said. ‘There’s only one seat.’

  ‘Climb into the basket. It should hold you.’

  At any other time, Rose would’ve argued, but she was desperate to get to the lockup. She eased herself into the basket, which creaked ominously, and clutched the handlebars with one hand. It felt very unsafe, and she hoped he wouldn’t tip her out.

  ‘Don’t jiggle,’ Edward said. He pushed off and slammed his feet against the pedals. The bicycle wobbled, straightened, wobbled, straightened, and they clattered out into the street. At the crossroad, Edward didn’t bother with the brakes, just followed the road in a wide loop and began to pick up speed.

  Rose’s skirts flapped in the wind, and she gasped, ‘Do the brakes work?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve tested them a couple of times. Don’t worry, we’re nowhere near the river.’

  Rose was too busy hanging on to laugh.

  When they reached the town hall, dozens of men and boys were milling around. On the steps stood a row of burly policemen, batons at the ready.

  Rose’s hands were shaking as she climbed out of the basket, and her knees were no better. I can’t let Aunt Alice down, she thought, and squared her shoulders. ‘Right, then.’

  ‘Are you up to this? You look very pale.’

  ‘I’m not a milksop, Edward!’

  ‘Come on, let’s hurry. Maybe we can get Aunt Alice and be home again before Mother and Father.’

  They scurried around the edge of the crowd and saw a police station lamp above the door of a building ahead of them. More policemen stood under it, muttering to each other. Rose marched up to them, praying she looked more confident than she felt, and said, ‘I’ve come to fetch my aunt. Can you tell me where she is, please?’

  A policeman with a huge black moustache stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. ‘You what?’

  ‘Miss Alice McCubbin,’ Edward said. ‘Is she inside?’

  Another policeman with a bushy red beard growled, ‘You young ’uns should be at home.’

  The black moustache bent down towards Rose. ‘No point you being here, Miss. If your aunt is locked up, she’ll need more’n you to get her out.’ He went to pat Rose on the head and she dodged, stumbling, and ended up sitting on the steps between the policemen’s legs.

  ‘Here, don’t put a hand on her,’ said another policeman. ‘You’ll be in trouble.’

  ‘Rose, get up and come here,’ Edward said.

  Rose heard what the policemen were saying, and an idea bloomed in her head. ‘I’m not budging,’ Rose said. ‘I’m protesting. I’m staying right here until they bring Aunt Alice out.’ As a large pair of hands swooped down, obviously intending to lift her out of the way, she shouted, ‘Don’t you dare or I’ll scream and scream, and my father will … make sure you’re punished!’ It sounded weak to her, but it worked. Suddenly the policemen all took a few steps back, leaving Rose in a little cleared space on the steps.

  ‘What on earth is she doing? Get her away,’ said one.

  ‘Can’t touch her,’ said another. ‘You heard what sh
e said.’

  ‘Rubbish. She’s just a child.’

  ‘Exactly. You game to haul a child off to the lockup?’ The policemen muttered to each other and one jangled his handcuffs menacingly. Rose shrank back a little but she stayed sitting.

  A new voice entered the discussion. ‘You lads having a bit of trouble here?’

  Rose looked up. Standing next to Edward was a tall young man in a bowler hat, holding a notebook and pencil, scribbling furiously. The young man called to Rose, ‘Are you staging a sit-down protest, young lady?’

  Rose lifted her chin. ‘Yes, I am. My aunt just wants the right to vote and she’s been locked up! I want her let out, or I’m staying here all night.’

  8

  Saved the Day

  ROSE,’ groaned Edward. ‘Don’t you think …’

  ‘Is your name Rose?’ the young man asked. ‘Rose who? I’m from the Argus newspaper, and this sounds like a great story to me.’

  Behind Rose, a large shape loomed and a stern voice said, ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘It’s her, sir,’ said the black-moustached policeman. ‘She says she’s doing a sit-down.’

  ‘This small girl is causing all this fuss?’

  Suddenly, Rose found someone sitting on the step next to her. It was a policeman, but this one was in tweed, with clear blue eyes that regarded her with interest.

  ‘Now, young lady, what’s this all about?’

  Rose tried to speak, but no words would come out. She coughed, swallowed and tried again. ‘We were told that Aunt Alice had been arrested. Which isn’t fair. It’s those men who cause trouble, just like they did last time.’

  ‘Your aunt is a suffragette?’ the man asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Rose said. ‘And now I understand why. I mean, all those men at the town hall, shouting and pushing, being rude and nasty, but you arrest the ladies. How is that fair?’

  ‘Well, because the ladies did what you’re doing, and sat down and caused a public disturbance. They wouldn’t move when they were asked to. That’s against the law.’

  ‘Oh.’ A cold shiver crawled up Rose’s spine as she imagined herself in a dark cell. Was this policeman going to arrest her, too? Oh goodness, what would Mother and Father say? For a moment, Rose almost gave in and ran all the way home. But as she stretched out her foot, her ankle twinged and she pulled it back sharply.