Rose in Bloom

by Lucia Masciullo

  No, she wouldn’t give in! She’d played in the cricket game against all odds, and this was a hundred times more important. If this was her chance to show that she believed that women were equal to men, she was staying put.

  ‘You’d better arrest me, too, then,’ she said. ‘Rose,’ Edward wailed. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Standing up for what’s right,’ she said.

  ‘Would you rather I borrowed your gloves and punched someone?’

  ‘No, thank you,’ the policeman said. ‘Look, why don’t you come inside with me, and we’ll sort something out.’

  Rose stared at him suspiciously. ‘Are you telling the truth? You’re not playing a trick?’

  ‘No, I’m not.’ He helped Rose to her feet.

  Edward rushed over and they followed the man into the station. Their feet tapped on the dark linoleum, and Rose felt the grey walls closing in on her. The front counter was too high for her to see over. They were told to sit on a hard wooden bench and wait; Rose perched right on the edge, trying not to look at the man sprawled drunkenly on the other end.

  ‘What’s that terrible smell?’ Rose whispered to Edward.

  ‘I think it’s him. He’s been sick.’

  Rose’s stomach twisted, and she put her handkerchief over her nose. The clock on the wall ticked through another ten minutes. Where was Aunt Alice?

  ‘Rose! What are you doing here?’ Aunt Alice emerged from a corridor on their left. Her hair was falling down and her clothes looked dishevelled, but she was smiling and holding out her arms – Rose rushed to her.

  ‘I thought they’d never let you out!’ She hugged Aunt Alice as hard as she could, nearly knocking her over.

  ‘Edward, you’re here, too,’ Aunt Alice said when she could breathe again. ‘Where’s your father?’

  ‘He and Mother are out.’ He folded his arms. ‘Rose decided she must come and rescue you.’

  ‘Oh, Rose, I could’ve waited another hour or two.’ Aunt Alice hugged her again, murmuring in her ear, ‘But I’m ever so glad you’ve come.’

  Rose glowed inside.

  ‘Ahem.’ It was the tweedy policeman. ‘You will need to appear in court on Monday, Miss.’

  ‘I’ll be there,’ Aunt Alice replied.

  ‘They won’t lock you up again, will they?’ Rose asked anxiously.

  ‘No, it’ll be our chance to be heard,’ her aunt said. ‘Now, where can we find a cab?’

  It wasn’t long before the cab delivered them back to the house, the bicycle tied firmly on behind. Just as the driver was lifting it down, a carriage came through the gates.

  ‘Hang on to your hats, we’re in trouble now,’ Edward said.

  Lined up along the bottom step, Rose thought they must look like a bunch of criminals, but Mother didn’t seem to notice that they had been away from home. Not so Father. He looked them over and said, ‘I think I’ll need a brandy before I hear this story.’

  In the sitting room, with the fire burning and hot tea on a tray, the police station was like a distant dream to Rose, but listening to Aunt Alice’s description of the night’s events made it very real again. The suffragettes had been heckled right from the speaker’s first words, and a group of men had starting shouting. So six of the suffragettes had left the hall and sat down, arms linked, on the steps outside, making sure the Argus reporter was recording the details.

  ‘Then the police arrested us – for our own safety, they said – and took us to the station. I managed to get a lad to come here with a message so you wouldn’t worry.’

  Father looked from Aunt Alice to Edward and Rose. ‘So how did you get out and make your way home, Alice? Did they let you go?’

  ‘Well, yes. I had some help …’

  Mother frowned, and eyed Rose’s coat on the chair and her boots still on her feet. ‘Where have you been, Rose?’

  Edward butted in. ‘The lad who came with the message made it sound like Aunt Alice was in danger. We thought we should help.’

  Aunt Alice said hastily, ‘And I’d still be in there if not for them.’

  ‘You children went to the police station?’ Mother’s tone was steely.

  ‘Rose? Edward?’ Father asked sternly.

  Edward glanced at Rose who pressed her lips together tightly. ‘Not really. Rose found a nice policeman to help us when she … when she sat on the steps.’

  ‘Sat on what steps?’ Mother asked.

  Rose quailed, but then she remembered her promise to Mother to be more honest and open. ‘It was a protest,’ she said. ‘It was so unfair that Aunt Alice should be locked up. She was only standing up for what she believed. And I believe in it, too, even though I know you don’t, Mother. I’ve thought about it a lot, and we should be allowed to vote. It’s important.’

  Before Mother could say another word, Father stood. ‘It’s very late and we’re all tired. It’s time we went to bed.’

  It had been a long day, indeed, and Rose was happy to climb under the covers and fall asleep. Mother had seemed to accept what she’d said, but she had a horrible feeling she’d never be forgiven if she was in the Argus!

  Rose had to wait until Monday to find out, and thankfully, it was Aunt Alice who made the news page, not Rose.

  That evening, Aunt Alice told the family all about the court hearings. ‘The public gallery was full of our supporters, but they were all quiet and well-behaved. It helped us prove that we were provoked.’ She nodded. ‘And we were found innocent, thank goodness.’

  ‘What about your position at the school?’ Father asked.

  ‘It’s under review.’ Aunt Alice’s face was strained and pale. ‘I may lose it, despite the verdict. They don’t like troublemakers.’

  ‘That’s terrible!’ Martha said.

  Rose bit her lip. She hadn’t realised it was so serious for Aunt Alice. The arrests had caused a scandal, but mainly because one of the suffragettes was the sister of a duke, and he had disowned her! How awful it would be if Aunt Alice was dismissed from her school.

  ‘Alice, I’ve been contacted by several prominent people today,’ Mother said.

  ‘I’m sorry, Elizabeth,’ said Aunt Alice. ‘I didn’t mean to …’

  Rose ached for Aunt Alice. How could Mother be upset with her when she might lose her job?

  To Rose’s surprise, Mother leaned across and patted Aunt Alice’s hand. ‘They have all been supportive of you. And have donated a lot of money to the scholarship fund.’ Mother actually smiled, and Rose was so surprised she nearly choked on her fish pie.

  ‘I also have people who are putting in a good word for you at the Education Department,’ Father said. ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.’

  Aunt Alice nodded, relieved.

  Mother changed the subject, waving a large, cream envelope. ‘Look what was delivered.’

  Martha clapped her hands and Father nodded. Even Edward looked a bit impressed.

  ‘What is it?’ Rose asked.

  ‘Our invitation to the opening of the new parliament!’ Mother’s face shone. ‘Just think of the beautiful gown I’m going to have made.’

  Father put his head in his hands and pretended to groan. ‘Not more dresses and hats.’

  ‘Definitely a matching hat and parasol.’

  ‘Will there really be fireworks and lights?’ Rose asked.

  ‘Days of them! And arches in the city streets,’ Father said. ‘All the way up Swanston Street, and the procession will go under each one. Even the Chinese people are making one.’

  ‘It’ll be my birthday,’ Rose said. ‘Everything will feel like it’s for me!’ And if Mother was taken up with the Federation celebrations this year, there’d be no boring afternoon tea with relatives like last year! Maybe Rose could have a picnic with Abigail.

  That reminded Rose of something important she had to do. After dinner, she asked Mother if she could speak to her.

  ‘Of course, Rose.’ Mother folded her hands in her lap and waited, her eyebrows raised. Rose cleared her throat nervously.


  ‘I have a special request. I need one of your scholarships,’ Rose said.

  ‘For yourself ?’ Mother said, smiling.

  ‘No, for my friend, Abigail. She had to leave St Swithin’s because of the fees, but she is very clever at arithmetic, and she helps me a lot.’ Rose took a big breath. ‘But that’s not why I want her to come back. I just really, really miss her.’ Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she blinked them back.

  ‘Hmm, that’s not what I had in mind …’

  ‘You said it was for clever children who would benefit from a good education, and Abigail will, I’m sure.’ Remembering Aunt Alice’s idea that she should offer Mother something in return for asking, she swallowed. ‘And I promise to try much harder to be a lady, like you want me to be.’

  Mother leaned forward. ‘Does that mean you’ll give up playing cricket?’

  Oh! Rose had never imagined Mother might ask that of her, but if it was a choice between cricket and Abigail, there was no contest. She opened her mouth to say yes, but caught a twinkle in Mother’s eyes.

  ‘It’s all right, Rose. You don’t have to agree.’ Mother hesitated. ‘I know I’ve been hard on you, and for good reasons. But I can see how you’ve grown up in this past year, and how much you do care for others. It’s an excellent quality to have, my dear, and I’m very proud of you.’ She rose from her seat. ‘I’ll talk to Alice about it, but I think we might say yes.’

  ‘Oh, thank you,’ Rose squeaked. Her heart was skipping with happiness and she wished she could run and use Father’s telephone and tell Abigail right now. Instead, she would go upstairs that minute and write her a letter. She couldn’t wait for Abigail to return to school.

  9

  Celebrations!

  ON Sunday the 5th of May, they rose early and ate breakfast, and then John drove their carriage into the city. Mother stayed behind for a last-minute dress fitting. They followed the approved route through the streets, under all the arches. Tomorrow the Duke and Duchess would do the same.

  Everywhere Rose looked there were flags and bunting and ribbons draped on windowsills, pinned to walls and flapping from verandahs. Even the lamp posts were decorated in red, white and blue. But it was the first arch they saw in the city that made Rose jump up in the carriage and cry, ‘Look! Isn’t it beautiful?’

  ‘That’s the Queen’s Arch,’ said Father. ‘They’ve outdone themselves, haven’t they?’

  The Queen’s Arch looked to Rose like a magnificent crown sitting on the street, with spires on each corner and a gold statue of Queen Victoria inside the gold cupola at the top. In the morning sunlight, she glowed brightly, and below her the arches were painted in shades of purple with edges of white, silver and gold.

  The next arch was the King’s, and it, too, looked like a crown on top of royal robes, painted in deep red with gold cord and edges. Further down Swanston Street, the Chinese Arch was just like the temples that Rose had seen in her books, with curved-up roofs. The Fountain Arch in Elizabeth Street was a garden, with a fairy dell of flowers, ferns and fountains, and a pond. Rose sighed happily. ‘Just the kind of pond fairies would dance beside.’

  The next day was the procession of the royal carriages through the streets of Melbourne. Rose’s family got to the city early and made their way to Swanston Street, to the shop where they were to watch from the first floor. A friend of Father’s and his family were already in the front room overlooking the street. Boxes and bundles of cloth had been pushed to the rear and seats arranged around the four large windows.

  The Duke and Duchess were due to leave St Kilda Pier at 2pm, and it would take some time for them to arrive. Rose and Edward soon grew restless, and Father reluctantly agreed that they could go and mingle with the crowds. ‘Be careful,’ he said, ‘there’ll be all sorts out today, and the crush will be enormous.’

  Rose loved being out among everyone, smelling the toffee apples and roasted meat in the air, and listening to excited chatter and the competing clamour of two military bands. She and Edward watched both bands playing, and bought some raisin buns called Duchess Specials.

  When they returned to the room upstairs, a picnic lunch had been laid out, with sandwiches and cake and lemonade. Rose managed to fit in more food, and played word games with Edward to pass the time.

  Finally, the crowd outside began cheering and they rushed to the window. There below were the first marching regiments, their uniform buttons and braid sparkling in the autumn sunlight. Row after row passed, men in kilts, Fijians in skirts, uniforms of every colour, hats of all shapes. Then came the royal carriages, with the Duke and Duchess waving and smiling at the people who cheered and clapped. The Duke was in a magnificent uniform with a large military hat; the Duchess was in a black gown. After them, there were more regiments and cavalry, and the bands kept playing over each other. Smashing!

  Father had made a reservation for dinner at a city hotel, and after a delicious meal they all walked down to the gardens where John waited with the carriage. The arches and all the city buildings were lit up.

  Rose laughed with delight at each new wonderful display. It seemed every building outdid the next – there were gas lights, electric lights and fairy lights strung from street to roofline and glass mountings of the letters E.R. set with more sparkling lamps, some red, some amber, some like rainbow prisms.

  ‘It’s like fairy land,’ Rose gasped as one light display changed colours right in front of her. Her last sight was of the Exhibition Building looking like it was etched in stars. She was fast asleep before they got home.

  The next evening, Aunt Alice took Rose and Edward to the fireworks at Albert Park, while Mother and Father attended another dinner.

  They found a spot to park the buggy near the lake, and Abigail and her mother arrived shortly after. It was the first time Rose had seen them since the news about the scholarship.

  ‘Rose! I’m coming back to school!’ Abigail said.

  ‘I can’t wait!’ Rose said.

  ‘And you’re going to be twelve tomorrow,’ Abigail said. ‘Are you excited?’

  Rose nodded happily. What an amazing year it had been. Last May she hadn’t even known Abigail, and now they were best friends. Along with Tommy, going to school, Mother recovering from being so ill, playing cricket, and wonderful Aunt Alice – it was almost too much to think about!

  On the morning of her birthday, Rose barely had time to kiss Mother and Father goodbye before they left in their finest outfits for the opening of Parliament. Everyone had to be seated well before midday because there were 12 000 people to be crammed into the Exhibition Building. Once they’d left, the house seemed so quiet. Rose sat at the breakfast table alone, eating fried eggs and bacon. They’re all sleepyheads, she thought crossly.

  She heard a rustle and a giggle behind her and suddenly Edward, Martha and Aunt Alice rushed in, singing, ‘Surprise! Happy birthday!’

  Rose jumped up and kissed everyone. ‘Thank you!’ Martha had put a pile of presents on the table. ‘Can I open them now?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Aunt Alice. As she and Martha and Edward helped themselves to breakfast, Rose slowly unwrapped each gift.

  From Martha and Edward, she had a gold charm bracelet with four charms – a heart, a bicycle, a book and a tiny cricket bat and wickets.

  ‘We thought they were all things just for you,’ Edward said.

  ‘I love it.’ Rose put the bracelet on straight away. The next parcel was thin and flat. ‘Is this another one from you, Martha?’ Rose asked. Martha nodded, and Rose opened it to discover a watercolour painting Martha had done of her.

  ‘You’ve made me look very pretty,’ Rose said with a grin.

  ‘Rose,’ scolded Martha, ‘you are pretty.’

  Aunt Alice pushed forward a parcel with a gold ribbon around it. ‘This is from your parents. They said you can open it now, too.’

  Inside was a leather journal, a pen and nib and a bottle of ink.

  ‘Now you can write st
ories of your own.’ Aunt Alice gave Rose the last present. It felt squashy, and Rose hoped it wasn’t a hat or a petticoat. She undid the ribbon and pulled back the paper.

  ‘Holy smoke! It’s a pair of pantaloons!’ Rose stared at the blue garment in amazement.

  ‘There’s something else that goes with the pantaloons,’ Aunt Alice said.

  Rose looked around – the three of them seemed hard pressed not to laugh. ‘What’s so funny? Is it a joke present?’

  ‘Come outside,’ Edward said. ‘Hurry, we can’t wait any longer.’

  Rose followed them to the back door, out past the kitchen, to the stables. Was she getting a horse? But she couldn’t ride yet.

  Tommy was waiting there. ‘Ready?’ he asked.

  ‘Bring it out,’ Aunt Alice said.

  A few seconds later, Tommy wheeled out a brand new bicycle. It was black and sturdy-looking, but it had ribbons of all colours tied to the handlebars and seat.

  ‘Ohh …’ Rose could hardly speak. In her wildest dreams she never imagined she’d have her very own bicycle! ‘But …’

  ‘Mother knows about it,’ Martha said. She nudged Rose. ‘So does Father, and he said no falling off into the river.’

  ‘Hop on, then,’ Tommy said.

  Rose rushed to the bicycle and climbed on. Her feet just reached the pedals. Tommy pushed her off and away she went, around the back of the house and down the driveway, across the lawn and back again. Everyone followed to watch, standing by the rose garden. At the last minute, Rose grabbed at the brake lever and came to a wobbly stop. The last thing she wanted was to end up among the rose bushes!

  ‘This is the most wonderful birthday ever!’ she said. ‘Only one thing would make it better.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Aunt Alice said.

  ‘If we can all go to the park with a picnic lunch and play cricket. Tommy, too.’