La Strada Da Seguire: The Road to Follow

by Susan Toscan

  Agnes had heard this sort of thing so many times that she did not react anymore. She knew that he would be as charming as ever when they got out to the farm. He was a coward; he would not be abusive in public. He would be insincere, but Agnes did not care. She wanted to be with those who were genuine in their love for the children and for her. She so wanted Frances, Patricia and Neil to have a happy Christmas day.

  Agnes was tired of compromises. She was sure that her whole body expressed how unhappy she was. She could not pretend to be otherwise—but she knew that she did not have to pretend with the people who loved her.

  When Agnes and her family arrived at the farm, they were engulfed in a flood of good wishes. ­Frances and her brother and sister were given even more presents, and their mood lifted instantly. They were with family, and they felt that it was safe to be normal, excited children in that environment.

  Agnes watched Alessandro and Savina laughing and talking animatedly with their Australian–Italian family. She felt envious of the young couple’s relationship. They looked so much in love. Savina was obviously pregnant, and she looked much better than she had a few weeks ago. In fact, to Agnes, everyone looked extremely peaceful and contented.

  Joe and Elsie hugged their daughter. “Merry Christmas, darling,” said Joe, holding Agnes just a little too long, making his concern obvious. They greeted Brad also, but certainly not affectionately. Agnes’s mother was very cool. She had never been good at pretending. She had no time for the man at all.

  Elsie had decided to talk to Agnes after Christmas and tell her to bring the children and move back home with her and Joe. She knew that her daughter was miserable, and she had had enough of watching things deteriorate. She would step in if Agnes liked it or not. Enough was enough!

  She guided Agnes over to the others, and Christmas greetings were exchanged. Lots of hugs and kisses and wonderful healing love were always part of any gathering that Maria and Frank hosted. Agnes relaxed for the first time that day and simply enjoyed being with these caring people. She knew it would re-charge her energy levels.

  She had lost sight of Brad, and even though she was anxious that he would drink too much and start to be obnoxious, she was pleased to be away from him. As she looked around, she saw Savina walking towards the house and decided that it was a good opportunity to speak to her.

  Agnes stood up and followed her. She caught up with Savina at the back door, and touching her lightly on the shoulder, greeted her with, “Buon Natale!”

  Even though she was still very shy and obviously struggled with the language difference, the young woman responded to the Christmas wish warmly. “And I wish good Christmas to you, Agnes.”

  Agnes kindly reassured her that her English was good. Savina thanked her and, with a smile, indicated the children. “Children happy today.”

  “Yes, they love coming out to the farm, especially for Christmas,” Agnes answered and then realised that Savina did not fully understand what she had said.

  The two women went into the kitchen, where Maria was supervising the food preparation. Agnes asked Maria to tell Savina that it was lovely to see her looking so well and to ask when the baby was due. Savina responded via Maria that her baby was due in July and that she was indeed feeling much better. She told Maria to tell Agnes that she was taking English lessons and looked forward to getting some help from her as she would need lots of practice. Agnes liked the idea of spending time with this lovely, serene woman. She agreed to help out as much as she could. The women carried out the large platters of food and took their places at the table.

  When Christmas lunch was served, Savina and Alessandro learned about the adventures of eating outdoors with the Australian flies.

  It was not long before Agnes became aware of Brad standing behind her chair. “We have to leave, my love. I’ve promised to call in on some other friends.”

  Agnes did not want to leave, and she certainly did not want to drag the children away. “Brad, we’re still eating lunch; surely you can sit for a while longer?”

  But Brad would not be persuaded to stay any longer. He called out to the children next, telling them to collect their things and get ready to leave. Frances ignored him completely, and Agnes could see that he was getting angry.

  Maria was quick to the rescue. “I hoped that Frances could stay with us tonight. I could really use her help. We’ll bring her home tomorrow if that’s all right with you, Agnes?”

  Brad went to object, but his wife did not give him a chance. Agnes was firm in her response. “Thank you, Maria. I know that Frances would love to stay and help you.”

  Patricia and Neil were not happy to be carted off when they were having so much fun, but they finally said their farewells, and it was time to leave the happy group. Agnes felt flat again, but she was pleased that Frances was staying.

  Frances had gone across to her before she got into the car. “Thanks, Mum. I’ll be home tomorrow. Love you.” Squeezing her mother’s hand, she whispered so that Brad could not hear her, “I do need time away from him; I’m sorry.”

  Agnes hugged her tightly. “Enjoy the rest of the day, darling. See you tomorrow.”

  As she watched Agnes and Brad make an unexpected departure in the middle of the Christmas lunch, Savina noticed once again that Agnes looked very unhappy.

  Savina had taken an instant dislike to Agnes’s husband. He spoke very badly to the children, and they in turn responded negatively to him. She could see the tension on his wife’s face. It was hard to believe that she had been known as a very happy, carefree young woman before the war took her young husband and the father of her three children. Savina could see the loss in Agnes’s eyes, and she felt very sorry for her.

  It had been obvious to Savina that neither Agnes nor the children had wanted to leave. She knew that the eldest child, Frances, was particularly close to the Messera family, and she was relieved when Maria had found a way to keep the girl with her by suggesting that Frances stay to help with the dishes. Agnes seemed to know that it was just a pretext and that Maria would totally spoil Frances just as she had always done.

  Frances had been very moody when her stepfather was around, but once he left, she became a talkative, happy girl. Savina wanted to tell Frances that she understood how the girl felt. She had lost her mother when she was a very young child, and she certainly understood how the loss of a parent could affect a young person’s life. She was determined to make an effort to get to know Frances and hoped that they could be friends.

  Savina could not remember having enjoyed a Christmas day so much. Everyone relaxed and laughed together. After the lunch things had been cleared, the men gathered in a corner of the garden to play cards and the women went into the house to try to get the over-excited small children down for a sleep. It was not long before the tables were re-set for the evening meal. No-one was hungry, but there was so much leftover food that Maria insisted that they all stay. The women and children returned to the garden to enjoy the cooler late afternoon breeze.

  Gradually the men joined the women and children, and it did not take too much encouragement for the piano accordion to be squeezed into life. It was soon accompanying the melodic singing of Italian Christmas carols. Alessandro and Frank decided that it was all starting to sound a little sad, and with their strong voices, they turned the singing to more light-hearted songs. ‘That’s Amore’ was a favourite, especially with the children.

  The children danced around the adults, and soon the adults too were up on their feet out in the garden. It was a magical night. There were lanterns hanging from the trees, and the garden looked like a kind of fairyland. Alessandro danced with his wife as he sang. As Savina looked into her husband’s eyes, she could see that he was happy. Maria and Frank danced also, and with their family around them, they felt like the ­luckiest people in the world.

  When Savina and Alessandro finally left to return to their little house, it was very late. They had stayed to help clean up for the second time that day
, but with everyone chipping in, the cleaning was done in no time. They had never experienced a Christmas like the one that had just ended—and they would never forget it.

  Hard work, strong pride

  Dear Alessandro and Savina,

  Just letting you know that I arrived safely in Australia. After seeing some friends in Sydney, I went to visit people in Wollongong as well. I really liked Wollongong. It is not as big as Sydney and I like that it is on the coast. You know I always said that I would live by the sea someday, and Wollongong seems to be the perfect place. My friends said that there was demand for workers in the Australian Iron and Steel Company that is at Port Kembla just south of Wollongong. They said I could be confident that I would be able to find work there when I was ready.

  I am now in Cooma. It was a long train trip, but it was good to see the countryside along the way. I am excited about starting work as soon as possible.

  I am not too keen on the living conditions in the mountain camps, a bit primitive. Living in a tent doesn’t thrill me, but I can put up with it for a while. It is shared accommodation of the most basic kind. The camps are quite a long way out of the town. Apparently they have a bus into Cooma on the weekend, and most of the men go there to socialise and get a break from the monotony of living in the camps.

  The food that is available in the camps is boring. It is not the sort of food we are used to at home. Apparently, some of the wives of the workers who live in Cooma have recognised that they can provide the type of meals that the men crave, and small cafes are starting to appear on the streets. The best part is they know how to make good coffee. I had not had a real coffee since I left Italy.

  I had a tour of the site yesterday and it is massive! The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme only started last year. They told me the whole scheme will take 25 years to complete; I won’t be hanging around for that long. Lots of Italian guys here as well as others from various parts of Europe.

  The bosses told me that there is an opportunity for me to learn to operate the huge digging machines, and I made sure they knew that I was keen to learn as much as I could. As the first priority is to get the enormous tunnels dug, I will be starting on that next week. I am not afraid of the hard work. My plan is to save as much money as I can over the next two years. Then I can move to Wollongong and bring Olga out to Australia and we can get married.

  I am sorry that this has been such a long letter, but the nights are very long and I wanted to let you know all my news. I am in good spirits and I can’t wait for the opportunity to get to Griffith to visit you as soon as possible. Perhaps Easter would be a good time. I look forward to being with close friends, as I am missing Olga and my family. Do not worry about me, I will be fine.

  My very best wishes to you both, Louie

  While the wool industry was flourishing in the Griffith region, many other farming endeavours had not done as well since 1950 had proven to be a very wet year. The orchards and vineyards had suffered badly as a result of heavy rainfall; the fruit had rotted on the trees before it matured, and many farmers would operate at a loss that season.

  Alessandro watched the frustration—and then the determination—of his uncle as well as many of the men he had come to know and respect.

  “Zio, I know from my experience of growing up on a farm how difficult the job can be,” Alessandro said. “It’s so frustrating to see a whole season of hard work literally go down the drain… or canal, in this case.” He put his hand on Frank’s shoulder. “You have my promise that I will work hard with you and the other men to help re-establish the crops for another season.”

  The people on the land were to prove on many occasions how resilient they were. They did not let that wet season—or any of the other major challenges that they faced—stop them in their ambition to build a strong and successful agricultural community. The farms would eventually reward the farmers’ hard work and confidence. Gradually an important food production area was established, and it would become a major contributor to the food requirements of the nation.

  Alessandro would eventually witness the prosperity of the area and the pride of the men who had achieved so much.

  Plans are revealed

  A few days after Christmas, Agnes went to see her parents. She wanted to let them know that she was planning to leave Brad. They were not surprised by her decision.

  Elsie put her arms around her troubled daughter. “Dear, we’ve been very aware of the negative effect Brad is having on the children. We certainly don’t want that situation to continue. We’re sorry that things haven’t worked out with him. We prayed that he would change and be good for all of you, but that hasn’t happened. We have been so worried, love; we didn’t know what to do to help you.”

  Joe walked over to his daughter and gently rested his hand on her cheek. “We love you, Agnes. We just want to see you and our grandkids happy again.”

  Agnes smiled at her parents. They were always there for her and the children, always strong and practical. She loved them so much. “Thank you both. I’m feeling better now that I’ve made this decision. I’m ready to be on my own again. And I know that the children will be happier. I no longer have a choice. If I want to be in control of my life again, then it is up to me to make that happen. Even though it will be difficult to uproot the children, I’m confident that I can make it work.” Agnes spoke with all of the determination that she could muster.

  Elsie and Joe listened to all that she said before Elsie revealed their own plan. “Well, love, this is a good time to tell you that we’ve been thinking about approaching you. We want you and the children to come home and live with us. We’ll be a little cramped, but we’ll manage. And we won’t take no for an answer.”

  Agnes knew that her unhappiness was no secret, so she was not surprised to hear her parents say this. She reached out to hug them. “Oh, Mum and Dad, we would love to come home! At least for a short time, until I get back on my feet again.”

  Agnes felt much better after talking to her parents. They were getting older, and she did not want to be a burden to them, but she knew that moving back home was a good decision for the time being. She now had to decide when she was going to make the move and to prepare herself for the backlash.

  She also finally found time to talk to Steven and Renata about her plans. Agnes felt that she could tell them something that she couldn’t reveal to her elderly parents—that Brad had threatened many times to kill her if she even considered leaving him. She did not doubt that he meant it. Steven was shocked and furious.

  “Agnes! No, this is not good! We will have to get some help for you and the children. Perhaps you should move out to the farm with Frank and Maria. I will talk to Constable Mac.”

  “Thank you, Steven, but I don’t think there’s anything that the law can do,” Agnes said. “I’ll just have to choose my time carefully. I’ve thought about going to Wagga to stay with Betty and Sam, but it’s difficult with Sam being Brad’s brother. I just don’t know what to do. I am terrified that however far away we go, he will come after the children and me. But I also know that staying with him any longer is just as dangerous.”

  The year 1950 held promise. Australia’s economy was growing strongly. The wool industry was said to be carrying the country with the success it was having both at home and abroad.

  Steven’s business was extremely successful; he now owned a large sheep station and employed 20 men to help run it. And he was exporting his wool all over the world.

  He, Renata and their children had moved to the new property the previous year. They had built a lovely home, and life was very good for them. The goal that Steven and Michael had set out to achieve so many years ago had proven to be worth all of the risks they had taken. Not a day went by that Steven did not think of Michael and tell him how grateful he was to have shared his dream of providing fine wool to the world. He was just sorry that Michael did not get to share in the joy of realising that dream.

  The soldier returns

/>   After Steven had found Michael at the Arkaba property, the dying man began to plan his own return to Griffith. He would go as soon as he was feeling well enough; physically, he experienced ups and downs, and he would have to make his move during one of the increasingly rare periods in which he had enough strength to travel. He had been told by his doctor to put his life and any unfinished business in order. As promised, his friend had written to him a few times, and each letter told Michael that Agnes was becoming more and more unhappy.

  My dear friend,

  I arrived home to my family safely. I do hope that you managed to have a peaceful Christmas. I don’t want to worry you further about Agnes and the children, but you should know that things are not right. I am at my wits’ end to know how to help them. Agnes seems to be distancing herself from us because she is ashamed of the man she is married to. Brad doesn’t fit in with the family at all, and he tries to alienate Agnes and the children from all the people who love them. She is desperately unhappy. She wants to leave the guy, but she recently told me that she is afraid to because he has threatened to kill her if she goes. Can you believe how evil this bloke is? Michael, I will try to get Agnes and the children out of town, but the situation is not good, my friend.

  I will write again and hopefully I will have happier news for you. Take care.

  Your good friend, Steven

  This last letter was particularly distressing, and Michael did not want to waste any more time. He would find a way to see his family one last time.

  As soon as he was strong enough, he set out. He convinced a truck driver who was transporting a load of sheep to a property not far from Griffith to take him along for company. It was a long trip, and Michael found himself reminiscing about the last time that he had travelled that way. It was a happy memory: he and Steven starting out and building their business. How his life had changed. He knew that it was all too late to have regrets. To pass the time, Michael chatted to the truck driver, whose name was Ray.