Gifts of the Peramangk

by Dean Mayes

  Ruby was glad when the crowds of people began to peter out and she could spend a few uninterrupted moments with her family. She was marvelling at the runner up prize she had received—a hand crafted Graham Caldersmith violin. She had also received a cheque for $1,000, which she hadn’t expected at all.

  Asher sat beside Ruby, her arm around her, a broad smile lighting her face.

  “Everyone was so impressed, Rube. They’re all talking about you.”

  Ruby’s cheeks flushed pink and she squirmed in her seat.

  “I didn’t even win but I feel like I did. I don’t really get it.”

  “You were marvellous, darling,” Virginia said proudly.

  Ruby glanced at Khalili.

  “What will I do now?” she asked with a hint of worry in her voice. “Is that it for me?”

  Khalili sat back with an expression of mock indignation and shook his head.

  “Most certainly not,” he said gruffly. “We are a partnership, you and I. A good partnership can never be broken. This is just the beginning.”

  Ruby smiled, reassured, then considered the cheque in her hand. If that was the case, Ruby thought, then she should begin to honour his assurance right now. She thrust the cheque out toward Khalili.

  “Take this,” she said firmly. “This is for everything you’ve done.”

  Khalili chuckled and gently pushed her hand back, glancing bashfully at Virginia.

  “No, no. You put that in a safe place and keep it. You have earned your prize. It is for you to savour.”

  “But…” Ruby began to protest.

  “We should start an account for you,” Belle suggested, interrupting. “And place it in there so you can save it.”

  Ruby nodded hesitantly, setting aside the new violin and placing the cheque in her own violin case, snapping the lid shut securely.

  At that moment, Juliette approached them and smiled warmly.

  “There is a reception for everyone next door in the banqueting room. Why don’t you all come through and have something to eat and drink.”

  The mention of food caused both Ruby and Asher to sit up straight in their seats.

  “I’m up for that,” Asher quipped enthusiastically. “I could eat the leg off a horse.”

  Together, they all stood and gathered up Ruby’s and Khalili’s belongings. Ruby handed her violin case to Jeremy and patted it.

  “Hold this for me,” she said quietly, motioning toward the stage entrance. “I just want to have one last look.”

  Jeremy nodded and watched her skip across to the stage entrance and disappear up the stairs.

  The orchestra was packing up their instruments and various stage hands were assisting while a slowly dwindling contingent in the audience were filing from the auditorium itself.

  The lighted auditorium seemed so much larger now without the presence of so many people there. Ruby stepped down from the stage and walked down the central aisle, taking it all in without the pressure of competition weighing on her.

  The stage before her, even now with all its myriad attendants packing up and leaving, still looked like the most wonderful place. A place where she had felt right at home.

  She had been here. Up on that stage, doing what she loved.

  Had it really happened?

  Virginia, accompanied by Jeremy, Asher, Belle and Cherie appeared from the side door. She slowly made her way across to her granddaughter.

  “There’s nothing quite like it, is there?” she quipped. “The stage.”

  “No,” Ruby responded softly. “I love it there, Nana.”

  “Once it’s in you, it never leaves. Music has been so very much a part of our people.”

  Virginia followed Ruby’s gaze toward the stage, silent memories lingering within her. She turned toward her granddaughter.

  “Come on,” she said, putting her arm around Ruby. “Let’s go and get you something to eat.”

  Ruby nodded, and together, they began to make their way from the auditorium when a voice from behind them called out.

  “Mrs. Delfey?”

  Virginia stopped, turned around and felt herself grow lightheaded as she looked into the eyes of the young woman standing there. They were vivid eyes—familiar eyes.

  Virginia blinked.

  “Agatha?”

  All at once the colour drained from her face, she staggered where she stood, forcing Ruby to react quickly by supporting Virginia under her arm.

  “Nana?!” she exclaimed as quietly as she could. “Are you alright?”

  With an equally concerned expression, the young woman stepped forward from the handsome man who accompanied her as Virginia fought to regain her composure. Ruby held tightly to Virginia’s hand, concern etched into her features as her eyes darted from Virginia to the stranger and back again.

  “I’m fine, I’m fine,” Virginia whispered breathlessly, patting Ruby’s arm to reassure her. She stood straighter, gripping her walking stick a little tighter as Jeremy and Asher came across.

  “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Delfey,” the young woman offered, extending her hand toward Virginia. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Virginia nodded quickly, her lip quivering.

  “It’s alright,” she said in a whisper.

  Sonya managed to smile down at Ruby and she offered her hand.

  “You played beautifully tonight, Ruby. I was really hoping you’d win the scholarship.”

  Ruby nodded politely and smiled.

  “It’s okay. I’m just glad I was able to play,” Ruby began, eyeing Jeremy and Asher, then turning to the stranger questioningly. “Nana…”

  “I’m alright,” Virginia repeated, more forcefully this time.

  Reaching into her purse, Sonya took out the small rectangle of a photograph and offered it to Virginia, who took it slowly.

  Gazing down at image of her childhood self, Virginia felt her emotions overwhelm her and she lifted her hand to cover her mouth.

  “My name is Sonya Llewellyn,” the young woman said as Virginia took her hand. “Agatha Penschey was my grandmother.”

  Ruby’s head turned toward Sonya and her jaw fell open in shock—as did Belle’s, Jeremy’s and Asher’s.

  Sonya turned back to Virginia who bore a wistful smile and in that moment Sonya knew this woman was the same Virginia.

  Ruby shook Virginia’s hand and stood closer.

  “Nana?”

  Virginia smiled through burgeoning tears and squeezed Ruby’s hand reassuringly.

  She looked up at Sonya again, whose own eyes were beginning to mist.

  “You…look so very much like her,” Virginia said softly.

  “Th-thank you,” Sonya replied hesitantly, blushing.

  Turning to Andy who was still standing patiently behind her, Sonya gestured for him to come forward.

  “Mrs. Delfey, I’d like you to meet my partner, Andrew DeVries.”

  Andy came over and smiled, offering his hand to Virginia.

  “Hello, Mrs. Delfey,” he greeted.

  “Call me Virginia,” she said impishly.

  “Um,” Sonya ventured. “I’d like to talk to you if I could but perhaps now is not the best time.”

  Virginia hesitated momentarily and glanced at the children before nodding.

  “We were planning on joining the others for the reception, before heading home. You can come with us if you like.”

  Sonya smiled and nodded.

  “That would be lovely but I…What say we arrange to meet tomorrow instead? I have quite a lot to talk to you about.”

  So many questions…

  Virginia considered Sonya’s suggestion then nodded slowly.

  “That would be good. I would like that very much.”

  Sonya handed Virginia a business card and she took it, gazing at the details on it. Jeremy quickly scribbled their home address down on Sonya’s program in return.

  “Is she…still alive?” Virginia ventured, a slight lilt of hope in her question.

&nb
sp; Sonya shook her head slowly.

  “I’m afraid not,” she replied sadly. “Agatha died only a few years ago. It was very peaceful—slipped away in her sleep.”

  Virginia nodded, unsurprised.

  “Come to my house tomorrow morning,” she offered. “We’ll talk then.”

  Chapter 36

  Peering through the curtains in the living room, Ruby spied the compact black sports car pulling up outside the house, behind Khalili’s blue Mercedes.

  “They’re here!” she called, running to the front door. Swiftly opening it, she skipped out onto the porch as Sonya and Andy stepped out of the vehicle and waved to Ruby who smiled.

  Virginia looked up from the bathroom sink. She tilted her head at the sound of Ruby’s voice and bristled with nerves—more nerves than the ones she’d experienced the previous evening. She had subsequently slept poorly. Her mind was racing as a result of the chance meeting with Agatha Penschey’s granddaughter.

  She inspected her features in the mirror and quickly splashed some more water on her face.

  There was a knock at the door then and Belle’s voice called to her.

  “Mum,” she hissed urgently. “Are you alright in there?”

  “I’m coming, I’m coming,” Virginia shot back hurriedly.

  Outside, Ruby skipped across the lawn toward the front fence. She noticed a dog in the rear of the vehicle and she cocked her head curiously at the sight of it.

  “Good morning,” Sonya greeted as she stepped into the front garden.

  “Is that your dog?” Ruby asked, pointing at the car.

  Sonya turned back and nodded at the proud-looking cattle dog inside, its ears standing straight up, its long tongue lolling as Andy took a moment to lower the windows of the car.

  “Yes he is,” Sonya confirmed. “He’s our baby—a big baby at that. We can’t go anywhere without him.”

  Andy chuckled under his breath as Sonya winked knowingly at him.

  Ruby noticed Sonya carrying a large briefcase and she wondered what on earth was in it. It fairly bulged to the point that Sonya almost couldn’t manage it without holding it in both arms.

  Virginia opened the screen door and stepped out into view. She smiled nervously and brushed down her dress quickly as Sonya and Andy approached.

  “Look Nana,” Ruby said. “They have a dog.”

  Looking over at the car, Virginia felt her heart skip at the familiar sight of the black and white cattle dog, peering out from the back seat.

  “Lantara,” she breathed.

  A ghost.

  Containing herself, Virginia flicked her eyes upward at the blue sky. The sun was out and it was quite pleasant.

  “D-don’t leave him trussed up in there,” she quipped shakily. “Let him out and let him get some air.”

  “Are you sure?” Sonya questioned with concern. “I don’t want to…”

  Virginia interrupted her with a brush of her hand.

  “Nonsense. Let him out. I’ll get one of the kids to fetch him some water.”

  Sonya shrugged at Andy, who returned to the car and opened the door, allowing the sleek black and white dog out.

  Simon instantly trotted inside the yard and stopped beside Sonya, sitting down, his tail wagging.

  Virginia gazed at the dog, stifling a gasp. Her mind flickered back to the past, to the farm.

  “My word,” she whispered, leaning on her stick so she could bend down and greet the dog, who licked her hand happily.

  “His name is…” Sonya began.

  “Simon?” Virginia finished for her, scratching the dog’s head gently.

  Sonya’s eyes widened in amazement as she turned to Andy.

  “Y-yes, that’s right.”

  “Your grandmother had a pup like this one,” Virginia answered before tapping the familiar silver name tag that hung from the dog’s neck. “He wore a tag just like that one too.”

  Sonya grinned knowingly at Andy.

  “That’s…actually the same tag, Mrs. Delfey. Agatha kept it and gave it to me when I was a child…as a sort of keepsake.”

  “Virginia. Call me Virginia,” Virginia frowned as Asher arrived on the door step, armed with a bowl of water.

  “Come on inside,” Virginia said, ushering them indoors and into the kitchen where Khalili and Belle were preparing a tray of sandwiches with Minty’s help. A pot of tea sat on the table that been covered in a chequered cloth.

  Belle nodded her greeting while Khalili turned from the kitchen sink as they entered.

  “We’ve made a sort of brunch…for you,” Virginia said as Khalili greeted both Sonya and Andy, introducing himself to them. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “You’re very kind,” Sonya replied bashfully. “I-I must apologise again for arriving out of the blue like this, Virginia. When Andy and I saw Ruby on the TV, I took a chance on the possibility that she might be a relative of yours but I never dreamed that she would actually…lead me directly to you.”

  Virginia feigned a hurt expression momentarily, which she quickly replaced with a mischievous smile.

  “I’m a tough old bird,” she quipped. “It’d take a hell of a lot to do away with me. I—we—are pleased to have you.”

  Asher came up beside Virginia and whispered in her ear momentarily, to which Virginia nodded.

  “Asher here is suggesting we might like to sit outside. She’s prepared a table for us out the back.”

  Sonya and Andy exchanged glances, smiled and nodded.

  They gathered around the table in the backyard, which Asher had dutifully set up in hopeful anticipation of serving brunch there. Virginia sat at the head of the table. Belle sat beside her with Minty wriggling on her knee and Khalili sat next to Belle, opposite Sonya and Andy. Jeremy assisted Asher in bringing out the food and drink to the table while Ruby had retrieved Simon from the front of the house and introduced him to their dog. He sniffed around the older dog now on the grass nearby. Despite a few hesitant growls from the older animal, it seemed they were relatively comfortable with one another.

  As cups of tea were poured along with glasses of lemonade for the children, Sonya reached down and opened her briefcase, lifting an aging manila folder out from inside and setting it down on the table between Virginia and herself.

  “I don’t quite know where to start with all of this. There is quite a lot to tell you.”

  Virginia smiled and offered both Sonya and Andy milk for their tea.

  “Just start from the beginning,” she said reassuringly. “Take your time, we’ve plenty of food.”

  Sonya smiled and nodded, taking a sip from her cup.

  She opened the folder.

  “Well…when I saw Ruby on the television, there was something about her that seemed familiar. She touched off a memory which lead me to the photograph of you. I found it among some old papers and journals that belonged to my grandmother—Agatha.”

  Virginia took the photograph of her childhood self from the pocket of her apron and set it down on the table. Both Ruby and Asher leaned in to examine it more closely as Sonya continued.

  “I remember, as a little girl, snooping about in an old chest that Grandma used to keep all her precious things in—her journals, her papers and photographs. In particular, I remember the photographs of the child and I would ask Grandma about her. But she would always become very emotional and upset whenever I did. For the longest time, I didn’t understand why.”

  Virginia picked up the photographs inside the folder in turn, examining them, shaking her head slowly. The Pastoralist’s farm, the kindly stock-man astride his horse, Agatha Penschey—leading her favourite mare—a photograph that Virginia herself had taken.

  The sepia images took Virginia’s breath away and her lip trembled.

  “She loved photography…your Nan,” Virginia said softly. “She loved to capture images of life. It made her happy.”

  Sonya paused, taking a breath in, considering her words carefully.

  She gazed into Vi
rginia’s eyes.

  “Agatha was heartbroken after you were sent away, Virginia. She couldn’t forgive Vernon Penschey for what he’d done to you and it wasn’t long before their marriage disintegrated. Agatha moved to Adelaide for a time until the settlement on the property came through and…”

  “Settlement?” Virginia queried, interrupting Sonya.

  Sonya slid an aging and fragile document out from the folder and put on her glasses.

  “The property, Carbelrow, was in Agatha’s name, according to the deed,” she explained, reading from the document. “When she first came to live there, Vernon’s family was in significant financial difficulty and Agatha, being from a wealthy family herself, poured a large sum of money into the farm in order to make it profitable. When the marriage broke down and she moved away, she…sold it out from under him.”

  Virginia’s expression was one of stunned amazement at the revelation and she shook her head slowly.

  “Agatha spent years,” Sonya continued, “searching for you, exhausting every avenue she could. But it seems the authorities did their best to thwart her efforts. They took a dim view of her persistence.”

  Virginia bowed her head and closed her eyes fleetingly.

  “I thought she’d…abandoned me,” she said, her voice cracking. “At least—that’s what they told me…at the orphanage.”

  Sonya looked up from her papers and gazed at Virginia, who was fighting to keep her emotions from overwhelming her.

  “She never wanted to give up on you. She badgered the Protectorate Office—undertook her own investigation, but they wouldn’t budge. Eventually, it seems, the bureaucracy won out.”

  Ruby watched on as Sonya turned over a few pages and traced her finger over the documents in front of her.

  “Agatha also searched for your parents. She found the township where you grew up…”

  “Totness…” Virginia said.

  Belle and the children all looked at Virginia. This was the first time she had ever mentioned her childhood home.

  Sonya nodded and continued.

  “She spoke with people who knew them. After you were taken, your mother went to Adelaide in the hope that you might be reunited with her. Sylvia Crammond visited the hospital every week, hoping to take you home. She wrote letters to the Protectorate Office, begging…for you. But they refused every one of her submissions—that you be returned. Then…after you were sent away, Sylvia left Adelaide altogether. The last mention I have of her suggests she settled in western Victoria.”