ABOVE THE STORM

PTE

package given to Amelia's father by the construction company he worked for. The children shared o

name was Tabitha Simmons. Fearing that her drinking habits would spoil their children, they managed to convince her to move an

g straight from the bottle as the

he children sitting quietly on the bank, a spot where they usually played, she stopped, and looking helplessly about muttered, "What am I going to do?" Suddenly she had the desire to drop down and cry her heart out, but her dad had always

ing, got to his feet a

d and walked back to the house with Wi

e and they stopped and looked at each other. Then they

nding just just inside it, two in police uniform and

r eyes towards the stranger. " He has come to hel

rt and thickset with a round head and unkempt hair. With a thin voice that was i

w the police to move the two bodies, now in covered

the kid's names

like to put them into children's homes.

d one face after the other, starting with her grandma, then the policemen who had come back fro

cannot hope to care for the family now that your pa

s wouldn't rest if they knew we

ay not be easy for you to get these favours, I'm warning you." Then turning to the grandma he said, "I'm leaving this to you, I'll come back tomorrow f

nly Amelia and Willis and their gr

e for this family is gone. You have just completed high school, and you'll need to go to college, Willis is still in

e truck gunning it's

already." She added as she grabbed the bottle of alcohol and walked out. Willis, aware of what had just happened, walked slowly t

was not dwelling on losing her parents but on the way forward, where to start and who to rely on. Her grandma was certainly not one of t

self and the kids. Thomas fed on nothing else but m

haracteristic of him. They spent the rest of the time talking about nothing in particula

ple when the funeral procession began. Seated next to her grandma, Amelia

ay the river, for it was up there where her dad used to bring them on Sundays. He would talk to

on, a sight they beheld in awe, but perhaps the happiest moment had been the return journey. He had taken them through the neighbouring town and

ar parked outside. The house was low and gray with thick walls and the sun was shining so brightly on its windows that it hurt her eyes. The dr

grandma had to steady the coffin in their hearse. They passed through the church

ent around the grave in a circle, and the coffins were lifted from the hearses to the

grandma was crying, and she restrained herself

the coffins, producing huge thudding sounds, the minister turned

old grandma and they both watched as she walked a few meters from

dren and your decision. I hope you have now thought about it.

, never see each other again. I'll look after them. If I c

The minister asked, his p

here we are." She

ince your father isn't working for them. They may have someone else lined up for it

an, he can't do that. I'll go and see h

uality in her that made her blind to obstac

ocket and took out a few notes which he handed to her

Amelia, goodbye a