Beyond the Crushing Waves

by Bronwen Pratley

“Life is strange — sometimes it’s cruel, sometimes it’s kind. But we never know which mistress it’ll be at any given time.”

It’s a hard thing, to live without love. Like a tree without sunlight, or a flower without water. And when you don’t understand something, it’s easy enough to pass that confusion on to your children. Although Gammy taught me more about love than I ever thought I’d know. We did okay in the end, the two of us.”

“That’s right — she and Gramps were sent over to Australia from England. They came here by themselves, with no parents. Grew up on a farm outside Molong. An institution for poor or orphaned children, where they learned how to work on a farm or in domestic service. They didn’t receive affection or have anyone to love them — no one taught them how to love. So, I’m sure they did the best they could in raising you and Aunt Sonya.”