THE RIVER

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     Amy slipped through the trees. All the adventures she had read or dreamed of were happening!     Waiting for Joey to throw her a Friday gift had been exciting as she swayed in the wind or drowsed in the warm sun in her high oak tree. But I am not a child now, she thought. I am at High School and now I am twelve years old. Rebellion grew within her heart and the young girl exulted in her new-found freedom.     "I can do anything!" she whispered aloud, then quickly hushed, realising she was not alone. Somewhere ahead was the mysterious stranger. "He can tell me about my parents. I will make him," Amy muttered.     Quite how this could be achieved eluded her. But I will find a way, she thought. I can do this, I can do anything. She spun around in the cold, dark night amid the drifting shadows of star-lit trees. The moon was only a whisper, newly-risen.     Leaves crackled. Amy whirled. The grey ghost man...

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     Joe had quietly moved nearer, sensing the importance of this calm oasis in the sudden noisy night. Blue crept close to her brother. They listened for an answer, holding hands. Once more close siblings. But Amy was disturbed, trying to understand what the man dressed in dark clothes had meant. As soon as she had seen him, a memory came to her of her father arguing with him. She had been much younger, had thought the men were friends, but there had been harsh words. Amy had looked up and seen angry faces, the dark-clothed man now scary and her father sad.     People quarelled. Suddenly the girl decided she would go after that man and find out what he had meant. No-one would listen, she thought, slipping her hand from her brother's and moving back into the trees.     But the trained police officers now at the scene were alert and took action.     The policewoman, Mary Davies, turned to Joshua and questioned him as ...

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     Blue thought 'this is silly, this is not real. It's a film. No-one says dumb stuff like this.' But though afraid, the panic was gone.     Amy stood straight. "That was in the past." Though angry, she was aware that her voice wobbled. "My parents worked hard. They were good." A thought came to her. "Were you listening when Dr. Harper talked about God?" Joey thought he heard something. "You are just a nothing!"     Emboldened by the sight of light from behind Flash Harry, the young girl moved away from the darkly-dressed man. He was gazing at her. He had expected a cringing child, pleading, begging. If only he had got out of prison earlier. It was her dumb brother's fault. They had all ruined his life. Waiting for a distraction, he too saw the lights, heard the calls:  "Blue, Amy," and from her brother, "Come on Dodo Brain. Don't be gormless!" "Ok, Fungus-Face," Blue y...

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     The youngster kicked over her chair in anger, and leaving the firelight, stalked off into the darkness.     "Let her go," Elizabeth said firmly, as Gladys Swan, her employer stood to go after the girl. "Amy will be back soon. She hates the dark." But she did not return that night.     She had run as far and fast as she could. The night enclosed her like a dark blanket. The young girl hunched over, hands on her knees, panting hard. She looked back. No one had followed her. There were no wavering torch beams, no light at all, far beyond in the all-encompassing blackness.           "Fine," she told herself, "I don't care." Unbidden, a memory of her father quoting an old expression came to her: "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me. Think I'll go and eat worms," he had gently chided her when she had one of her familiar tantrums.     "Yuck! Worms," she would giggle, helplessly, her mood s...

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     "There is a river of God," began Joshua, looking at each person gathered around the blazing fire. They had all helped to build it, gathering wood from Riverbend weeks ago to dry. Sparks soared like fireflies glimmering against darkness.     "God's river also gives to us, but never harms. It flows from East to West. It is when King Jesus will come again on a path of Glory."     "God is Light. He is also Love, Hope, Joy, Peace." Elizabeth looked wistful, longing, but no-one else seemed interested, listening politely thought Joshua.     Undaunted, he shifted on the metal chair, glad a cushion had thoughtfully been provided.     "Have to cut back on all the snacks," Anne was smiling to herself. She prayed silently. The stars danced in the flickering light.     "Does anyone have any idea when Jesus will appear when he returns to earth?"     There seemed to be no response, then the young ...

THE RIVER  By Tessa Harvey     Family and friends gathered together in early winter , a few months later. Elizabeth was now working part-time for Gladys Swan, the young owner of the jewellery shop.     Elizabeth appreciated being able to work again and Gladys gained so much from the older lady's insight and sensitivity.     Blue was now at high school and thriving. Her new friends called her by her given name, Amy. Some of them felt pressured by the current gender dysphoria, but Amy felt secure and safe, being a child growing into a young woman.     Josiah was doing well and his apprenticeship would last just another two years. He had made the collapsible boathook his aunt had used to save him from the river. He was proud of the design with its two detachable heads.     Dr Harper looked at them all, gathered after a hearty barbecue. Joe had cooked the meat. Amy, her aunt, Joshua (the doctor), and wife, Anne had helped with salads an...