Until the Sky Falls

False sense of security

Tuesday 20th March, 2007

Temperley Residence

Noon

Marly

The warbling of magpies outside the kitchen window was somehow calming.  To think that the almost melodious sounds came from a bird that looks like it's related to crows is pretty amazing.  Sheri, Kav's wife, pointed out one of the medium-sized black and white birds to me, just a moment ago.  It was an adult male with a wicked looking beak, and beady intelligent eyes.  It was prancing about on the lawn probably searching for its lunch.  And speaking of food, Sheri had made me a lovely Caesar Salad with fresh green lettuce and real bacon pieces. 

As I ate, she bustled around the kitchen chatting away.  I just smiled and nodded, too overwhelmed to really take any of it in.  Sheri was one of those bubbly personalities.  Always happy and extremely outgoing.  I hadn't met many women like her.  I suppose because, as a former slave I never really had much contact with my own sex.  It was somewhat refreshing, but also a little unsettling.  She was also very beautiful.  Long, honey blonde hair fell just short of her waist.  Her eyes were a bright aqua green and sparkled with perpetual joy. 

I was pulled from my thoughts when I absently lifted my gaze from the bowl and met her bright probing look.

"So, I've been blabbering on...tell me about you?" Sheri perched on a stool opposite me clutching a muesli bar in one hand.  Her eyes were soft and I sensed that she sincerely wanted to get to know me. 

I had no idea where to begin.  I mean Kav knew about my past.  Well, at least that Pierre used to own me and that I had been born a slave.  But I didn't know whether Sheri would understand.  So, I decided to tell her the story that Pierre and I had made up many years ago. 

I glanced up at her, hesitantly, before speaking.  "Well, I was born in Montreal...lived there my whole life.  Um...I was orphaned from an early age and was fostered, by Pierre's family."  I smiled faintly.  "Pierre and I ended up together..." 

Sheri nodded, expression warm, just listening and allowing me to talk. 

"We've been together for over two years.  And...my leaving him has nothing to do with our relationship.  It's just that I want to pursue my education over here in Australia.  My professor from Montreal has moved over here to teach.  So, I followed." 

"Wow, that's dedication for you," Sheri observed. 

I flushed a little and lowered my gaze.  "Yeah, I guess it is.  I'm just..." I looked up again and stared boldly at her, "determined to do well and make something of myself."  To prove to them back at the Guild that I can do something with my life regardless of what they do to me.

"So what is it you're studying?"

"Education and sociology.  I want to be a teacher.  I had to do a lot of bridging courses back in Montreal because I hadn't completed high school..." Hadn't even been to school.  Like I'd ever had the chance...the only lessons I learned was at the Centre before I went to live with the Bouvier's.  Pierre had had to pull a lot of strings to get the College to take me in.  And I was grateful that he had gone to all that trouble for me.  But then again, he loved me, so why wouldn't he?  

"Anyway," I continued, "Pierre organised my enrolment at, um...Murdoch University.  That's where my Prof is lecturing." 

"Is Pierre the Pierre I think you're talking about?"