Prompt and Circumstance

Leading Lady

'portrait' March 11, 2016

"Mum?" Did her heart actually stop as that iron fist gripped it? The sudden pain knifed down her spine and out through her fingers and toes, as an unbearable prickling nearly lifted her scalp. A cold film of perspiration broke out of every pore.

"Mum?" This time the word came out of her brain, out of her mouth as a whisper on a long drawn-out sigh. As her eyes widened in disbelief, her eyeballs felt as though they were standing out on the proverbial stalks. But it was true. That distinctive 'widow's peak' hairline... and the kiss curl. Without conscious bidding, the age-old rhyme ran through her mind –

There was a little girl, and she had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead,

And when she was good, she was very, very good,

But when she was bad, she was horrid.

A wistful smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Horrid? No. Not ever... to me. Or anyone else, as far as I know. Her eyes dwelt longingly on every detail of those soft brown eyes. It was a lifetime since they had been focused on her with the full glow of her mother's love, as ever... from the first day they met. The artist had captured the full warmth of that dedicated spirit with an enigmatic smile that seemed to say, "Don't be a duffer. Of course I'll always love you."

Once again, her eyes swept over that perfectly waved hair. What was it called? ... a Marcel wave? Hmm... made with hot irons. Ooh! The part from 'Little Women' crossed her mind - when Jo burnt a chunk of Meg's hair completely off, right before a party. Wasn't Jo left with hot iron and smouldering length of hair in her hand? she thought . An involuntary shudder went through her.

As another patron of the gallery backed into her, she was brought back into the present moment with a jolt... and the unreality of a portrait of her mother as a young woman being in this gallery at this moment in time shocked her once again. She forced her eyes away from all the memories that beloved face drew to the surface of her mind, and read the information plaque alongside the portrait.

Order of Australia medallist, Winifred Emma Graham – as a young woman.

This medal was granted in the Queen's Birthday Honour List, 1995 – and was awarded for community service – in particular, 'looking after sick and disabled children and supporting parents for 6,000 hours of voluntary service over 34 years at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital'.

Her eyes unexpectedly brimmed with tears as she pictured once again that magical moment when her mother had walked a red carpet in Government House, to be presented with that wondrous gold medal by the Governor of the day. Like a bride again, she whispered to herself.

A tremulous smile parted her lips as she remembered her mother's words, "I really don't know what all the fuss is about. I'm just an ordinary Mum."