Week 2

   

My reading group has been reading Alone on a Wide Wide Sea this term. This first piece of work is an advert written by Piggy Bacon advertising Coopers Station and trying to get kids to come. Piggy Bacon is a small minded EVIL man and I do NOT share his views. Click on the links for registration form and the the submitted form. Note: you can't actually write in the registration form. Apologies if the link doesn't work. I'll add in the registration form and submitted screen below this writing so if you can't use the link you'll still be able to view it.  

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The second piece of work is a story I made up about Ida's past. Ida is Piggy Bacon's wife. She is a lovely but slightly damaged woman who is a hero to the orphans at Coopers Station. (I'm not Christian, but Coopers Station is a farm in Australia, just after the second world war).

Ida was normal. She was Christian, smart, pretty and friendly. But her life would not be normal. In the years to come she would be branded as an irresponsible, mad woman. But she didn’t know that. So I’ll take you back to where it all began…

‘Ida, slow down!’

‘Come on Jane, hurry up!’ Ida Barrington laughed.

‘We’re not all as fast as you.’ her best friend puffed. Grudgingly Ida stopped running and walked next to Jane. Instantly they both burst into uncontrollable laughter. You see, Ida was not made of sugar and spice as the popular rhyme suggests. But I don’t think she was slugs and snails either. The heat of the outback was overwhelming and the only thing the girls could think about was the special treat waiting for them at Jane’s house. They never went to Ida’s house. That was an unspoken rule. With her father away serving time in prison, her partially mad mother and her chaotic brothers it was just the sort place both of them never wanted to step foot in. Jane was the only person who knew this and she guarded Ida’s secret well. 

They burst into the house, still laughing, but quieter as Jane’s little sister, Mary, was asleep. Her lovely mother came over and gave them both a giant hug. Martha, Jane’s mother knew as well. And she always made sure that Ida got heaps of love when she came over as she knew she received close to zero at her own place.

‘Okay girls, let’s try them now, eh?’ she said enthusiastically.

‘Yes please!’ the girls squealed!

‘Shhh! Or you’ll wake Mary.’ but Martha wasn’t really cross. And the girls knew that. They watched in anticipation as Martha went outside to the cool shady creek and pulled out ICE LOLLIES! They eagerly snatched them off her, then remembered their manners! ‘Oops!’ they all laughed. As Ida sucked on this new delicious treat,, she wished she would never have to go home. But she did. It was the same everyday. When Bill, Jane’s father came home from work she knew it was time to go. So she thanked them and set off home with a spring in her step and a smile on her face.

When she arrived home her happiness disappeared. Mother was yelling at Harry and Bert who responded by smashing the only window that they hadn’t smashed. Once they noticed her they yelled at her, trying to get her on their side. She sighed and ignored them. Sadly trudging up the stairs to her little bedroom she talked to herself. Comforting herself. Pretending that she had a lovely family like Jane.

Three days later, after a visit to Jane’s house it happened. The day her life would change forever. Well, that wouldn’t happen for two more years, but today was the day she met him. Her mother had hit her. Hard. She walked outside, sobbing and nursing her sore body. ‘I wish my life would change.’ she murmured to herself between sobs. In the years to come she would regret these words. But she had said them and there was no going back.

‘Don’t be so dramatic.’ a coarse voice said.

‘Eeeeee!’ Ida squealed.

‘I’m not that bad, am I?’ the voice replied, sounding hurt.

‘Sorry,’ Ida squeaked ‘but WHO THE HECK ARE YOU?’ 

‘Sheesh, calm down.’ the voice now had a face. A boy had stepped out of a bush and was grinning at her. He had bright red hair and eyes full of life. He was…

‘Okay, what's your name, creep?’ Ida asked sarcastically.

‘Martin Bacon. And ya?’ 

‘Ida Barrington.’ she said shyly. She was never shy! Why was she acting all weird?

‘I have a feeling we’re gonna be friends.’ Martin said cockily.

‘Ha ha.’ and Ida walked off, unable to stop the grin appearing on her flushed face.

Martin was right of course. But she didn’t see him again for another two years. When she was thirteen. She walked into her new school, excited. Only a few more years until she was an adult and she and Jane could travel to England! But she wouldn’t. And she and Jane wouldn’t be friends for much longer. The shrill DRING DRING of the bell rang out threw the field and instantly a storm of kids raced towards the classes. I fell over in the whirling storm of children and hurt my wrist, as well as scraping my knees. The blood soaked through the fabric of my dress and made me feel dizzy. 

‘Sheesh, you’ve done a real number on yaself, haven’t ya?’ a familiar voice said.

‘Martin?’ Ida gasped and tried to stand up, but quickly regretted it. Tears covered her cheeks.

‘Don’t try that, ya’ll hurt yaself even more.’ he instructed. He raced off, leaving poor Ida alone. But he came back with a kind looking teacher and Martin and the teacher helped her up to her feet and carefully walked inside. It was obvious her wrist had gotten hurt the most.

After school had finished Jane raced up to Ida ‘You want to come over?’

‘No thanks, I’m going to visit Martin.’ 

‘What are you doing with Martin? Hes weird.’

‘Oi, don’t call him that.’ Ida retorted, suddenly angry with her best friend.

‘I’ll call him whatever I like.’ Jane said stubbornly.

‘Fine.’ Ida said, and she stalked off.

‘Wait!’ Jane called after her. But Ida didn’t look back, even though she should’ve. She really should’ve.