So Far From I Expected

6

‘Meghara, Meghara do you think he’s telling the truth? Would he take us to Junaath?’ Papa’s voice was like I’d never heard it before. He sounded scared and hopeful at the same time.

‘What is going on? Why were you so rude Mama? He has only offered us a chance why were you rude?’ I gushed.

Mama turned around from the fire, her eyes red and swollen. ‘Caireann, he’s being very generous but he can’t just ask us to leave our whole world behind to make him feel better about something his friend did years ago! What about Granny and the nuns? What about if it all falls through and we’re left in the Junaath with nothing? No one? No way to get home? We could all hate it! Who does he think he is coming in here talking down to us all and expecting us to thank him and fall at his feet and get on a big boat just because he’ll feel better about himself? We’d all die on the journey in 3rd class with all the disease! I’ll hear no more of it from you! You too Jonah!’

Papa looked at Mama in disbelief. She put Tommy in his basket and lifted the bath from the corner and began filling it with the hot water from the pot on the fire.

‘Water please Caireann. It’s late and I need to get the boys bathed before bed. Boys, get those pups into their basket and eat some of the currant bread on the table. We’ll have our rashers tomorrow.'

The tone of Mama’s voice had obviously had an effect of the twins because they moved like never before.

I looked at Papa who was cutting the bread for the twins. He nodded at me to go and get the water and tried to lighten the mood with the twins.