Writing for Fun
July 2016
The Long Journey - Diane Silverston
Fiona was scared. She had woken with a feeling of apprehension.
Her mother came into the room and hustled her out of bed to get washed. She was then bundled into strange clothes, not worn by her before, slightly too big and uncomfortable.
Fiona went downstairs to the kitchen where her mother was busy at the sink.
‘Sit down and eat your breakfast.’
Fiona wasn’t sure she could manage to eat anything. Her stomach was in turmoil. She glanced over the table at her father, who smiled nervously at her.
‘Come on, come on, don’t waste time.’
Everything was different and strange. Everyone seemed tense. She was up earlier than she had ever been before. Everything was a rush, not relaxed. Fiona knew something unusual was happening today. Something that would change her life for ever.
‘Have you finished? Go and clean your teeth and find your shoes.’ Her mother’s voice was also different.
Fiona came back down and sat on the stair. Her father helped her with her shoes. They were stiff, black and had laces. Not comfortable, like her old sandals.
‘Get your bag. Have you packed everything you need?’
As the front door closed behind them Fiona realised her father was still with them. Why hadn’t he gone to work as usual?
It was a cold September morning, still not really light, a slight drizzle making everything shine in the glow from the streetlamps.
Fiona felt her mother take her hand, her father took her bag and held her other hand as they walked along.
Others were walking along the road just as they were. Quiet and tense. It was all so strange and a little eerie. Fiona took a gulp of air, held her head up and walked on.
Suddenly they were there, amongst a large group of children and parents, all standing nervously on the concrete area. No one was really talking, just whispering to each other. There were no streetlamps here but it was getting lighter. Fiona could see that the other children were just like her.
A shrill whistle was heard. Hugs and kisses were given. Fiona’s mother hugged her. ‘Be good. Do as you are told.’
Fiona’s father clasped her to him. ‘Be brave. Remember you are my special girl. We have to leave you now.’ His voice was quiet and broken. She could see tears in his eyes.
Someone came and led her away to a line, next to a little boy, who looked nervous too. Fiona smiled at him and he smiled back. She took a last look at her parents, standing together, holding hands and waving.
She felt a hand take hers. It gave her a strange but comforting feeling. She would be brave.
Slowly the lines of children moved forward to the low red brick building. Their long journey was about to start. That long journey of school life.