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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     Ian was trying to do exactly as his twin brother - to keep still. The teacher was watching them. He was on playground duty. Eric knew why he was watching them - he was trying to figure out which one was which. "Keep still, Ian!" he hissed. But Ian could not do that.     After a few minutes he was tapping his fingers or his toes in time with an internal metronome. For the very first time in his eleven years, Ian prayed God help me have music . Just then Mr. Jacobs came over. "Ian, would you like to join a music group? Eric is welcome also.     Eric scowled. Even the other kids just called them "the McKenzie brothers." He was very annoyed this dumb teacher had figured them out.     Then he saw the look of longing on his brother's face, and his heart melted. Time to grow up, he thought, a trifle sadly.     "Is there a chess club, sir?" he asked instead. "Ian can do music if he likes." He shrugged nonchalantl...
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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     Outside a general hullabaloo broke out as car doors slammed. Must be at least sixteen doors, thought Eliza, distractedly. As boys' voices heard, John Dixon leaned close and whispered "I forgive you Eliza. I would like it if we could grow closer this time and I promise to try harder." Eliza nodded, scuffing tears away with her sleeve.     "Mum," Theo yelled, "We're here." "We would never have guessed," sighed John, then called everyone to order.     "There is still some food, boys, if you sit down somewhere and listen quietly." The three boys quickly sat down.     "Right," said John, "I have put a deposit on this place. There is room for Eliza, Sylvia, Theo and myself if you are interested."     "I have ten dollars pocket money a week," ventured Theo. "That will help." Sylvia noticed he looked and sounded much better lately. "Must be the school," she th...
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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     The man and woman stood alone in the relatively small sunlit lounge. They were about a metre apart, but it could have been a chasm - and it was.     "Why?" he asked again, trying not to cry, trying and hoping for an answer, one that would help, that would perhaps heal, eventually.     Eliza thought hard. If she had been cheated in such a way, could she ever understand or even forgive!     "The man I married was a brute." The explanation came, haltingly. "He seemed romantic, adventurous, but it wasn't real. Our child was school age, and I was pregnant by him with Theodor who was a baby with problems. Often I thought of you, wishing you had cared more. I had no idea if you cared or not. Your work was always a priority."     "Karl dominated every aspect of our lives. He was more than a narcissist. He was a criminal and dangerous. And I did not know how to contact you. I am more sorry than you can ever imagine...
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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     The food was delicious, warm and satisfying. For those who didn't eat meat, John had provided Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and crumbly Cheshire cheese. The bread was so fresh, it was almost just too hard to resist. P.L. had baked a fruit cake and there plenty of choices of tea, coffee and Milo. John had even remembered apple and blackcurrant juice for Theo.  After he asked if he could show the house to just Eliza first. Tom and Sylvia exchanged glances and smiled. "Mum, could we get Ian and Eric, please? Mr. Tom said he doesn't mind. "Is that alright with you, John?" Eliza wondered, flinching a little at the thought of the rambunctious twins.     "Sure," he replied, "plenty of leftovers."     Tom and Theo set off in the teacher's 4WD and Sylvia came also. She felt someone watching. "My stupid brother," she thought, pulling a face, glancing around, but it was Tom Jacobs. He saw her bitter expression. ...
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FLOOD   By Tessa Harvey     Before the group reached the lovely green front door, it opened and a sturdy looking woman stood there, her face beaming. "Ow do?" she said in a strong Cumbrian accent. "I'm the P.L.!"      "What's a P.L?" asked Theo, forgetting to be shy. "Why, it's a Picnic Lady," she responded, bending to give the small boy a hug. At first he was quite stiff, then relaxed, sensing no harm.     "But we ordered food," stated John Dixon, and the teacher Tom Jacobs added "Chicken," "and stuff," echoed Theodor.     "Happen you did," smiled the P.L., but John asked me to light some firesand tidy, so I added a few extras. Free, as a welcome like."     Eliza gave the cheery woman a hug. "Thanks so much," she whispered, and with sylvia, stepped inside.     It was homely and warm and very welcoming. Light reflected from plates, cups and glasses and shone on the pots and pans ...
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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     They pulled up and turned off the car engines. Silence engulfed them. They were surrounded by many species of deciduous trees with a few fir and spruces along one side. No-one spoke.     They heard and saw busy little wrens, thrushes singing their glorious songs and a few red-breasted robins flitting through the trees.     Despite herself, Sylvia was entranced when a few of the robins hopped closer to peer at her curiously out of their bright dark eyes, heads cocked to one side.     Rooks cawed lazily on the outskirts of a group of trees.     Theodor, still missing the plateau, was now feeling very happy. Somewhere he heard water trickling and saw a tiny red squirrel leap up an oak tree high to the topmost branches.     Then the house drew them in. Taking a deep breath, John said " I would really like us all to share the house, if that's what you want, of course." He glanced at Eliza. "Do you wan...
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FLOOD  By Tessa Harvey     Tom looked a little crestfallen. "Hey, would you like to come with us? Just this time, if you like? Of course I understand if just you and Sylvia"........John tapered off, unsure.     But Tom was grinning. "Yep," he said, "let's go get chicken, chips, salad - is that okay?"     But Theo was looking sad. He had approached with his mother. "Theo is nervous if we eat out. He stays in the car," Sylvia whispered. "Not a problem." John Dixon smiled. "We could just order. Your mum and I want to show you something really nice!"     He exchanged a look with Sylvia who looked happy, if a little embarrassed.     "Ms. Tournier knows we are eating out, "John explained as they started cars. Sylvia decided to follow with Tom. The others went with John.     They ordered food to take away and John drove to a beautiful house set back from the road. "Wow," whispered Theodor, "who lives here...
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