Rose's Challenge Read online

  ‘Golly,’ said her team captain, Edna, a tall, gangly girl who was a very strong batswoman. ‘If you grew a little more, you could become our main bowler. We don’t really have anyone with a good arm.’

  ‘Oh,’ Rose said, her face pink. ‘Well, I do play a bit at home.’

  Myrtle, who had just been bowling, sniffed loudly. ‘Girls are supposed to earn a place in the team, Edna.’

  Rose squirmed under Myrtle’s scornful glare.

  ‘I’m sure Rose will do that. There’s talk of a game against Merton Hall, if we can field a decent team.’

  ‘A proper game?’ Rose said. ‘Are girls allowed to play real games, on a big field?’

  ‘Of course. There are quite a few women’s teams in the country, you know.’ Edna grinned. ‘And when I go and stay with my grandparents over Christmas and New Year, I often get to play with the local team. They call themselves the Forget-Me-Nots.’

  Rose couldn’t wait to tell Abigail, who gave her a hug. ‘I was watching from the court,’ she said. ‘I could see how good you were.’

  After school, Rose hung over the front seat of the buggy to tell Tommy as well. He was as astonished as Rose had been about the women’s teams.

  ‘You mean, they keep score and have competitions?’

  ‘Yes.’ Rose nudged him. ‘That means I could be playing for Australia one day.’

  ‘Naahhh,’ Tommy said, ‘that’ll never happen.’ He pointed at her dress. ‘You can’t run properly in them clothes, fer a start. Although if you were to wear Edward’s trousers, I might believe it.’

  ‘Oh, you!’ Tommy often teased her about the disastrous ride she’d had on Aunt Alice’s bicycle in Edward’s borrowed clothes. Rose poked out her tongue, trying to look annoyed, but in the end she laughed.

  On Saturday morning, Rose sat in the breakfast room, wishing she could go to school. Mother and Martha were supposed to go for a clothes fitting in the city, but Sally came in to report that Mother was very unwell, and the doctor had been called.

  That explained why Father wasn’t down yet.

  ‘Has she got a headache again?’ Martha asked.

  ‘It’s more than that,’ Sally said. ‘Her fever is high and she’s being sick into a bowl.’

  Edward stopped eating his eggs. ‘Thanks for telling us,’ he muttered.

  ‘Can we go up and see her?’ Rose asked.

  Sally shook her head. ‘Your father thinks she might have something contagious, so he said for you all to stay away for now.’

  Rose and Martha sat at the table a while longer – it felt a bit strange not to have Mother bustling around and organising their day. They eventually decided to go and practise at the piano together and, shortly after, the doctor arrived and was ushered to Mother’s room. He seemed to be in there for ages and after he’d left, Father came downstairs to talk to them all.

  ‘It could be influenza,’ he said, ‘although it’s a bit unusual at this time of year. I have to go into the Emporium this morning. Martha, can you please stay close in case she needs anything? If she gets worse, you can use the telephone to call the doctor back.’

  Rose perked up – nobody but Father was ever allowed to use the intriguing contraption in his study. He’d only had it installed a couple of months ago, and hardly anyone in Melbourne had one. She didn’t want Mother to be ill, but she did want to help Martha use the telephone!

  After Father left, Edward laid yesterday’s newspaper on the table. ‘Look. It says here that there are cases of bubonic plague in Bombay and Hong Kong. Maybe that’s what Mother has.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ Martha snapped. ‘We don’t have plague in Australia. Let’s hope it’s just a summer cold that’s turned bad. She has had a sore throat.’

  There didn’t appear to be anything they could do, and when Aunt Alice came down for a late breakfast, Rose told her the news.

  ‘Sore throat?’ Aunt Alice said. She pressed her lips together as if she didn’t want to say any more.

  ‘You don’t think it’s a cold?’ Martha asked.

  ‘I’m sure that’s all it is,’ AuntAlice said. ‘Now, have you left me anything to eat?’

  The morning was quiet – Edward didn’t want to play cricket or any kind of game, and Rose was settling down with her history book when Aunt Alice knocked on her door.

  ‘I’m going to St Kilda,’ she said. ‘Do you want to come along? It’s a beautiful day.’

  ‘Are you going to visit someone?’ Rose asked, jumping up.

  ‘I’m going to a meeting. You might find it boring, or you might not.’ Aunt Alice’s eyes creased at the corners.

  Rose loved going out in the buggy on a fine day. Maybe she could persuade Aunt Alice to come home via the beach. How lovely it would be to walk in the sand, or take her shoes off and paddle.

  Aunt Alice didn’t need John or Tommy to drive the little buggy; she was very handy at it herself, unlike Mother or Martha. They set off at a steady pace with Ruby trotting along in the harness and, for a short while, Aunt Alice let Rose take the reins. It was Rose’s chance to tell Aunt Alice all about playing cricket at school.

  ‘I do wish we could play in pantaloons, though,’ Rose said. ‘It would be so much easier.’

  When they reached the Mechanics’ Institute, Aunt Alice tied Ruby up at the rail. Inside the hall, their footsteps echoed on the wooden floor. There were chairs set up at the front, and a dozen women stood around, talking.

  A tall woman with dark hair and dark eyes came over, taking Aunt Alice’s hands and kissing her on both cheeks. ‘Alice, how I wish my school was still going. I’d offer you a teaching position in an instant.’

  Rose had almost forgotten that Aunt Alice had been searching for a teaching job. She hoped she hadn’t upset Aunt Alice with all her talk of her marvellous new school.

  ‘Thank you, Vida,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘Now, this is my niece. Rose, this is Miss Vida Goldstein.’

  ‘Oh.’ Rose gazed up at the famous Miss Goldstein and bobbed a curtsy. ‘How do you do?’ She’s so tall and elegant, Rose thought, but her keen eyes don’t miss a thing! No wonder Aunt Alice thinks she can convince the parliament to let women have the vote.

  ‘Very well, thank you, Rose.’ Miss Goldstein bent and kissed Rose, too. ‘Have you come with your aunt to hear all about our activities?’

  ‘Er …’ Rose didn’t like to say she had just come for the ride.

  Aunt Alice saved her. ‘Is Irene bringing Abigail with her today?’

  ‘I think so – there she is now.’ Miss Goldstein waved at the woman coming into the hall, who was followed by a familiar girl.

  ‘Aunt Alice, that’s Abigail from school!’

  ‘I wondered if it was when you mentioned her. Go and say hello.’

  Rose ran over to Abigail. ‘What are you doing here?’

  Abigail smiled. ‘I could ask you the same thing. My mother is on the committee.’

  ‘So’s my Aunt Alice.’

  Abigail called her mother over. ‘This is my new friend from school – Rose.’

  Irene smiled down at Rose. ‘How nice to meet you. Abigail has told me all about you. Is your mother here?’

  Rose grimaced. ‘Goodness, no.’ She suddenly felt anxious. What would she say if Mother asked where they’d been?

  Just then, Miss Goldstein rang a brass bell and everyone sat down. The meeting was about organising a special debate, and lots of important people were expected to come and listen. Abigail had brought some large sheets of paper and her paints, and together she and Rose made a poster for the debate. Abigail drew a tall, smiling woman waving a card. ‘That’s her voting card,’ she said.

  Rose dabbed some green on the woman’s dress. ‘What happens at a debate?’

  ‘Lots of hot air. You’ll find out,’ Abigail said darkly.

  Just as Rose was about to ask her what she meant, the meeting broke up for afternoon tea and Rose spied a large plate of delicious macaroons. As she munched on one, an older woman in a black dr
ess came up to Aunt Alice.

  ‘Alice, dear, I hear you are looking for a teaching position. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding something.’

  Aunt Alice smiled slightly. ‘My reputation doesn’t do me any good here, Mrs Grasmere.’

  ‘Nonsense. I have a friend in the Education Department and they are crying out for an assistant head teacher at Napier Street in Collingwood. You’d be perfect.’

  ‘The state school?’

  ‘Yes. Not afraid of teaching poor children, are you?’ The woman tapped Aunt Alice on the arm with her fan. ‘You’d be second-in-charge of the whole school.’

  Gosh! Rose thought that sounded very important. But would Aunt Alice teach in a state school?

  Aunt Alice pursed her lips. ‘If your friend is serious, I’d certainly be interested.’

  Aunt Alice barely spoke all the way home, she was thinking so hard, and Rose didn’t dare ask about stopping at the beach.

  But at dinner that evening, Father also had a proposition for Aunt Alice. ‘I spoke to the headmistress of Miss McGovern’s school today. She says she can offer you a position there.’

  Aunt Alice leaned back in her chair. ‘Heavens, two offers in one day.’

  ‘What is the other?’ Father asked.

  ‘At Napier Street School. Not that it’s a firm offer, mind you.’

  ‘A state school?’

  Aunt Alice nodded. ‘It would be a great opportunity to make a difference for many children. Education is so important.’

  The look on Father’s face made it very clear that he thought it wasn’t any kind of opportunity at all, and Aunt Alice fell silent.

  Rose tried to change the subject. ‘Guess who was at the meeting? My friend Abigail!’

  Edward groaned. ‘Not her again,’ he said, and everyone laughed. Rose tried to be huffy but as even Aunt Alice had chuckled, she decided for once she’d forgive Edward.

  DURING the next week, the house was as quiet as a churchyard. At first, Rose enjoyed not having Mother telling her what to do all the time. But gradually she began to miss the sound of her mother’s voice ringing along the corridors. The doctor visited twice a day, and by Tuesday, Rose had heard the word diphtheria mentioned.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked Martha.

  ‘Something children usually get,’ Martha said. That’s why the doctor isn’t really sure, but he’s treating it as diphtheria. It’s a disease that gets into your throat and can stop you breathing.’

  Rose gasped. ‘Is Mother going to die?’

  ‘I …’ Martha pressed a handkerchief to her mouth and the smell of lavender oil drifted out. ‘The doctor says she’s not as bad as some he has seen, but she is very contagious. Father has employed a nurse specially. I was only allowed to look in through the door.’ A tear rolled down her cheek. ‘I’ve never seen her so white and yet she has these big red marks on her skin, and her neck is so swollen.’

  ‘How would Mother have caught it? ‘

  ‘Well, you know she’s been volunteering to do charity work with the poor. Maybe …’ Martha took a deep, shuddering breath. ‘It doesn’t matter now. But Father and the doctor both said we must stay away from her.’

  ‘She won’t know how I’m doing at school,’ Rose said. ‘I did so want to tell her.’

  ‘Write her a letter,’ Martha said. ‘I’m sure when she feels better, she’ll be very happy to read it and hear your news.’

  ‘I’ll practise my pen work and then she’ll see how well I am doing,’ Rose said. She went straight away to Father’s desk and wrote Mother a letter, telling her all about school that day. As you can see, I am improving with the pen, and hardly a blot to be seen! Today we recited a wonderful poem about the Crimean War, and I learned about Florence Nightingale. I wish she was here to nurse you and make you better.

  On Friday, Rose finished school early due to a teachers’ meeting. She found her aunt sitting in the drawing room with a cup of tea, gazing out the window, her brow creased. She had been for interviews at Miss McGovern’s school and also at the Education Department.

  ‘Have you decided yet?’ Rose asked.

  ‘No. I’m going now to see the school in Collingwood. Would you like to come too? I’m sure it would be fine with your father.’

  ‘Ooh – yes please!’ Rose couldn’t wait to see where Aunt Alice worked.

  When the buggy pulled up outside the school, Rose gaped at the red bricks and high walls. ‘There’s no garden,’ she said. ‘Where do they play?’

  ‘In the yard.’ Inside the main entrance of the school, the smell of boiled cabbage and mould hung in the air. ‘Someone should open these windows,’ Aunt Alice muttered. She greeted the head teacher, who was very welcoming, and then they followed him all over the school, up and down stairs, along dark corridors, and into classrooms packed with children writing on slates, elbow to elbow. Rose was astonished to hear that half of the children enrolled never came to school. They’d have nowhere to fit them if they did!

  In lots of rooms, the children were learning by rote, repeating lines out loud until they knew them by heart. They had to share their slates and chalk. Nobody was learning geography or history, and Rose was sure they never went on nature walks either. Many of the pupils had runny noses, tattered clothes, and some looked like they’d never had their hair brushed. The little children’s classrooms were chaotic, squeals and shouts mixing with more disgusting smells. Rose’s head began to ache, and she whispered to Aunt Alice, ‘Surely you don’t want to teach here?’

  Aunt Alice frowned at her. ‘You’re a very lucky girl, Rose. But your luck is an accident of birth. You could just as easily be one of these children, with little hope of a future.’

  In the last classroom, the teacher was keen for Aunt Alice to hear what she was teaching, and Rose was left to sit on a chair near the door. The pupils were all crammed onto benches in rows and, in a row near Rose, a girl in a brown skirt and flannel blouse smiled at her.

  ‘I’m Maggie,’ she said.

  ‘I’m Rose.’

  Maggie edged along her seat. ‘Are you coming to this school?’

  ‘No, I go to … a different school.’

  ‘I don’t like school much,’ Maggie said. She pushed back her untidy hair, revealing a large bruise down the side of her face.

  ‘Oh,’ Rose said. ‘Did you fall over?’

  ‘Nah,’ Maggie said. ‘Me dad did that. I pinched some of his drinking money so Mum could pay the rent.’ Maggie shrugged. ‘It was worth it. I get awful sick of moving every few months when we get tossed out.’

  ‘Oh.’ Rose was dumbstruck.

  ‘Are you any good at arithmetic?’ Maggie asked. ‘Only I’ve got these sums to do and I keep getting them wrong.’

  ‘No, I’m not. Sorry. My teacher says I need to work harder.’

  Maggie grinned. ‘Me too.’

  Rose was quiet all the way home and Aunt Alice let her stew. As they rattled in through the gate, Rose finally said, ‘Are you going to teach there?’

  ‘What do you think I should do?’ Aunt Alice pulled up the horse and waited for Rose to answer.

  ‘I don’t know. I just … that girl. She … she would never get to go to university, would she?’

  ‘Very unlikely. She’ll be lucky to stay in school until she’s thirteen. Her family probably need her to go to work to help support them.’

  ‘She seemed so nice. I … you’re right. I am lucky!’ Rose shook her head. ‘How is it that I ended up at St Swithin’s when other girls like Maggie don’t even have somewhere to live?’

  Aunt Alice took Rose’s hand and patted it. ‘If you understand that you’re lucky, and don’t turn your nose up at the poor, but try to help them instead, you will live a much better life. By better, I mean more useful.’

  ‘That’s not really enough, though, is it?’

  ‘It’s a start, my dear, And it puts you a long way ahead of many wealthy people, I can assure you.’

  ‘So does that mean youre going to w
ork there?’

  ‘I still haven’t decided. The wages are very low, and it would mean that I’d be forced to stay here in order to survive financially.’ Aunt Alice sighed. ‘I can guess how pleased your mother would be about that.’

  ‘I would love it if you stayed with us,’ Rose said, squeezing her aunt’s hand. ‘Can we please go and have lunch now? I’m starving, and I can smell the roasted onions from here!’

  After lunch, Rose went up to her room and lay on her bed. There was so much to think about.The awful school, Maggie and the bruise on her face, Mother being sick because she was helping the poor. Why did there have to be poor people? Why couldn’t everyone have the same? If Aunt Alice became the assistant head teacher at Collingwood, maybe she, Rose, should go to school there.

  But when Rose thought about being squashed into the noisy, smelly classroom and being made to learn things by heart, and sitting next to boys with snot running out of their noses, she shuddered.Aunt Alice was right – she was very lucky, and she didn’t know why, or how to fix it for other people. Rose longed to talk to Abigail and tell her about all that she’d seen at Napier Street. But more than anything, the visit had made her even more determined to work hard to stay in her class at St Swithin’s. She was learning the most marvellous things, and she couldn’t give that up – she just couldn’t!

  At dinner, she asked Father some of the questions that had been stuck in her head all afternoon.

  ‘That’s the way our world is,’ he said. ‘I have worked very hard to own the Emporium. I pay decent wages, too.’

  ‘But some people have nowhere to live, and sometimes nothing to eat. Shouldn’t we all be sharing?’ Rose said.

  Edward laughed. ‘You wouldn’t give up your bedroom and all your food to a poor family. You just about die if you can’t have seconds and thirds of pudding.’

  ‘I think Rose just wants to make a difference somehow,’ Aunt Alice said.

  ‘Education is the key,’ said Father. He cut up a potato and put some into his mouth, chewing slowly. ‘The school system has fallen into the doldrums since the Depression.’