Poppy at Summerhill Read online

  Finally she turned back to Poppy with a painful smile. ‘You will think I am so silly,’ Noni said. ‘It’s just that I had a dream last night, when I thought you were dead.’ She looked as if she were begging Poppy to understand. ‘I dreamt that you and I were going to get married.’ She looked away for a moment, and then back at Poppy, pretending to be angry. ‘That was when I thought you were a boy.’ And she gave Poppy a push that sent her sprawling onto the bed. ‘But I think I like you better as a girl!’ She giggled. ‘I think I like you much better!’ Noni was back to her old self.

  The two girls sat on the bed with their arms around each other. Then Poppy told Noni about Gus and Blossom and Napu and about all the children at Bird Creek. And how Johnny the Chinese peddlar had given her the letter with Jimmy Ah Kew’s stamp on it, which might be a clue to the whereabouts of her Chinese father. It was a huge relief for Poppy and she felt lighter with every word.

  When she saw Noni’s pitying look, she said, ‘It isn’t all that bad. I have lots of friends at Bird Creek. We’re like brothers and sisters.’

  ‘To grow up without a mother and father, I can’t imagine what that would be like.’ Noni sighed. ‘But what about the wanted poster, Kal … I mean Kalinya? What are you going to do now?’

  Poppy hadn’t told Noni about her plans to leave Summerhill as soon as her ankle was healed. Deep down she would love to stay on. Everyone except that horrid Joe had been so kind to her. But Gus was out there, and she was praying he was still in Wahgunyah. In a few weeks’ time it would be her own birthday. She had to find him before he went back to Bird Creek and discovered she had gone. Poppy needed to see the poster, but before she could ask for it Noni suddenly stood up, giggling.

  ‘What?’ Poppy asked.

  ‘Wait till Joe finds out. He’ll be livid!’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Cause you’re a girl. And you are better than him at so many boy things.’ She crossed to the large wooden wardrobe and opened the doors. Inside was a row of beautiful dresses in soft pastel shades of pinks, blues and yellows.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Poppy said.

  ‘It’s my party today, remember? And you can’t be wearing boys’ clothes when you’re a girl now, can you?’ Noni took out a pale pink dress from the cupboard.

  Poppy was shocked. Drop her disguise, just like that, and in front of everyone? ‘Um, Noni, maybe …’

  ‘Come on.We’re about the same size, except you’re a lot skinnier. But if I use a sash I can pull in the dress at the waist. I think you’re going to look so pretty in pink. It’s my favourite. Well, it was until Mama got me a new one. Stand over here.’

  Poppy rose as if she was under a spell. Noni lifted the dress against her, and turned her toward the mirror. A beautiful girl in a pink dress stood there, with Noni behind her. Beautiful, except for …

  ‘Hmm … it’s a pity about your hair.’ Noni stepped back, looking at Poppy with her head to one side and a finger over her mouth. ‘It’s very straggly. All right for a boy, Kalinya. But for you …’ Then she turned to the wardrobe with a smile, stood on tiptoe and pulled down a straw bonnet.

  Poppy shook her head. ‘I’m not wearing that. It’s silly. I’ve grown used to wearing shirts and trousers, wearing a dress again is going to be strange enough.’

  ‘Oh, well. Have it your way, then,’ Noni said.

  There was a knock on the door and both girls looked up in fright.

  ‘Miss Noni,’ came Mary’s voice from out in the hallway. ‘Your mother wants you to get ready now. Your guests will be arriving in one hour. Do you need me to dress you?’

  ‘No, I can manage,’ Noni called back hastily, a singsong tone in her voice. Then she clasped her hands together, crossed the room and pulled the curtains closed.

  And there, in their secret cave, the two girls prepared for the birthday party.

  POPPY stood in front of the mirror. She hardly recognised herself in Noni’s pink dress. Noni had trimmed Poppy’s hair to give it more shape. And except for the borrowed shoes, which were a little big, she did feel quite lovely.

  The new dress Noni’s mother had ordered from London was peacock blue with puffed sleeves and a skirt made up of three bouncy layers. Poppy thought Noni looked like a beautiful heroine in a storybook.

  ‘Stop fiddling,’ Noni said, as Poppy pulled the lace collar away from her neck.

  ‘But it scratches.’

  ‘Mama says that in order to look beautiful, girls have to put up with such minor discomforts.’ Noni grinned, then giggled, as if she was still getting used to the idea of Kal being a girl.

  The time had come. There were still a few minutes before the party. Poppy had to see it.

  ‘Noni, can you show me the poster you brought back from Tocumwal?’

  Noni went to her desk and pulled open a drawer. She stood very still for a long moment, looking down, then turned to Poppy. Her face had turned pale. ‘It’s gone!’

  They both had the same thought at the same moment – Joe.

  ‘That sneaking little ferret,’ Noni said under her breath. ‘What is he planning to do with it?’ She looked at Poppy.

  A commotion in the hall brought them both to their feet. It was Joe’s voice. Noni ran to the door and locked it, then stood listening, her blue eyes wide.

  ‘No, I’m telling the truth, Constable Roberts,’ Joe said excitedly.

  A man’s voice rumbled something inaudible. Poppy put her hand over her mouth. It sounded like the policeman from Tocumwal, the one who had chased her and put her in handcuffs! What was he doing here? Had he come for her?

  The doorknob rattled. Then there was a knock.Then a pounding. Poppy looked around in a panic. She had to run, to escape.

  Noni gave Poppy a look that said, Be quiet, let me do the talking.

  With the singsong lilt back in her voice she called, ‘Who is it?’

  ‘You know who it is. Let us in. I know Kal’s in there,’ said Joe.

  ‘Who?’ Noni replied. ‘I don’t know who you’re talking about.’

  ‘Stop pretending and open this door,’ Joe demanded. His voice dropped and they heard him say to the policeman, ‘There is a wanted fugitive in that room, Constable Roberts. Look at this poster.’They could hear Joe unwinding the paper. ‘This boy, a mission runaway, is in there right now.’

  ‘You dragged me away from the party for this nonsense?’ said the policeman.

  ‘No, it’s true!’ Joe yelled. ‘He’s been hiding here at Summerhill all this time. And he’s in there, right now. We may have to break the door down …’

  Just as Joe was saying the last words, Noni threw open the door and stood to one side, smiling. Joe had his back to them, holding up the poster. The constable looked into the room and saw two girls, in pink and blue, all ready for a birthday party. He frowned. When Joe turned around, his jaw dropped.

  Suddenly he was lifted off the ground, the constable’s huge hand under his arm. ‘Think you can make a fool of me, young man?’ he said. ‘We’ll see what your father thinks of this.’ Then he dragged Joe down the hall, the boy protesting every step.

  Noni shut the door and stood with her back to it, bursting with laughter. Excitement lit her eyes and she had to hold her hand over her mouth.

  ‘That was so funny,’ she said. ‘The funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Did you see Joe’s face? It looked as if it was melting.’

  Poppy wanted to laugh too. It had been funny. But there was a heavy feeling in her heart. She knew that as soon as the policeman talked to Mr Bell, he would be back, curious to know what was going on. It was time to go. She began stripping off the dress.

  Poppy opened the stable door, careful not to let it squeak. She hurried along between the horse stalls, heading for her room.As she passed Gideon, the big horse thrust his head over the gate and nickered to her softly.

  ‘Are you talking to me now?’ Poppy said, reaching her hand out to stroke the white blaze on his nose. Half an apple sat on the railing of the empty stall ne
xt door. She placed it on the palm of her hand. This time, instead of turning his head away, Gideon nibbled it, his lips soft against her skin. The sound of clinking made Poppy jump.

  Tom was standing at the door to the stable, a bridle over his arm. ‘He gentle like lamb with you now, eh?’ He smiled. ‘You the only one can ride that horse. You best take him, go fast’

  Poppy’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘You mean … ride Gideon?’

  ‘You going to Wahgunyah, you gotta cross that river. This horse’ll carry you. When you get the other side, send ’im home again.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘That horse he smart. He teach you how to ride,’ Tom said, reading her thoughts. ‘Your spirits, they tied together now.’

  Poppy didn’t quite understand what Tom meant by this but she trusted him. He had always been right in the past. ‘I’ll get my satchel,’ she said.

  Fisher danced around in happy circles when she opened the door to her room. She gave him a quick scratch behind the ears then set about packing her few belongings. She didn’t have much time.

  Tom was waiting with Gideon at the back door to the stables.

  ‘But he doesn’t have a saddle!’ Poppy said, alarmed.

  ‘You gotta cross that river, what you going to do with a saddle, eh?’

  ‘I’ve never ridden bareback.’

  ‘Like I said, you spirits they tied together now. You be fine.’

  ‘You’d better go, Kalinya!’ Noni came running towards them. She handed Poppy a small cloth bag that clinked with the sound of coins. The two girls looked at each other, their eyes filling with tears. Poppy opened her mouth to say something, but Noni shook her head, laying her finger on her lips. She leaned forward and gave Poppy a big hug, then turned her around to face Gideon, pushing her gently as if to say, ‘Go on, get out of here.’ Then she ran out of the stable, back towards the house and the party, where Poppy could hear a piano and voices raised in song.

  She watched Noni go, pressing her lips together.

  ‘Come on,’ said Tom. He gave Poppy a leg-up onto Gideon’s back. Then pointed towards the bush behind the house. ‘Use that trail and head south.’

  A small branch landed at Tom’s feet.Tom and Poppy both looked up.

  In a tall gum tree sat a crow.

  ‘Dangamai,’ smiled Tom.

  ‘What?’ said Poppy.

  ‘Your Napu … her spirit in dangamai.’

  The crow flew down and sat on the white timber fence beside her. Her feathers gleamed.

  ‘Napu,’ Poppy said, tears welling in her eyes.

  The crow looked at Poppy then spread her wings. Poppy watched the bird fly up and over the trees.

  ‘Follow bigarrumdja, Emu in the Sky, Kalinya,’ Tom said, making a clicking sound with his tongue.

  Poppy gathered the reins and Gideon started walking.

  ‘Thank you, Tom,’ she called. ‘Thank you for everything.’

  As Poppy rode down the track, she wanted to glance over her shoulder. No, she told herself. You have to keep your mind on the way ahead.

  She kicked Gideon into a trot then to a canter. ‘Wahgunyah, Wahgunyah, Wahgunyah,’ she chanted.

  The word rolled over and over in her head as the music from the party slowly faded.

  I am a fourth generation Chinese Australian and was born in Melbourne. My mother’s grandfather, Chen Ah Kew, came from China to the Victorian goldfields in 1853 when he was seventeen years old. The character of Jimmy Ah Kew that you will meet in Poppy and the Thief is based on him. My great grandmother’s name was Lum Gum. She was twenty when she arrived in Australia in 1885.

  My father was born in Shanghai, China, and met my mother when he was sent to Australia by the Chinese government during World War Two.

  The Poppy books could not have been written without the advice of Koorie elder, Uncle John Sandy Atkinson; Koorie Liaison officer at the State Library of Victoria, Maxine Briggs; and Koorie Heritage Trust Librarian Judy Williams.

  I was born and grew up in Italy, a beautiful country to visit, but also a difficult country to live in for new generations.

  In 2006, I packed my suitcase and I left Italy with the man I love. We bet on Australia. I didn’t know much about Australia before coming – I was just looking for new opportunities, I guess.

  And I liked it right from the beginning! Australian people are resourceful, open-minded and always with a smile on their faces. I think all Australians keep in their blood a bit of the pioneer heritage, regardless of their own birthplace.

  Here I began a new life and now I’m doing what I always dreamed of: I illustrate stories. Here is the place where I’d like to live and to raise my children in a country that doesn’t fear the future.

  Missions and Reserves

  The Aboriginal people have walked this land for more than 60,000 years. In all Indigenous cultures in Australia, connection to land is central to spirituality.

  In the 1830s, European settlers came to southeast Australia and forced the Indigenous people away from their traditional lands. Cut off from their most basic connection, unable to live or hunt as they always had done, the Aboriginal population was almost wiped out by starvation and disease.

  Because of this, the Victorian government set up the Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines in 1860. The Board established four main church mission stations: Ebenezer, Ramahyuck, Lake Tyers, and Lake Condah. But it was very hard on the missions for the Aboriginal people as they had to learn a completely new way of life. Bird Creek Mission is entirely fictitious.

  Bushrangers

  During the Gold Rush, there were many bushrangers including Irish-born Harry Power, who had been transported to Australia for stealing a pair of shoes. He escaped and went on to become one of the most famous bushrangers of his time, but he never killed any of his victims and was well-known for his sense of humour. One time he met three men hunting him down. He didn’t tell them who he was, and pretended to be scared, asking them for protection. When he had the chance, he robbed them of their guns, clothes and boots. They had to walk away completely naked!

  Harry Power was one of the most feared bushrangers of his time. This picture was taken in Pentridge Prison around 1870.

  BANGERANG WORDS

  Bangerang is an Indigenous language spoken by Aboriginal groups whose ancestral homelands originated from the Murray and the Goulburn areas, extending into New South Wales. Here are some Bangerang words that have been used in Poppy’s story:

  * * *

  Ngani nhalaya Who is that?

  * * *

  Kalinya maan Pretty face

  * * *

  Mulanmuk ngina? Are you hungry?

  * * *

  Yathapka Nonsense

  * * *

  Dangamai Crow with white round eyes

  * * *

  Baka Dog

  * * *

  Garkadanuk Horse

  * * *

  Gaiyimar Kangaroo

  * * *

  Iyawa bigarrumdja I see one emu

  * * *

  These words were sourced from the following website:

  http://alv.vcaa.vic.edu.au

  As Poppy galloped away from Summerhill, there was a gnawing emptiness in the pit of her stomach. Saying goodbye to Tom and Noni had left her heavy with sadness. I always seem to be leaving, she thought, always saying goodbye. But until she found her brother Gus, this was her life. They said Gus was on his way to Wahgunyah.Well, now so was she.

  ‘Come on, Fish,’ she called out to her dog, and kicked Gideon’s flanks.The big black horse lengthened his stride.

  Riding bareback had been hard at first, until Toms words had echoed in her mind: You just do it, over and over. Don’t worry you no good. Get good soon enough. Gideon’s spirit was tied to hers, Tom had said. And now she knew that to be true.

  Wahgunyah lay in the colony of Victoria, on the other side of the Murray River. Bird Creek Mission was in Victoria too, where Poppy had begun her long journey. But after h
iding on the paddle-steamer heading up the Murray, she’d been forced to sneak off the boat at Tocumwal, in New South Wales. Poppy had been on the wrong side ever since. Now she had to get back across, but the river was wide, and deep.

  And Poppy couldn’t swim.

  Would Gideon want to go in the water? Tom had assured her that horses were natural swimmers. What if he floundered when they were in the deepest part? If only I was a bird. I could fly across without getting wet! As the miles from Summerhill disappeared behind her, Poppy worried about the river crossing to come.

  Several hours later they came to the Murray. What had Tom called it? Oh yes, Tongala. Poppy drank thirstily with Fisher and Gideon at the water’s edge.Then she rose and washed the dust from her face. The ride had been tiring. Finally she dared to look up and across the river. It was so wide! Poppy felt her heart falter.

  No! she thought. She stood up, took off her boots and tied them together by the laces, slinging them around her neck.

  ‘It’s time to go,’ she said.

  Fisher wagged his tail and ran into the water, barking excitedly.

  ‘It will be all right,’ she told Gideon as she climbed onto his back. ‘Even if you’ve never been in water before, you can swim. Come on now.’ Poppy made clicking sounds with her tongue urging him forward. And slowly, with a few encouraging jabs with her heels, he entered the water.

  ‘Good boy, Gideon. Good boy,’ she said. ‘You can do it. You can do it.’