Reconnected

Chapter 1 Gumly-Gumly Island, NSW, Australia. March 1993. Allison Braden tucked her blond hair beneath her ear as the mountain breeze rippled through her face. She closed the classroom windows and erased the scribbles on the whiteboard. Allison grabbed her back pack and a thick text book. The heavy load pulled her down and made her hunched a bit. She was wearing jeans; her black shirt showed a sketch of a tilted beaker and a print that read Chemistry Club: We Have Solutions. After locking the door behind her, she felt sad. It was the club's last meeting with her at the helm. It was essentially saying goodbye to high school. Allison scanned the football field and saw the varsity players still practicing. Alex, the school's prized player, was taking a sip from his bottle. He waved to Allison. She waved back. Allison knew Alex would be staying on the field a little longer and he couldn't be with her for their usual walk home. Fiona, Allison's best friend, told her that earlier but Allison forgot. She saw the lanky blond still chatting with their classmates and club members down the hallway. After making sure that she didn't forget anything from school, she gestured to Fiona to go. The duo started walking east, crossing Sturt Street and then into the grasslands and bushes behind the Australian Homestead Motor Lodge. “In a couple of weeks, we will never again walk this route,” Allison said. High school graduation was fast approaching and both were headed to college. “I told my parents already about my plans,” Fiona said. “How about you?” Allison hesitated. “The last time we talked about it, I didn't finish dinner.” “Then you have to talk to them again.” “I don't think they will budge.” Allison said. “This is one of the times that I wish I had parents like yours.” “So what's the plan?” “I'm going to convince them again. But no matter what, I'm off to college.” “Alex knows this?” “Doesn't matter, he's the least of my concerns.” Allison said. “Extra baggage.” Fiona's eye widened. “Are you serious?!” “Come on Fiona, everybody goes through high school romance to experiment, not to find a lifelong partner.” “I can't believe you; he's almost like a brother to me.” Fiona said. “And he's so in love with you. He's been telling me about buying the land across from the hospital, where you guys will start a family.” “Typical small town tradition,” Allison smirked. “If you're born here, marry somebody from here and live happily ever after.” Fiona kept on walking, shaking her head. “Look, we're in love with each other alright, but sooner or later, it's going to end,” Allison said. “That's unfair, he doesn't know that.” “What's fair? To be stuck here for the rest of your life?” Allison asked. “This place is nice but come on, we need to explore other places and meet other people.” “Alex is nice and sensitive - ” “But I don't see myself being with him for the rest of my life,” Allison said, more interested in how her life would develop outside of the sleepy town. Allison glanced at Fiona, who was still shaking her head in disbelief. They continued to walk behind the small shopping center. Fiona mentioned that Alex' parents were willing to help purchase the piece of land but Allison didn't care anymore. At the corner of the street, Allison hugged her best friend and bade goodbye. As soon as the sun faded below the horizon, Allison was home. She saw her mom preparing food in the kitchen and her dad winding down his day in front of the television. They exchanged pleasantries and she headed straight to her room. Usually, she liked to read her textbooks before dinner but with school almost over and behind her, she picked a travel book underneath her pillows. Tucked beneath the pages was an envelope addressed to her. It was the acceptance letter she received two days ago. Attached were checklists of essential documents to bring to school. Allison studied the glossy campus map. She was excited about the future, but kept it only to herself. She had no brother or sister to tell the news. Even though her parents didn't share her visions and plans for the future, she was convinced that eventually she could tip the situation to her favor. She wished they could open up their minds to the idea that they could not control every aspect of her life anymore. She blamed the dynamics of the small pastoral community in influencing her parents' attitude towards schooling. With population hovering below a couple of hundred, Gumly-Gumly Island is an agricultural hub that straddles the Wagga Wagga River. “The place is so nice, they named it twice,” her father told her before. If you were born a farmer here, however, you'll die a farmer. Present residents were descendents of the original residents. They were not open to change. They resisted change. For generations, if a family owned land to till, it was the next generation's obligation to farm the land.