My Place (58 page)

‘Hello,' I said as I lifted the receiver.

‘I heard the bird call.' It was Jill's voice.

‘What bird call?'

‘This morning, about five o'clock. I heard it, Sally. It was a weird sound, like a bird call, only it wasn't. It was something spiritual, something out of this world. I think she'll be going soon.'

After breakfast, I hurried over. There was an air of excitement about the place. The heaviness that we'd all been living under seemed to have suddenly lifted.

Mum was mystified about the bird call. I think she felt a little left out. Jill couldn't understand why Mum hadn't heard it, it'd been so loud and gone on and on.

When I walked into Nan's room, I couldn't believe my eyes,
she didn't look sick any more. Her face was bright and she was propped up in bed, smiling. Something had definitely happened, but none of us knew what. Even Mum and Jill were happier and bustling around like their old selves.

‘Nan, you look really good,' I said in surprise.

‘Feel good, Sal.'

I just stood there, smiling. She seemed so contented. Almost like she had a secret. I was so desperate to ask her about the call, but I didn't know where to begin. I sat by the bed and patted her hand.

Just then, Mum popped in. ‘Doesn't she look well, Sally,' she said happily. ‘Look at her face, it looks different.'

‘Sure does.'

‘Get me some toast, Gladdie,' Nan said cheekily, ‘I'm hungry.' Mum rushed out with tears in her eyes.

‘Nan,' I said slowly as she looked at me, ‘about that call, you weren't frightened when you heard it, were you?'

‘Ooh, no,' she scoffed, ‘it was the Aboriginal bird, Sally. God sent him to tell me I'm going home soon. Home to my own land and my own people. I got a good spot up there, they all waitin' for me.'

A lump formed in my throat so big I couldn't speak, let alone swallow. Finally, I murmured, ‘That's great Nan …'

Mum popped back in with tea and toast. ‘'Bout time,' Nan chuckled. She ate a little then lay back. ‘Think I'll sleep now,' she sighed. We tiptoed out.

‘Tell me about the call again,' I said to Jill.

Jill's face was a mixture of fear, amazement and triumph as she described to Mum and I what happened.

‘Wish I'd heard it,' sighed Mum.

‘Me too,' I said enviously.

Later, I whispered to Mum, ‘You know, Jill must be very special to have heard that call.' Mum agreed. We both wondered what Jill's future held.

Nan had a very peaceful day that day. A happy day. The intense
feeling that had surrounded our house for so long was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of calm.

At five-thirty the following morning, Ruth rang for an ambulance. Nan had insisted on it.

As they wheeled her out, she grasped Mum's hand one last time. There was an unspoken message in her eyes as she whispered, ‘Leave my light burning for a few days.'

They placed her in the ambulance and Ruth climbed in beside her. Mum stood silently watching, accepting Nan's choice. Knowing that this was her final sacrifice. She wanted our old family home free of death.

My phone rang at seven that same morning.

‘Sally? It's Ruth. Nan died twenty minutes ago. It was very peaceful.'

‘Thanks,' I whispered.

I slowly replaced the receiver. I felt stiff. I couldn't move. Tears suddenly flooded my cheeks. For some reason, Jill's words from the previous day began echoing inside of me. I heard the bird call, I heard the bird call. Around and around.

‘Oh, Nan,' I cried with sudden certainty, ‘I heard it, too. In my heart, I heard it.'