river had two bridges, one far to the south of where we lived was made of concrete and steel. Traffic, both local and the stream of tourists’ buses, which poured over to border to the pokie machines that we were famous for, crossed it daily. The other bridge, a mile away from my home, which backed onto the river, was made of wood and carried human traffic only. It was covered and slightly curved, the railings were high and when I was young and my father or Janice took me across I couldn't see over them to the river below. Although Mary's house was very close to mine, it was also across the river. Soon after my sister began taking care of Mary in the afternoons it was delegated my duty to return her safely home. So every day at seven thirty I would begin the journey along the riverbank for one mile. Watching the current washing junk and tree branches to the sea, watching the birds and small animals as they enjoyed the small forest environment that was allowed to exist for a scant few yards around it. There was yellow gravel along the path by the river on my side, dotted about with red rocks. Then we would cross the bridge, her clinging tightly to my hand, for she was afraid of the river. In all the time I knew her, she didn't ever seem to get much bigger. The twins seemed to easily out grow her; she stayed small and childlike even at thirteen. The other side of the river was the worst part of the journey. We had to travel almost the same distance back in the direction we had come to reach her house. The river was still surrounded by nature; in fact the area here was covered with trees and dense thistle bushes. Even in summer the other side of the river seemed darker, as if we knew our time together was almost through. We were teased, almost as far back as I can remember, by school friends who didn't understand how a boy and girl could spend that much time together. The war between the sexes started young. I suppose, because of Mary I missed out on having all those times with the boys that I later saw Copyright Jackie Bulner 1999
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A Vision of Mary
Jackie Bulner
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