Jessie's Ghosts by Penny Garnsworthy Page B

Harold. The other two are their parents, your
great-grandparents.’
    ‘Wow, it is really old, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes it is.
Your grandfather would be seventy-five now if he were alive, and if he was
about Sarah’s age in this portrait, then that would make the portrait … oh,
over fifty years old.’
    ‘Wow,’ said
Jessie again, ‘did you know pop’s parents?’
    ‘Yes, I knew
them well. They were English you know, came to Australia just before Fred, your
grand … pop - was born. This was their house, Jessie, and then it became pop’s
after they died.
    ‘What about
pop’s brother?’ Jessie asked, as she stared into Harold’s eyes, mesmerized by
how sad they looked.
    ‘Well, he’s a
bit of mystery really. Just up and left one day – very odd it was.’
    ‘Mmm,’ said
Jessie, ‘are there any more old portraits around?’
    ‘None that
I’ve found, although I did find a collection of very old photograph albums up
there in the loft.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes, you
might want to take a look while you’re here. Mostly they’re of Fred and his
brother, but there’s some of Fred and me, around the time we were married. Why
don’t we dig them out tomorrow?’
    Jessie nodded
enthusiastically. At least now she would have something to do.
     
    The television
was blaring as Jessie walked into the lounge room after dinner and her bath.
Nanna was asleep in her favourite armchair with her mouth slightly open. Her
hearing aid was on the coffee table beside her and soft gurgling noises were
coming out of her mouth. Jessie turned off the television and curled up into
Nanna’s big old lounge chair.
    Earlier at the
library, Sarah had told her to be quick, so Jessie had simply chosen four books
at random from the upper primary school section. It really didn’t matter what
she read, Jessie just loved to read. Now she looked at the covers and chose one
with really bright pictures of people and things from Ancient Egypt. The book
was called ‘Cairo Jim’ and after a quick glance at the information on the back
cover, Jessie settled down to read.
    After a while
Nanna stirred in her recliner, looked over and said, ‘my goodness, it’s already
after nine.’
    And I can’t
believe I’ve been reading for over two hours, Jessie thought. But the
adventures of archaeologist and poet Cairo Jim in Egypt had swept her away into
an imaginary world. Cairo Jim’s companions Doris the Macaw and Brenda the
Wonder Camel were great fun and Jessie couldn’t wait to read the next chapter.
Reluctantly she put down the book and kissed Nanna goodnight.
     
    Well, I’ve got
through the first day, Jessie thought as she crawled into bed and closed her
eyes. Now all I have to do is make it through the rest. I wish mum and dad were
here … and as she pulled the doona up to her chin and closed her eyes, a tear
trickled down her cheek.
    And then her
eyes were open again.
    What was that?
    Jessie yawned.
Was that someone talking? Yes, it was a lady’s voice. It’s probably Nanna, she
thought, maybe she’s calling me. Stepping down onto the soft lambswool rug that
lay on the floor beside her bed, Jessie put on her slippers.
    The voice
spoke again. Funny, it didn’t really sound like Nanna, but it had to be, didn’t
it? Who else could it be?
    Maybe, Jessie thought,
Nanna talks in her sleep. Sarah told Jessie she had talked in her sleep for
ages after their parents had … no, I don’t want to think about that she told
herself as she padded across to the door.
    Moonlight was
streaming in through her bedroom window, creating sinister shapes on the walls.
Jessie wrapped her arms aroung herself as she turned the handle and the door
opened with a deafening squeak. Out in the pitch black hallway she glanced up
towards the front door and then down to the kitchen. Once her eyes had adjusted
to the darkness she crossed over to Nanna’s room. Her teeth had begun to
chatter as she peeked in through Nanna’s slightly open door.
    Nanna was
lying in her