Pabina's Story

• Jessica Maronese, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2012

Pabina’s Story
A cold shiver went down my spine. Thoughts sprinted through my head.
“I am in Australia” I whispered under my breath,
“So then why am I unhappy?”
I looked thoughtfully up at dad, but it was no use, he had not taken his eyes of the road since the smugglers hurried us off our plane and on to the bus. I wondered a little if he was thinking the same thought as me about mum and if she would be at our stop welcoming us with her big smile. I was rather tempted to tell dad that mum left 12 years ago and that it’s rather unlikely she would be waiting, but I didn’t because just at that moment the bus took a sharp corner turn that threw me out of my seat. As I pull myself back up, I realised dad had not shifted to help me like he usually did. I was hurt on the inside, but I knew we had more important stuff to do so I rocked Yunis back to sleep for the turn had woken him up also and he had started crying. Suddenly, the bus stopped inside a small gated community and scary looking men with rifles started pushing and shoving us off the bus and into a hall. I looked up at my father and he looked down at me. He bent down and said
“Stick close Pabina” I then nodded gently and sat at the table with Yunis my baby brother. A man came around speaking my language, not fluent but good enough so that I could understand him. My father stared in horror at what the man was saying but I just looked at the solider with blue, spiked hair. Later on we were pushed in a room with one solider trying to shove a needle into me. I backed away but dad told me it was a special flu needle to make sure no new illnesses came into Australia. So I lined up and got a needle. Afterwards dad explained how, until they knew we were good citizens, we had to stay at this prison and that we would be out soon. He kissed my forehead and went to bed.
That night I did not sleep I just thought about how much fun Australia was going to be. In the middle of the pitch black night a loud bang went off and all the guards and prisoners shuffled out to the hall to meet the man from yesterday. When we all sat down he began speaking about how he had received word from the government that all the children would be put in foster houses and schools and, until he hears more, everyone over the age of 18 must stay here. At hearing this I started to cry thinking about not seeing my father until who knows when. I felt dad lovingly put his arm around me and say,
“ Pabina no matter what happens I will always love you and Yunis. We will always be a family!”
I felt like crying but I held it in and waited for the man to continue. A few seconds later the man started moving around and talking to the kids and taking them up to the front of the hall. Suddenly he came around to me and mumbled in my language,
“Hello there little girl how old are you and your brother?” I slowly responded
“My name is not little girl its Pabina and my little brother is Yunis. I am ten and he is two. So I am not really that little am I!” The man gave a slight grin and replied,
“I’m sorry I guess you are a big girl Pabina. In fact I think your old enough to walk up to the font of hall with Yunis!” I was just about to tell him he had no right to call us by our names when dad kissed Yunis and me on the cheeks and whispered to us,
“There is no need to be frightened. I will be out soon to join you. So go”
I held Yunis as we walked up and out of the hall into a large bus. As I looked back I saw dad wave so I waved back knowing it was okay.
Lights appeared and shook me from my sleep on the bus. I soon realized they were cars speeding past us in all different directions. I walked to the front of the bus and asked the bus driver if we were almost there. Unfortunately I had no idea that there were such strict rules about walking in buses in Australia. After the bus driver yelled at me I went to my seat to check on Yunis. He had just woken up and was a little grumpy, but soon he calmed down and started looking out the window. I was wondering about dad and how he was going when a skinny little brown haired girl came up to my seat and asked politely,
“Do you have any food you could share?”
I was about to ask who she was and why she needed our valuable left over spaghetti when we need it? But before I could she butted in saying,
“I am Bavini, eldest of three baby sisters and one little brother. We have been on a plane and in a cell for the last 48 hours without food.” Hearing this made me feel sorry for her so I asked,
“Well Bavini, although I would love to give you our food, how do I know if you’re just going to run off with our lunch? Where’s your proof of this family of yours!” At this she pointed back to a boy holding three shivering little girls. Although I knew she needed it more, I could see Yunis staring at the tins of leftover pasta. I looked up at her, sorry with pity and mumbled,
“I am really sorry, but I can’t give you our food.” As Bavini slumped away, I reached into my sack and handed Yunis some pasta which he gulped down in a second. Soon we both fell asleep on the soft leather seats of the bus. I dreamt of dad and all the bad things that could happen. Would we ever be truly happy in Australia? What would become of my family?? How would my story end?