THE WORTH OF ONE - A CHRISTMAS STORY

By Tessa Harvey

A car had pulled up in the principal's gravel drive. Two children had left from the back seat. As soon as their car doors closed, the vehicle drew away swiftly, churning gravel as though there had been an argument. The sun shone in the teacher's eyes as she went to welcome the students.

Puzzled, she watched them quietly walk up her steps. They had not waved goodbye. There had been no carer or parent coming with them to soften the strangesudden arrival. The boy was tall for his age, around ten, Maureen thought. The girl was about a year younger. But what startled adult and the other children were their bent heads. They did not look up.

Veronica's mind raced. I thought my folks were mean to just dump me here to suit themselves, but these kids have been thumped in some way. Augustus is a good sort. Maybe they will let us be friends. Augustus though was horrified. He just wanted to run away. The food that meal was just marvellous. Lashings of toast and butter, jam, honey or even chocolate spread. The four children ate like there was no tomorrow. Augustus decided to stay.
They were given hot tea or cocoa to drink. The new children were Jacob and Melissa and answered when spoken to and seemed reasonably happy, though anxious when one or the other disappeared to the toilet.

But the principal was  remembering meeting the mother of the newcomers. The father was a compulsive gamer. Addicted. Maureen recalled the anxious face of the dark-haired mother - someone struggling to survive.

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