HIDDEN TREASURES

HIDDEN TREASURES  By Tessa Harvey     Alice had simply reheated a casserole for their evening meal. It was one Jess really loved - with chicken, rice, tomatoes and various green veges added just prior to serving.     Apple crumble with a few added late blackberries, served as dessert, with cream. Sometimes in summer there was wine, but as both were tired, they decided on Milo. They were drinking the warm beverage, gazing dreamily at a make-believe fire. The radio was playing in the background. All the music seemed to be Christian, which really puzzled Jess.     About to ask Alice about this, her mobile rang rather stridently. "Sorry Mops," she said, forgetting their agreement about names. Puzzled, she stared at the caller ID. It was Simon. She thought she had blocked and deleted him, so she did so again.      "He has been following me," she blurted. "I'm scared."     Their peaceful evening disturbed, Jess explained about the ol...

HIDDEN TREASURES  By Tessa Harvey     Alice noticed Jess was looking a little stressed and and definitely lost some weight. Sighing, she stifled her own feelings and reached out to the young woman she had first met when the child was five years old.     Jess hugged her grandmother, noting the sadness despite her usual warm smile. It was sunny and warmer now they were nearer the coast, but the wind was still bitter.     "Let's go home," the older woman declared. "Our old station wagon is just near the corner. I'll drive round and help with luggage."     "Don't rush," called Jess, laughing a little. Her grandmother, Alice was almost beyond earshot already, scurrying along, blue coat flapping. Later, over warm crumpets Jess asked "May I call you by your given name, Mops, it's just...."     ...."that you have serious things to discuss" finished Alice, understandingly. Change was always inevitable, but Alice also had serious ...

HIDDEN TREASURES  By Tessa Harvey     It was a long overnight journey by bus as Jess leaned her head against her hoodie next to the cold window. Slowly they moved through the suburbs as night came and brought scudding snow. The earlier bus had gone straight by her though she was clearly visible, leaving her to lug heavy luggage to some kind of shelter from the worst of the cold.     It had taken two hours before the next bus came and this driver stopped for her. She was beyond weary, but still told the elderly man what had happened.     The driver reminded her of her now deceased grandfather and Jess, remembering his gentle kindness and strength, held back tears. But Terry Hubert saw and his face softened.     The young woman fell asleep, feeling safe behind this driver, who quietly vowed to report Ted Pratchett. He had deliberately driven by others, but leaving a girl alone in bitter weather in a notorious area was beyond the pale....  ...

HIDDEN TREASURES  By Tessa Harvey     "Who is that guy?" Will asked, never one to beat about the bush. He was South African and spoke with a pronounced accent.     Jess flushed. "A former boyfriend. He was really controlling and won't take no for an answer." She was almost stammering with embarrassment.     Will veered off to go to his class, but paused at the corner. "We are friends, right. You help me with languages, well I'm a bully-whisperer!"     He smiled and was gone, but the smile seemed to linger like that of the Cheshire cat in "Alice in Wonderland."     Janice avoided the topic of the former boyfriend, storing it away to pray about later. "Would you come over after classes, Jess? My brother is away for a few days, and we can study and have free time together if that's okay?"     Jess was delighted and accepted the offer. "Wow, two friends already," she was thinking." I can do this. Behind her, the y...

HIDDEN TREASURES  By Tessa Harvey     Jess looked disconsolately at her printed work. When she wrote, it felt as though she was a fire and could not get the words out fast enough. Now, though, she read insipid rubbish badly written....     Really, she was meant to be studying. Her grandparents had invested so much in her, her mother and father victims of a drunk driver. She remembered the speeding vehicle at the intersection so clearly. Dad had accelerated to try to avoid the collision, but it was impossible.     Apparently the woman driver had been meaning to brake, but her foot hammered the accelerator instead.     Five year old Jess was unconscious for days. When she awoke, crying for mummy, then her daddy, only her relatives came.     The little girl had become silent, crying out only in nightmares until "Pops" and "Mops" took her home to a warm, comfortable house, a bouncy boy who became her friend, a tiny lost kitten and many ...