The Bookcase and the Wireless
Underneath the window there was a settee that I would lie on and read books from the bookcase that one can see mounted on the wall. One was an old copy of Robbery Under Arms. My grandfather had written his name inside: Daniel Riethmüller – complete with umlaut. On Sundays I would read The Truth and be puzzled by references to divorce cases. It didn’t make sense. We never had The Truth back home in Kingaroy. One day Grand-ma asked me, “Would your mother approve of you reading that?” I replied that I didn’t know but the truth is I knew somehow that Mum would not like it. Grand-ma smiled but I could not interpret the meaning of that smile although I had a sense that it was related to unspoken antagonisms between woman and mother-in-law.
Stories in the paper
can sometimes be puzzling.
Like a woman's smile
There was a radio on the shelf and after lunch my grandparents would listen to “Blue Hills” “When a Girl Marries” or “Dad and Dave”. Grand-dad would be in his big rocking-chair with the seat made from thick hide which was highly polished from use. My grandmother, in her chair, would be sewing, knitting, making paper flowers or even shelling peas for the evening meal. Her hands were always occupied. If she had no task for them they would lie restless on her knees.
Fingers like soldiers.
Two squads of five marking time.
Waiting for orders.
*****
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