The Plantation - Di Morrissey [122]
Lately Marjorie had been spending more time with the adult women rather than the other children because she found them more interesting. Bette and Evelyn now decided that Marjorie should spend more time back with the children.
‘Just a precaution,’ said Evelyn.
‘Why don’t we all take turns to sit with the children and show them something we can do or tell them stories about our families, our growing up, that sort of thing? I bet we all have something to learn from each other.’
These sessions between the children and the women became one of the most popular events, for the children as well as the women. They all learned something happy about each other’s previous life. Sometimes there was laughter, and occasionally tears, but for the children it was a reminder of a life they’d forgotten and what they had to look forward to one day, when they were free.
Time was measured in meals. The women thought only of food. They talked constantly about it, describing their favourite meals, exchanging recipes and dreaming about what they would eat when they got out of the camp. And now the rations were becoming even more meagre.
‘This is disgusting. How’re we supposed to live on this?’ asked Norma as they faced another watered-down rice soup, helped along with a few dried beans.
‘It’s not right we have to trade all we have for basic food to keep us alive,’ said Babs.
‘If we could just grow some of our own food, it would make such a difference,’ said Evelyn.
‘We’ve asked and asked if we could use the old rice field beside the main gate to grow some food, but Sakura says that he hasn’t got enough soldiers to watch us,’ said Bette.
‘As if we could run away in the state we’re in. I think that man has been completely unreasonable. I’d love to keep a few chickens. I had them at home and they wouldn’t be too hard to manage,’ said Norma.
Norma’s description of the chickens she had kept was interrupted by June, who had some very interesting news.
‘I have just left Sakura’s office. He’s been transferred. Actually given a promotion and he’s left to go on active service.’
‘I hope he gets killed,’ said Babs. ‘He was such a mean old git. Look what he did to Bette.’
Bette was thoughtful. ‘Maybe we could ask the new commander if we could have a garden. He might be more approachable. When does he get here, June?’
‘Don’t ask me, but I imagine in a couple of days. And you’re right, he might be more reasonable.’
‘They don’t know the word,’ sniffed Norma.
‘Well, I think that we should ask,’ said Evelyn. ‘Any extra food would be so welcome. Nearly everyone is out of money, even Hannah. People are getting sick so easily now, because we’re starving.’
They walked over to the fence and peered at the rutted earth that had once been a rice field.
‘There doesn’t seem to be any water. We’d have to bring in our own or dig a well,’ said Babs.
‘At least the soil looks all right,’ said Norma. ‘Where would we get seeds?’
‘That’d be worth bargaining for,’ said Bette. ‘Maybe we could at least get some root vegetables and let them sprout or save the seeds and plant them. Sweet potatoes, tapioca, yams, some greens.’
‘Who’s going to organise it and work in it?’ said Norma looking at Bette.
‘Everyone who’s well enough,’ said Bette.
Some of the women protested because they thought they no longer had the strength for any more physical effort, but Gloria stepped in.
‘I agree with Bette. A garden is a fine idea. We can’t just sit here and starve to death. Every bit of vegetable is helping to keep us alive because it puts some variety into our very limited diet. I suggest that we ask June to ask the new Japanese commander when he arrives, as if we’ve just thought of the idea, and not let on that Sakura would never let us have one. Then we can set up a committee to plan a garden.’
There was a long discussion the following morning about turning the field into a garden bed.
‘We could