The Plantation - Di Morrissey [8]
The light on the answering machine was blinking and her mother’s voice echoed around Julie’s tiny bright kitchen.
‘Hope your trip went well, Jules. When you have a minute, come over and have dinner. Dad and I have some news we need to talk to you about. We’re fine, but it’s ghastly council stuff. Bye, darling.’
Her parents were preparing dinner when Julie arrived the following evening.
‘Dad’s got the barbecue going. So good to see you,’ said Caroline, kissing Julie on the cheek. ‘I do wish Adam was here, but perhaps we’ll chat to him later.’
‘What’s going on?’ asked Julie.
‘It’s just unbelievable. Here, read this letter from the council.’ Her mother pushed a letter towards her but before Julie could open it, Caroline was heatedly explaining its contents. ‘They want to resume this area for a bypass! Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? Imagine knocking down beautiful homes for a bypass!’
‘What do you mean, knock down? Not this house? They couldn’t,’ said Julie. ‘Let me see the letter.’
‘It’s true, isn’t it, Paul? Ask your father,’ said Caroline as Paul Reagan walked into the kitchen.
He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Well, it sounds like that’s the idea. Nothing’s really definite, yet, though.’
Julie skimmed the letter. ‘It’s outrageous. We have to stop this at once. Obviously these so-called planners have never set foot in these streets and seen the homes that are around here or they’d never mark them for demolition.’
‘This was a beautiful suburb in Grandma’s day. And it’s even more so now,’ said her mother.’
‘No one builds houses like this any more, that’s for sure,’ added her father.
‘Have you talked to Adam? What did he say?’ asked Julie.
‘No, not yet. You know your brother, he’ll just say that we should wait and see, nothing may come of it,’ sighed Caroline.
‘Yes, I guess so,’ said Julie. ‘He’s never been one to make an instant decision. Well, we can’t take that chance. Have you talked to the neighbours?’
‘They’re obviously not happy either,’ said her father.
‘We need to get everyone together and make a plan to oppose this,’ said Julie firmly. ‘Let’s make some tea, Mum, sit down and start nutting out a few ideas.’
‘There, I told you Julie would come up with something,’ said Caroline, looking slightly cheered.
Julie was still making notes on how to oppose the council’s plans, when David Cooper rang her the next day.
‘Hello, did you enjoy your great aunt’s book?’
‘To tell you the truth, I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet, I’ve been so busy. Mum’s had her head in it, though.’
‘I’ve found out a little more information, in case you and your mother are interested,’ he said.
‘I’m sure Mum would be, but we’re a bit distracted at the moment. We’re fighting the local council’s plans to rip down our house,’ said Julie.
‘What! Your grandmother’s house? That’s ridiculous. Why on earth would they want to do that?’
‘Actually, it was my great grandmother’s house, too. They want to put in a bypass to ease traffic flow away from the CBD or something,’ said Julie. ‘It’s crazy.’
David Cooper paused. ‘Er, run that by me again. Surely putting in such a road in your neighbourhood would mean pulling down a lot of historic homes?’
‘Obviously. The authorities must have some idea what these older homes are like. They must know that most were built over a hundred years ago. And they only have to look at them to know that they are not dilapidated old heaps with bad plumbing and peeling paint,’ said Julie. ‘Mum’s organising a committee to fight the bypass.’
‘Would she like some help? I’m pretty good at researching and I might be able to find enough information on the history and heritage value of the neighbourhood to stop the road. I’d hate to see such beautiful homes, indeed streets and suburbs, desecrated,’ said David.
‘That’s the word all right. Desecrated. Ripping up beautiful old houses is desecration. Look, any help would be appreciated. Could you come along to our neighbour-hood meeting tonight? It’s down the road from Mum’s place.