Best Australian Yarn: Lost? by Aimee Chong

Aimee ChongThe West Australian
Camera IconBest Australian Yarn, Top 25 Youth 12-14, Lost? Credit: Supplied.

The street was silent. The busy chatter, the laughing of children, and the warm feeling of happiness was completely dead in this town. Clutching her map in her hand, Louise frantically searched for a street sign. Maybe she had taken too many lefts…or possibly turned at the wrong shop. The only thing she knew for sure, was that she was completely lost.

It was an unfamiliar road that Louise had never seen. Light posts and perfectly trimmed trees were spaced out along the concrete path. No cars were to be seen, leaving the never-ending road empty. She glanced down at her watch to see that she had already passed the curfew her mother had set for her to get back home from the grocery store.

As she paced along the path, her long brunette hair glowed the warm shade of chestnut as it blew softly in the breeze. Louise’s bright green eyes usually glimmered in the sunlight as her beaming smile twinkled in the sun, however right there and then… her eyes were dead and grey. She anxiously fiddled with her pink knitted sweater as her heartbeat quickened. A realisation suddenly hit her like a punch in the stomach… a sickening feeling started to ride up her neck and all the swirling thoughts in her mind hit a sudden halt… what if there wasn’t a way home? In frustration she shoved her map into her backpack and glared at the walls around her, determined to find her way home.

Louise peered through the windows of empty shops, desperate to find someone for directions. However, with no luck, the streets remained empty and quiet. She sighed in resignation as she walked to the café down the path. She slowly turned towards the window to see some biscuits and tea carefully placed on one of the tables inside. Curiously, Louise opened the door, surprised by it being unlocked. She tapped her finger on the mug in shock to feel it was still warm.“Someone has been here a few minutes ago …” she thought to herself as she picked up the unused utensils.

“Hello? Anyone here?” she called out but there was no response. She walked out of the café to hear nothing but whistling winds. The tall buildings seemed to tower over her, judgementally frowning in disappointment. The sky now looked like an endless void of solid grey. There were no clouds in sight. An ominous buzz seemed to ring in her ears as cold sweat dripped down her forehead. Her heartbeat quickened by the minute as a huge lump formed in her throat, causing her to quiver. She slowly picked up her bag from the ground when…“CRASH!” she screamed.Louise was now pressed against the wall in fear. Inching towards the end of the wall, she mustered up all her courage to peer around the corner… Nothing to be seen.

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Louise slowly stepped out from behind the wall and exhaled in relief. However, there was something strange about this street. She swivelled her head around to read the street name “Green Avenue”, she then turned back to read “Green Avenue”. The realisation hit her like a hard blow in the face that made her turn a ghostly white. She frantically ran down the road to the next street, “Green Avenue”. Again, “Green Avenue”. Next “Green Avenue”. It was all one loop. Her jaw dropped at the sight of her map. She panted, horrified to read… The street “Green Avenue” was nowhere to be seen.

Louise’s mind was flooded with confusion as her head throbbed from all the chaos. She fell on her knees as tears streamed down her face, she repeatedly called out for help until suddenly a small fluffy object dropped into her hands. Her weeping ceased as she gasped in disbelief to see her pink teddy bear in her lap. The one she had since she was 3…“I didn’t even pack it in my bag…” she thought.Slowly standing up, she started to hear the voices of 2 women echoing in her ears…

“Hi Dr Anne, how was Louise today?”“Oh, hi Jenny, I didn’t see you come in.”“Yeah, it’s been pretty hectic, I just came from mom’s old place on Green Avenue. I’m so glad it’s finally sold but I still have so much to clean up.”

“Anne and Jenny…Green Avenue…What were they talking about? And how did that woman know my name and street…” Louise thought.

“Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy here in the nursing home too, Louise was kind of acting up again…”“Oh Anne, I’m sorry to put you through so much trouble.”“No no Jenny! It’s not your fault at all, it’s just that Louise keeps on wearing that same pink knitted sweater that’s way too small, she’s also always holding that map in her hand, and checking her watch walking around the whole building like she’s looking for something? I’m a little concerned how she can’t even see me or anyone else, like as if we’re not there… she always gets really worked up, so I try and put a cup of tea and biscuits on the table, but she never eats it! Just touches the mug, looking puzzled… Sometimes, she even starts crying and shouting “HELP!” over and over, so I usually drop that pink teddy bear in her hands… and she stops crying immediately! Just happened a minute ago, here why don’t you see for yourself…”

There was a brief moment of nothing but the sound of footsteps getting louder and louder, but all Louise could think about were the words Anne had said… Nursing home. Pink knitted sweater. Tea. Meal. Pink Teddy Bear…

“Oh, why does she look so confused?”.“I really don’t know what’s going on in that world of hers.”

Louise then looked down at her hands to see they were all wrinkled, her hair was no longer a warm brunette, but a silvery grey… Turning towards the reflection in the window, Louise no longer saw a sweet young girl. Tears rolled down her cheeks until she heard one of the voices talking again.

“Mum listen to me! It’s me Jenny! Don’t cry, we’re here, you’re safe, you’re home…”

Louise slowly looked up to see she was surrounded by beige walls decorated with frames of floral paintings and old dusty furniture. She was no longer sitting on a concrete path, but the carpet of a living room floor. Sitting in front of her was a beautiful young woman with long brunette hair and bright green eyes... Louise could have sworn she was looking in a mirror as she hugged her tightly. Louise just smiled and said…“Oh Jenny, I think I’m finally home.”

THE END

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