FIND THE FACE

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     At 9pm their phone shrilled. Most people no longer had a landline , but the Amasanti's had friends who were older and were not comfortable with mobiles. Ronnie answered, "Who are you?" he queried. They could hear somebody sounding very upset and agitated. "Just a moment. It's Mike," he said, puzzled. "He is really upset."     With trepidation, Lisa got up from the comfortable armchair slowly and lumbered to the phone. "Yes," she waited.     For a while, she just stood there, listening, tears streaming down her face. Then she put the phone down and told them what had happened.     "Mike was wandering round town and walked into some little church. It was for French people. There was a stand at the back with cards of Biblical scenes. He picked one of fishing. Men were hauling in nets from old-looking boats, bent over the side, hauling in the fish. A man, Jesus, was hailing them from the shore. The Fre...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Lisa returned from an appointment at the hospital clinic. She was quiet, but helped look after George and Sally Ann while Sandi fed and settled baby Lucy.     Later she had a late evening warm drink with Ronnie and Sandi. "At the clinic, the doctor noticed that the baby is much further along than I had thought. Apparently it could be Mike's after all. I had a moment of madness - well, longer than a moment. A couple of days, Mike had been having an affair and I was so upset and angry when I found out I drank too much and went out and well, you know the rest!"     "You mean he was nasty to you for being unfaithful, when he had been doing the same?" Ronnie was incredulous. He swept his dark hair out of his eyes abruptly.  "Ssh!" Sandi soothed him. "Tell him." urged Lisa. "Well, I am going to," the other woman replied, "but all that God stuff at the school has really touched me. Do you mind if we ...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     "He made me have an abortion." Jill blurted out to her sister, grabbing her arm hard. The fingers clenched so tight, Ainslee winced.     She glanced round the dark city street. A few blokes were staggering away from the nearby pub. One vomited in the gutter. The rancid smell drifted towards them. "Look, get in the car. I'll drop you off."     "Who made you have an abortion?" Ainslee spat out the last word as though it was something unmentionable and unclean. She indicated to a deserted street, and pulled out drifting along slowly.     "Ben did, the paramedic." "Well, so what? You were a fool to get caught." "I wanted the baby." Jill's voice sounded small and sad. "I like children." "Well, why didn't you keep it? I would have helped." This was said very grudgingly and both women knew it was a lie.     Ainslee glanced at her sister's tear-stained face and fe...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Sandi stared around the spare bedroom, horrified. Her friend had arrived with a carload of possessions three days ago. But now as Sandi gazed round at the neatly made twin beds she had prepared for Sally Ann and Lisa, she realised with a jolt of shame how little they had in the way of belongings.     Sandi hadn't meant to intrude. Lucy had fallen asleep and Lisa had offered to pick both children up from the school.     Just then she heard George burst through the front door to the accompaniment of delighted leaps and bounds from Fowler. "Mum! mum!," yelled George, "there's three whole feathers outside!!" "Did Fowler get a bird? Naughty puppy!" The little dog cringed a little. "No, no," his mother reassured her son, "he almost did, though. I think the birds were teasing him."     She offered both children drinks and snacks and put the jug on for herself and Lisa.     "Mike will be home earl...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     The doorbell of Ainslee's smart flat played its tinkling chime. The afternoon was chilly, cloudy and windy. As Ainslee opened her door, her younger sister, Jill Byrne scurried in.     "Well?" asked Ainslee, raising her eyebrows, "I am busy!"     "Yeah - waiting for your newest boyfriend - or is it girlfriend this time?" The older woman glared. "So all ok at the school? You could have just texted." "Yes, fine." Jill answered, frowning, "there was this parent. She like, looked at me like she knew." "Knew what?" "Knew me......knew I was your sister." "Rubbish. Well, you're here. Shall we go to the club?" "Okay, but it's a bit creepy, Ainslee." "Wimp."     The sisters went to their occult club above the business of a closed local business. One of the members, a paramedic who let everyone female know how great he was, wandered in and l...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey No, thought Sandi, then stopped herself, remembering the kindness of the principal and her husband. Still she knew of other Christians who had been far from kind. Yet there was a light about many staff in this school.     They didn't just say they were Christians, they lived it. She remembered how nervous she had been, sitting in the school carpark. Now she felt accepted, and valued, even loved.     This reminded her of her new friend. Last night she had talked to Ronnie, her husband and told him how upset Lisa had been. At once he had offered their home to share, and now she was going to tell Lisa, to check if it was fine with her.     Lucy's wail broke into her thoughts. As she was almost home, she drove into her driveway, passing the lovely flowering eucalypts - red, cream and orange. The wattle birds called and flitted from tree to tree.     Lucy stopped crying to listen. "You knew you are home, didn't you d...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     A few days later, Sandi strolled towards the Kinder room. She remembered her anxiety about meeting her child and smiled to herself. George was talking away, prattling about Mr. Bruce.     Suddenly he stopped halfway through the classroom door. Children and adults tried to get past the little boy. Mr. Bruce had a young lady teacher next to him. Sandi gently tugged her child out of the way. All the chattering abruptly ceased.     The adults were wearing masks, of course, but as Sandi looked at the unknown teacher, she felt an inexplicable frisson of fear. Their eyes met. Sandi felt trapped. She knew those mocking eyes, but not the person. Unaware, Mr. Bruce was introducing the new teacher, Mrs. Byrne, his voice upbeat and cheerful. As though taking note of the unusual silence, he stopped.     "Well, good morning!" he exclaimed, "I will still be teaching you three days a week for a while." No-one looked at him....

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey        The two children sat perched at the table, swinging their legs and playing with their child-sized forks. A delicious odour of pancakes filled the room.     "My mum found she still had a spare baby in her tummy, so she was pregnit," declared George. "Then it came out and it was a girl." "My mum's baby hasn't come out yet." Sally Ann did not want to be outdone in the baby stakes.  "When does it get out, Mum." she asked, louder. "Not for a while yet," Lisa answered, looking at her friend Sandi and trying not to laugh.     Pancakes were handed to the children on their special plates. George had racing cars decorating his, Sally Ann had ponies on hers. "Can Lucy have a teeny bit?" George asked. "Not yet," replied Sandi. The women looked at each other, laughter in their eyes. They had become good friends over the last few weeks.     When the children had finished eating, their...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Gleefully the principal put down her pen, straightened, manoevered past her desk and left her paperwork behind.     Outside the office was the parent she had asked to see, holding her new baby. "Oh, she is so beautiful," Elfriede remarked truthfully. "You must be so proud. What have you called her?"      She felt as though she had played her part in birthing this precious baby - as indeed she had. "Her name is....." there was a pause as Sandi grinned widely, "Lucy Elfriede Amasanti!"     The principal was very moved and tears sprang to her eyes. "That's such a blessing," she breathed.     She paused and continued: "There is a child in George's class - Sally Anne. Her mother is from the States and asked if any parent could befriend her. It's not a usual request, but mothers don't see each other much any more. But, there is no pressure. Truly!"     Elfriede watched the emotions ...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey          Young George was playing happily with his model garbage truck, Baby Lucy slept peacefully in her bassinet nearby. The puppy, Fowler snoozed, soft brown head on curled paws. Something disturbed him and he raised his head and ears, prickling with unease. Fur rose on his hackles. He growled and stood, stiff-legged, menacing.     George looked around and screamed, waking Lucy. Her little body jerked in fear, her arms flung wide. She cried.     Sandi dropped the tea towel, leaving the dishes and raced to her children. The tiger snake stopped slithering towards the children , baffled by the noise, uncertain.     Without thinking, Sandi grabbed it hard by the neck end, reaching for the tail, and flung it into the small bathroom and slammed the door.     Shaking like a wobbly jelly, the young woman slid down onto the floor. George ran over, gulping back his sobs. "Where can we doo wees...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey        That night   the virus drifted towards the school. It had been programmed to steal, kill and destroy - in other words, to devastate.     The entities behind the virus searched for those whose masks hid fear, anger, rebellion and confusion, but Christians were also among the victims, especially those in key positions of leadership.     Their deaths meant people were left bereft in countries largely devoid of Godly people revealing the Way of Jesus.     But around the school were pools of light where warring angels stood guard, their swords held aloft and aflame, faces stern and unyielding. There had been a gap in the Kinder area but it was blocked now with light.     Someone right now was praying, pleading the shed blood of Jesus on the cross over the Kinder class!     Demons fled, screaming on a level beyond human hearing. But dogs heard and began frenzied barking and h...

    FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     Slowly the children responded. Then Bruce prayed with them briefly and handed out drawing books. Few students could write their names so he and Rosa helped each child.     "Are we allowed to talk?" asked a boy. "Of course," the teacher replied, but not when I am speaking, unless to answer questions."     There were sighs of relief and the class relaxed. There was a low murmur of voices. At fruit break, Rosa brought him a cup of coffee and drank one herself. A child came up. "Mr. Bruce, I have a baby sister now. Her name is Lucy, but she doesn't eat pizza yet."     By the end of the day the teacher knew the children's names, and went home tired but pleased. It was hard having to wear a mask all day though.     He and his wife discussed their day over an evening meal, then Bruce ventured, " I feel we should send Ainslee a card of blessing."     Elfriede thought for a few minu...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Bruce strolled through the early morning freshness of the bush near his house, then onto the green school playing fields. He walked to the classroom and prayed. "Lord, I need your wisdom and help. You are Lord of the impossible. You make a way where there is no way. Jesus, You are Lord - help me to be a blessing to these children. Thank You."     He glanced around and frowned. There were a few unsuitable posters on the walls regarding sexuality, totally unsuitable for 4-5 year olds; also quite strange ones of evil-looking entities. He replaced them with colourful baby animals, funny cartoon characters and basic science and nature ones, including local native animals.     There was a brief knock and Rosa Plocienik strolled in She greeted him cheerfully. In her hand were names colourfully written and illustrated. "We have two new students also," she announced, "Sally Ann and Brendan."     Bruce gave her a warm...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey      Elfriede followed him, taking a moment to take in the beautiful yellow, orange and red canna lilies outside and the flowering white gum edging the garden. Birds flitted and swooped, calling and twittering.      They set the table and assembled the salad. Despite being vaccinated, Bruce had been ill with COVID 19, but was now fully recovered.     "Our Kinder teacher gave in her notice today," Elfriede began. "She said she is tired of hiding who she really is and what she feels. Another school which believes in students changing to their "correct gender" has asked her to join them."      The principal closed her eyes, seeing again the woman's face.      Anna from the office was there and Tom, the deputy principal. The teacher's aide, visibly upset, asked to go home.     Ainslee stated God is dead and we are hiding our faces from the truth of the world as it is, in need ...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     The principal knelt before her and gently grasped the young woman's hands, waiting 'til the tension in them eased.     "We believe you, Sandi, and will do all in our power to put an end to this situation. George will have another teacher and so will the other children. Now try not to worry. We will look after George and his puppy. Someone will collect your car. All you must do is focus on your baby."     She began to pray calmly and quietly. The words soothed Sandi and she relaxed, even though the pains that came were fierce. She felt a peace she had never known and knew that God was not only real, but that she was loved. Sandi clung to that knowledge through the journey to the hospital and the long hours of labour , when everything blurred and nothing seemed quite real.     Then she heard her husband's beloved deep voice. "Sandi, I'm here. I love you. George is fine. Hang on!" A month  later..... ...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     Elfriede looked at the young woman perched on the edge of her soft floral couch. She offered her a drink and got her a glass of water.     Sandi was very pretty, her long blonde hair tied loosely back with a pink ribbon. She was wearing a pink-patterned maternity dress. The principal noted the twisting fingers and felt deep compassion for this parent.     Every school has vocal parents, some louder than others, with many grievances, some justified, others exaggerated.      Elfriede concentrated on this parent's words. "George won't really play any more. His puppy senses he is sad and snuggles up close. whining. George wakes up with nightmares often. Sometimes he wets the bed. He won't say what is bothering him, just that his teacher says the real God is called Grand Master. The school God is useless."     The principal was shocked. Sandi paused, leaning forward as though in pain, tears in he...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey      Ainslee Shepherd led her pupils excitedly towards the school farm. Rosa Porcienik, the teacher's aide, brought up the rear, encouraging the slower infants to keep moving.     She felt resentful that the principal had queried her actions. No one had minded at her other school. Ainslee frowned, regretting she had applied to a narrow-blinkered Christian school. Thankfully, George Amasanti had returned after a two day absence.     Stifling her anger, the teacher walked over to him. She quite liked the way he flinched slightly, but made an effort to be agreeable.     "Have you a pet, George?" she asked pleasantly enough. "Oh yes, my puppy, he's called Fowler because he chases birds."     The children grouped around the school llamas, stroking them carefully as high as they could reach, excited because there were several babies. They loved the ducks and their half-grown offspring.     Soo...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     Early the next morning, Tom Williams settled himself in the principal's office and  smiled.     "Morning Tom,"  she greeted, "how is your year so far?" "Well, it was a good first day!" he laughed. "What's on your mind?" "Parents, and students and staff," she answered thoughtfully. "Last night two parents called with complaints about the new Kinder teacher."     Tom regarded the woman sitting across from him. She was a strong-looking person in her late fifties, blue-eyed, her silvery dark hair curling and shoulder length. He thought back to yesterday and remembered knocking on the young teacher's door. The students had long gone and she was bent over her desk, completing some charts.     Gently he answered Miss Jones: "You urged us all to remember to heed Covid policy and keep windows open at all times." "Yes, Tom, so I did. I need you to pray and keep praying....

FIND THE FACE By Tessa Harvey        A teacher's aide came around the corner, hurriedly, clutching her son's hand. It was obvious he had been crying. The T.A. held a small plastic bag.     "George had a small accident," she explained. "We had some spare shorts."  Sandi knelt down, holding out her arms. She had been right to come down. George clutched her tightly, his little arms sweaty and hot. The teacher's aide (Miss Dobson?) handed over the soggy, pungent smelling bag and scurried away.      No doubt on this momentous first day, many children needed reuniting with parents or guardians as quickly as possible.     The baby in her womb protested against George's tight closeness, with a few kicks and he giggled through his tears. "Thomas kicked me!" "Yes, he did," she laughed too. Come on, let's go home. Fowler is waiting for you."     Happy at the thought of his puppy waiting for him, the little boy almost pulled her ...

FIND THE FACE By Tessa Harvey      The young woman gritted her teeth, then remembered her dentist warning her not to do that. Instead, she nervously twisted her fingers.     Far below, the dark blue of the harbour waters glittered in the sunshine, a few yachts heeling to the freshening wind. Seagulls dived and swooped and she heard their faint cries.     Making a decision, she grabbed her bag and disengaged her car keys, stepping briskly out of the car and locking it. She kept her gaze averted from other parents placidly waiting for the release of their own children. She did not want to see even a hint of disapproval in their faces. After all, they had been told not to collect their children unless it was absolutely necessary. The words had been in thick black type, as though condemning.     A gang of black cockatoos called to each other, overhead. Sandi loved their cry, though it had been likened to the sound of a creaky gate!     ...