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=A BRIDGE TO WISEMAN’S COVE=

James Moloney
UQP ISBN 0 7022 2884 2 First published in 1996, then 1997 (3x), and 1998 (4x). 241 pp. SYNOPSIS: In a brief prelude, the author tells us a woman stows away on a passenger bus which has stopped at an all-night cafe, so the notions of escape, secrecy and a journey are raised already. The story is set in modern times and most of the action occurs over a period of about six months in a small town on the north eastern coast of Australia. Just before Christmas, Kerry Matt, unmarried mother of Sarah (19 years old), Carl (nearly 16) and Harley ( 10 years old). . . . all with different fathers, takes off again on one of her “little holidays” and leaves the children to fend for themselves. When she stays away longer than usual, Sarah, who works in a travel agency, sells the household furniture, arranges for the boys to holiday with Aunt Beryl “up north” at Wattle beach until their mother’s return, then takes off overseas herself. Aunt Beryl lives in a shaky de facto relationship with Bruce Trelfo, a “shonky” tow truck operator, and spends a great deal of time and money on the pokies in the local club. When Kerry does not arrive for Christmas, and still has not collected the boys by the time school begins, Carl and Harley are enrolled in the local schools, but life is difficult, not only because of the instability in Aunt Beryl’s home but also because of the bad reputation of the Matt name in the town. Carl has a hard time taking care of his brother and keeping a roof over their heads. When Carl turns 16 and the Social Security money she has been receiving (illegally) for him is stopped, Aunt Beryl pesters Carl until he leaves school and gets a job, parking cars on Skip Duncan’s red barge which is in competition with Wattle Lady, the yellow barge, transporting passengers and cars across to Wiseman’s Cove. A price war threatens to put Skip out of business, but the resourceful, hard-working Carl begins a service-to-customers, washing the sand and saltwater off the returning four-wheel drives and this gives their business an edge. Meantime Harley is suspended from school for fighting, and Carl has to take care of him. Joy Duncan comes to his aid, in the short term, taking Harley home with her where he bakes a chocolate cake. Later, Aunt Beryl grudgingly agrees to supervise Harley but he takes off on his bike. After she and Bruce chain up his bike, he steals spray cans and covers “half the town in graffiti” ( see page 91), then Aunt Beryl and Bruce get a set of handcuffs from the local policeman and chain Harley inside the house. Carl confronts her in an angry outburst at the Club. Joy Duncan looks after Harley over Easter and offers to foster him but Aunt Beryl will not agree at first, then relents when Carl persuades her “it will be best for everyone”; ( page 145). At the farewell pizza party for Maddie, who has to go to the city to live with her sister, Nathan Trelfo gives Maddie a charm bracelet and in an attempt to “big-note” himself and sideline Carl, boasts about his brother Bruce’s scams but loses face when Carl confronts him. Carl finds out that he is respected by the others when Nathan “was beaten and had to get out” ( page 176). Late at night, Justine cooks pizza especially for Carl and he feels very much at peace: “ He was awash with it, afloat and drifting happily.” ( page 181). Carl becomes aware of how much pain his having been deprived of his mother’s love has caused him: ( page 186). Aunt Beryl tries to bully Carl: “ I want you off that barge and working on the tow truck. Starting Monday.” (page 188) but when Carl stands up to her, she savagely tells about the “clowning around” of her father, Des Matt, which crippled Skip and killed his son, Graham. Late at night she tells Carl she has been dumped by Bruce and lets him know about Bruce’s association with Lovell and “Wattle Lady” and the financial mess he is in. (page 196). Carl defies the Matt habit of running away and makes up his mind to stay to fight. Lovell sets up an automatic car wash and Skip faces financial ruin. When the Red Barge is set adrift and runs aground, Skip and Joy have to spend the last of their money to repair her Carl is on the verge of giving in but Justine confronts him: “ Don’t go back to your old ways, Carl.” (page 208). Kev Bally, the policeman, questions Skip about the vandalism on the “Wattle Lady” and things look very bad for him and Joy tells the puzzled, angry Carl that they will have to sell the Red Barge, but promises to give him a proper explanation in a couple of days’ time. In a heated exchange, Bruce discloses the newspaper article about the bridge to be build to the island, and tells about his failed partnership with Lovell and impending bankruptcy. Kev Bally, the policeman arrives but just misses Bruce who has “done a runner”. Joy tells Carl about the arrangements Skip has been able to make with Brentstone, the development company and tries to persuade Carl to bring Harley and live with them on Wiseman’s Cove. Carl admits what he is afraid of and agrees to go with Joy to the Missing Persons’ Bureau. In the city, Carl looks at many photographs of unidentified people killed in accidents and, without letting on, recognizes Kerry, his mother, as one of nine people killed in a bus accident some months earlier. As they drive back to Wiseman’s Cove, Joy, who was aware of Carl’s recognizing his mother, stops the Land Rover and is overwhelmed by sadness. Carl also is confronted by his sadness. (page 230). When they get to Wattle Beach, Carl finds Aunt Beryl’s house deserted and realizes he is free. He wanders onto the beach where he is found by Justine and tells her he has decided not to run away: “It was because of you. And Joy, and Skip and Maddie. With you lot around, I thought maybe I could bear it if Mum didn’t love me and Harley like wanted her to. It was just anger made me run.” (page 238). Justine tells Carl Joy has more information about Kerry, and, when they are aboard the Red Barge ( now owned by Brentstone Developments) Joy tells him that Sergeant Simmonds told her the bus in which Kerry died crashed only 5 days after Kerry left them. In other words, she was actually on her way home to the family after a quite brief “holiday” - - as usual. Carl lets his grief pour out. (page 241).