LAVINIA HAMMOND COMPETITION 2016

We are proud to announce the winner of the 2016 Lavinia Hammond Competition for Creative Writing is Morag Kerry.

Morag now holds the silver Lavinia Hammond cup for a year and has her name engraved upon it for posterity.  Congratulations Morag!

Read Morag’s winning story below…

 

A Face in the Crowd

 

 

 Everything in England is vast and busy. I couldn’t believe my luck when I was picked for the under 15’s in the Tennis Tournament. Roseanna, our team leader is pretty strict, but she seems pleased with my game- so far! This afternoon she said,

“That was your best play yet Mariana!”

 I am so proud. I suppose I am a good build for Tennis, tall and thin. In fact I am quite unlike the usual Portuguese build. I have very pale skin and long sandy hair. My Mum and Dad used to say that I must be a throwback to some early settlers. Mum had lots of trouble arranging for my trip. She had to go off to the Embassy or somewhere to have my passport issued. I’d never been abroad before and so it was very tricky to arrange.

This afternoon Marta falls on her elbow during practice with me. There is a pretty big graze and a lot of swelling. Roseanna is over on the far court and a woman from the English squad comes over to help. She has long pale fingers and fair hair. She is very calm and reassuring. She tells us she is a doctor.  Roseanna joins us and the doctor feels Marta’s arm carefully, using items from her first aid box to clean and dress the wound. She says that she doesn’t think it is serious but if we want a lift to the hospital she will take us.  Marta feels all right though and goes off to the sideline. Just before she leaves us the doctor looks directly at me and goes pale. She recoils as if in horror and then shakes her head. She scrabbles her items together and goes off in a hurry. Roseanna shrugs and pulls a face.

“What on earth was that about?” I ask her.

“Who knows?” she smiles, “She probably forgot something important.”

 I keep thinking that I see the doctor a lot. When we go out for a meal in Wimbledon, I notice her on the other side of the restaurant. I feel she is looking at me.  I mention it to Roseanna. She says,

“Why would she look at you? She’s just having dinner with her husband.”

 We all go off to the toilets before going on the train to central London. Funnily enough when we come out I notice that they must have started to clear away the table but only my dishes have been cleared so far. We go on the London Eye and walk along the South Bank of the River Thames. We look round the market and admire the majestic old buildings. We all have a lovely time.

 

We are settling in to our routine and the tournament is properly under way. My opponent is pretty tricky though and I am quite tired. I am annoyed when I return to my chair and my water flask and cup have disappeared.  I mean who would want something I had already drunk from? Still someone gets me more water and it is a successful day. We rest in the evening and watch a funny film at our lodgings. We wash our hair and play around with our make up, laughing and being silly. Marta is giving me blue eye liner when she notices the different coloured flecks in my eye,

 “Your eye has two colours!”

I wish she hadn’t noticed. It makes me feel as though I’m odd. I suppose I should be used to it by now. We are tired at the end of the day and go to bed early.

I wish I could tell you that I am the Ace player of my team, but I get knocked out in the third round. Roseanna says that I have done well though and my Mum is thrilled when I ring. I wish Papa could have been alive to hear it. I miss him every day.

We are taken to see some more tourist sights. We go on a river boat and see Hampton Court Palace where King Henry Vlll lived. It is superb. There are hordes of people, so we cross the road to Bushy Park for our picnic lunch. Only a few more days until we go home and I can’t wait to tell my friends all about it.

 

Marta is in the final! It is wonderful. We are so wound up. She plays a great game but her opponent is so tall that she can reach any ball that Marta sends her. She is defeated in two straight sets. Marta is distraught but Roseanna is comforting her. I call and let Mum know.

“It is just a quick call.” I say “. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Kisses. I love you.”

We are taken in a minibus to London Heathrow. The airport is heaving with people. Roseanna books us in. We are sent through to go to departures. When I approach the customs desk I am asked to come through to a room. Roseanna asks,

“What is happening? Why do you want to speak to Mariana?”

The customs lady speaks to Roseanna in Portuguese.

“It is just a formality Madam. We need to ask some questions about the passport.” Roseanna is allowed to come with us and the coach stays with the girls. I am asked strange questions, like where did I get my passport? Have I ever seen my birth certificate?  What is going on? My legs feel wobbly.

“I want to speak to Mum!”

I am allowed to ring her.

“Mum, Mum. I’m with customs officers in London and they want to know about my passport and my birth certificate and everything. Mum are you there?  Mum. Can you speak to them?”

“Darling girl. I love you so much. Always remember that.” I hear a sob. I can’t breathe.

The phone clicks and the room whirls.