2011 - Theses - Flinders University

White Lives in a Black Community: The lives of Jim Page and Rebecca Forbes in the Adnyamathanha communityTracy SpencerVolume One Creative Writing Component: Excerpted Chapters from Volume Three Appendix OneNow that the greeting is done, Jim steals quick glances at the group of women bent overhis bags. He is not sorry to see the contents of the Peterborough packages strewn about: whatelse has he to give? But in truth he is looking for something more. A flash of white amongstthe black skins, or maybe some strident Cockney tones. An ivory form in rough skins, orperhaps the button boots of Daisy Bates. Something like a nightmare, or a dream, surely, thisMrs Forbes? He looks around at the men he is sitting with, and wonders which of these is MrForbes. Which of these strokes a white thigh, or cups English breasts?Jim doesn’t notice Becky for some time, and when she stands up and pushes back her felthat, his eyes narrow in spite of himself. Full skirts and a blouse like the others, and amisshapen wide brim hat, but a sharp nose, narrow cheek bones, and an undeniably Englishgaze meets his boldly. She could be one of his mothers sisters! Her skin is not white, notexactly. It is creased and worn by squinting at the sun and wiping sweat, and shadows gatherin these places. Her hair is dark under her hat, and her eyes could be black, looking out underclearly defined brows. His hand gestures recognition, but she turns away, letting the soft andbroad bodies of the other women engulf her tiny, taut frame. He can make out now anoccasional twang in the conversation when she explains some item of apparel to the others.Jim thinks she must be enjoying herself at this strange kind of jumble sale.Becky is enjoying the scene, now she has seen him. He’s got no right to judge me, she thinks,feeling the power of her new position. In fact he’s going to need me, poor bugger.‘What do you think, then?’ Jean asks, noticing Becky’s jubilant mood.‘Alright, I guess. A young fella: you better watch out, eh?’92