All in Black

'Isn't it beautiful?' Rose's big sister, Martha, twirled and the pale-blue silk of her dress shone in the sunlight streaming through the bay window. The dress had been specially made for Martha's forthcoming seventeenth birthday dinner, a huge occasion that Mother had been planning for weeks.

Rose nodded. 'You look like a bunch of bluebells.'

Martha laughed. 'Thanks ... I think.'

But from her room, not ten minutes later, Rose heard Martha crying loudly. She ran to Martha's bedroom, but Mother stopped her at the door. 'Leave Martha alone for now,' she said. Her face was sombre, and she dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief.

'Is Martha ill again?' Rose asked. 'She seemed fine before.'

'We've just had news that Queen Victoria has passed away,' Mother said. 'The whole city is in mourning.' She took a breath and tucked away her handkerchief. 'I'll need to arrange new black dresses for us to wear.'

Rose was left standing in the hallway, open-mouthed. Queen Victoria lived on the other side of the world! Why did they have to wear mourning clothes for someone so far away? But then again, Rose thought, Australia's ties to England are very strong. Their state, Victoria, had even been named after the queen.

Despite Mother's command, Rose went in and sat on the edge of Martha's bed. 'Are you really sad about the queen?'

'No. Well... yes.' Martha sniffed. 'But Mother has said my birthday dinner will have to be postponed. It would be very bad taste to have a party just after the queen has died.'

'Oh,' said Rose, who didn't actually mind missing the stuffy adults' dinner at all.

We might be wearing black right up until the opening of Parliament,' Martha said.

'For four whole months?' Rose said in astonishment. 'Well, perhaps you'll get to wear your beautiful blue dress to the Federation celebrations then - that's not until May.'

'Oh, the dress is nothing. It's my dinner.' Martha sighed. 'Mother had invited Sir William Pennington and his family.'

So?'

Well...' Martha blushed. 'Samuel was going to come, too.'

'You're sweet on Samuel Pennington?' Rose giggled. 'But he's got such a big nose!'

'He has not!'

'And bushy hair.'

'He's got lovely eyes,' Martha said. 'Not that it matters. I'll never get to see him now. We'll be spending all our time at church.'

Rose didn't like the sound of that, but Martha was right. First they had to attend a commemorative service. Then when Queen Victoria was buried in England eleven days later, they went to church again. Everywhere Rose looked, the city was draped in black. Shops and businesses hung black curtains and swathed their awnings in black bunting. The churches put black cloth over the altars and pews, and when Aunt Alice took Rose to the State Library, she saw black and purple cloth wound around its columns, making them look like strange candy canes. The city was busy but somehow quieter.

Mother made everyone in the family wear black clothing, even Father, who grumbled that most men were simply putting on black armbands. When the Government Gazette announced at the end of January that full mourning should be worn until the 6th of March, Mother said, 'I told you so. Everyone is fulfilling their duty, and so shall we.'

But when Martha created a huge fuss over her dinner party being postponed yet again, Mother finally relented.

'Very well, then, we'll have it at the end of February,' she said. 'But we will all dress in dark colours. No pinks or yellows or whites.'

On the first day back at school, Rose and Abigail hugged each other.

'Do you think we'll be allowed to sit together still?' Rose asked anxiously.

'We've got Miss Capstan again, so I'm sure she'll say yes,' said Abigail. And Miss Capstan did!

The teachers all wore black or dark colours, and so did most of the girls. It made everyone feel even hotter on a warm day, and someone fainting was a regular event.

One morning, as Rose rushed in through the front door, pulling off her hat, Enid called out to her in the hallway. 'Rose - wait!'

'Are we having cricket practice at lunchtime today?' Rose asked.

'Yes.' Enid beamed. 'The game against Merton is set for two weeks' time. And we've got a new coach! She'll choose the team.'

Rose hesitated. 'Maybe she won't pick me.'

'I don't see why not,' Enid said. 'You're a good bowler, even if you are a little small.'

'I'm growing, though. I've sprouted two whole inches since my last birthday.'

'Jolly good,' Enid said. 'I'll see you at midday, on the grass behind the school.'

Rose went into her classroom, bubbling with happiness. She could hardly wait for the match - but first she had to be chosen. Enid always picked Rose, but some of the other girls thought she was too young. The new coach might think so, too.

Abigail slipped into the seat next to Rose. 'What's wrong?'

'We have a new cricket coach,' Rose said. 'What if she doesn't pick me for the team?'

Abigail smiled and shook her head. 'I've seen you bowl. She will for sure!'

Rose grinned back at her. Abigail always knew how to cheer her up. While Rose loved learning, especially about other countries, Abigail was by far the best part about school.

At lunchtime, Rose ate quickly and then ran down to the big lawn. Most of the other girls were already there, and so was the new coach, who was tall and wearing grey pantaloons. She tossed a ball into the air over and over as she waited for everyone to gather around her.

'Welcome, girls. I'm Miss Guilfoyle. I hear we have some very keen cricket players here,' she said. 'The game against Merton is in two weeks, but I'm sure we can get in plenty of practice before then.'

'Who will be in the team, Miss?' Myrtle Culpepper asked.

Rose's face burned. Myrtle was the one who kept calling Rose a baby and saying she was too young to play.

Miss Guilfoyle looked around. 'I'll select a team of fourteen, but you may not all play.'

'How will you choose?' This time Myrtle glanced at Rose.

'Let's get onto the field and see how you all go, then I'll make my decisions. Fair enough?'

Not to Myrtle. 'But some girls are too young to play a proper game,' she said.

'I judge on skills, talent and hard work,' Miss Guilfoyle said. 'So let's see plenty of that.

Myrtle scowled at Rose. As Rose walked onto the playing area, her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it in her ears. Would she be good enough? She was told to field first, but no one hit the ball near her. Then Miss Guilfoyle sent Rose and Enid in to bat.

'You'll be fine,' Enid said, but Rose wasn't so sure.

Myrtle was bowling and Rose knew Myrtle wouldn't give her a chance.

Sure enough, the ball came whizzing down and bounced just in front of her. All she could do was block it, like Tommy had shown her. The same with the next one and the next.

Just wait until I bowl to you, Myrtle, she thought. And very soon it was Rose's turn to bowl. But instead of Myrtle, she bowled to Enid and another older girl who was an excellent batswoman. Neither would be an easy out. Rose took several breaths, imagining how she wanted the ball to move and bounce, curling her fingers around the ball in different positions until she found the right one.

She ran up and bowled, the ball floating through the air. It curled and turned, bounced and then spun away to the left. Enid tried to hit it but missed. She smiled at Rose. 'You're getting even better.'

'Swap ends,' Miss Guilfoyle said. She came in closer to the pitch. 'I'd like to see you bowl to Elizabeth.'

This time Rose moved her fingers around and bowled a ball that curved in the opposite direction, and then back at the last moment, skimming past Elizabeth's knees and into the wickets. Miss Guilfoyle stared at Rose. 'Interesting. Can you do that all the time?'

'Mostly,' Rose said. 'Sometimes I send it straight to fool them.' Oh dear, that sounded boastful, and she flushed bright red.

Miss Guilfoyle nodded and said, 'Interesting,' again. Then she called someone else to bowl and Rose's turn was over. She trudged to the outer to field again, her heart heavy. Two balls! That was all she'd been allowed. Miss Guilfoyle obviously thought Rose wasn't good enough, or her technique was wrong. Tears prickled in her eyes. Maybe there'd be another game next year.

'Gather around, girls,' Miss Guilfoyle called when the practice was over. 'It's been excellent to see how you all play, and also to see how keen you are.' She smiled widely. 'I'll put the team list up in the hallway before you go home today. Now, don't be disappointed if you aren't chosen this time. I'm sure there will be more games in the future.'

The end of the day came quickly, and Rose didn't want to go home. She could've stayed in the classroom all night, poring over the nature study books and making sketches. But a ruckus in the hallway caught her attention and she suddenly remembered the cricket team list. It must be up! No hurry, she thought. I won't be on it, so I'll wait until they've all gone. That way I won't have to see Myrtle's gleeful face.

But Abigail rushed back into the classroom. 'Come and see!'

Was it possible? Rose's hands were clammy and her breath caught in her throat. She walked slowly out to the hallway. Abigail put her arm around Rose's shoulder. 'What did that man say at the exhibition match last year? Playing for Australia one day?'

Rose focused on the list. Enid was there, of course. Most of the other names were no surprise either. Myrtle had been chosen. Rose's heart sank a little. But there, fourth from the bottom, was her name! She read it over and over.

'I'm in the team,' she whispered. 'I'm in the team!'

'You're only there to carry the drinks,' Myrtle said behind her.

Rose spun around but Miss Guilfoyle beat her to it. 'Myrtle, the day you can bat for two whole overs without Rose bowling you out will be the day I eat my hat. We'll be playing as a team, so if you don't understand what that means, you had better take your name off.'

Myrtle's face turned a dark shade of beetroot and she shot Rose a venomous glance before saying, 'Yes, Miss Guilfoyle.'

'Now, here are the notes for your parents to sign, girls,' Miss Guilfoyle said. 'Bring them back as soon as you can.'

Instantly, Rose's joy evaporated but Abigail took the note for her and pulled Rose aside.

'Don't worry about it,' she said. 'I'm sure your father will sign it for you.'

'But he'll still tell Mother,' Rose said, 'who will say no.'

'It'll be fine, I know it will,' Abigail said. 'See you tomorrow.'

Rose forced a smile, took the note and went out to the waiting buggy. All the way home, she kept thinking about what Mother would say. Maybe Rose would tell Aunt Alice first, and work her way up to Mother later.