~~~
Accommodation arrangements for Mary all went neatly with no fuss and confusion and Eric enjoyed the solitude of the sleep-out on the side verandah.
Eric’s mother told him that Mary, who was only fifteen, was in ‘serious trouble’ and had been kicked out by her father.
One night over a cup of tea Mary explained further about her ‘serious trouble’. After losing his wife (Violet’s sister) Mary’s father started to drink heavily. Most nights he would fall asleep on the settee, radio blaring. Frequently, he would fly into a rage of frustration and anger, which included punching the walls of the house, and often Mary. She took to staying away from home seeking refuge with friends.
A couple of days after these revelations Eric noticed a letter on the kitchen table. He was not sure if his mum had left it there in a moment of absentmindedness or had deliberately left it for him to find and read. After reading the letter he thought it was the latter.
In the letter Mary explained that her father wanted a fresh start in Queensland, without her. He did not know she was pregnant. In desperation Mary had written to Violet. Her father left for Queensland not knowing the whereabouts or condition of Mary.