The Girl with the Golden Hair

There was once a girl named Cassandra with hair so golden. Her hair was like a net, it caught every ray of light from the sun and shone every hue imaginable. She had beautiful lips the colour of roses, when you looked through a drop of dew. Her eyes were a misty blue that smiled when she was happy and stormed when she was mad and then just looked dreary when she happened to be sad. She was intelligent one of the top in her class, she had a voice like a sparrow that had just seen the light of spring. She had a kind heart filled with gold, she was perfect in everyone’s eyes, and the only pair that could find something wrong was her family.2

Her mother and father had died when she was two. It was a mystery how they died, they just went out one day and never came home. She had been taken in by her aunt and uncle. Uncle George was an accountant. He was short and always to the point. He was strict and to him a child should be dealt with discipline [or in his words“diligence and discipline is the only way to handle a child”]. He was a gaunt man who relied on math’s to get him through the day. Then there was Aunt Catherine. Aunt Catherine was catholic, to her life was a sin, she could be kind if her brain told her to be. Her brain made up for her cold dead heart. She had black hair and eyes that were pitch black apart from wisps of sliver that could sparkle if her cold heart was warmed. She was a fairly small woman in her forties, when she spoke her voice crackled and she was going deaf but that did not stop her playing the harp. 3

Although her uncle was rich he loved to drink and sometimes he would return home drunk. Cassandra would be given an income of one hundred dollars a month that would be her money for anything she wanted to buy, as along as she was patient she could get anything she wanted, the only thing she lacked was love. Her uncle was to wrapped up in math’s to sometimes even remember he had a foster niece living with him. Aunt Catherine in turn spent most of her time complaining or playing her harp, and so Cassandra lived in her room or out in the woods. Her books were her only friends at home. She had no other siblings so she made do with what she had. 4

Cassandra’s best friend was Georgia Brooke; Georgia was in cassys class [8 green] she was the girl that noticed the first signs in her friend. Cassandra was usually awake all lesson her hand up in the air to answer whatever question was thrown at the class, but today her head drooped and her eyes seemed out of focus. Mr. Davidson seemed to of noticed to.5

“Cassandra? Are you OK?” He asked. She seemed to awake out of a kind of trance, her eyes focused and she looked up with slight confusion noticeable in her bright blue eyes. “Yes” she replied, “sorry I seem to be tired today” she said with uncertainty. Mr. Davidson nodded in understanding. 6

“Now back to the lesson, who can tell me the distance of the Murray River?” Cassandra’s hand shot up. 7

Later that day Cassandra waited for Georgia to finish her work before they could set out for two hours of pure bliss, also known as lunch. She stared around her, to her right there was the class room were Georgia was paying for not doing work in class, to her left there were a group of girls staring at her and whispering to each other, they quickly looked away as Cassandra glared at them. 8

“Cassy come on” Georgia called as she walked out of the classroom with a huge grin on her face. “My work is done” she said happily.9

“Where to?” Cassandra asked.10

“How about the tree?” Suggested Georgia. 11

“Sounds good” she replied with a smile.12

The tree was a willow; To Georgia and Cassandra it was a tree that had secrets of beauty hidden behind its dark vines. It served as their secret base, they hung out there whenever they go the chance and told secrets to the thick branches, who had become their friends. 13

Georgia and Cassy approached the tree with plain faces, there was nothing to talk about it seemed. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye Cassy saw a shape, the shape was a shadow and she couldn’t be sure that she saw it. She closed her eyes shook her head then opened her eyes, she was suddenly very tired. 14

“Im tired” she said to Georgia. Georgia looked at her friend, she was rather pale and her eyes seemed to be out of focus. Georgia led Cassy to a bench near the tree, Cassy sat down and sighed, she felt slightly better. Georgia watched as a bit of color started to creep into Cassy’s face. 15

“Why are you so tired?” Georgia asked.16

“Im not sure” replied Cassy. Cassy looked up and smiled at Georgia, Georgia smiled back, they spent the rest of there lunch talking about a sleepover they were going to have that weekend.17

- Later that Day -18

Cassy slowly walked home through the dreary rain. She finally reached an iron gate; walked to the buzzer and buzzed. 19

“Please enter” came the bored voice of the house maid Sera. 20

Sera was a woman without a soul. She never smiled yet she never cried, she didn’t laugh or yell she merely did her job. One word that could describe sera was plain. She was like the hot water that you poor into your soup, if you don’t add the flavor its boring; plain; dull. Cassy watched as the gate slowly opened, she finally started up the hill to the house and a few minutes later knocked on the door of the moaning mansion. Sera opened the door;21

“May I take your bag?” asked sera in a dry voice. Cassy smiled at her and handed her the school bag. Sera did not smile back, she merely took the bag, nodded at Cassy then stood back to let Cassy enter the warmth of the house. 22

The moaning mansion was a huge stone house that had many paintings and statues, the greeting room, or the front room had red velvet floor and many couches placed near a stone fire that was situated to the right. Apart from the couches and the fire place and a few doors on either side of the room there was nothing but a huge grand staircase that dominated the entrance and led up to the second floor. On the second level the floorboards were made of wood, there were two doors on that level. One led to her aunt and uncles room and the other to Cassys room. 23

Cassy had a huge room with a blue rug, a desk, a few chairs, a bed with colored sheets, a huge window that looked out into the city, a book shelf stuffed with a few toys and many books and a painting on her wall of her mother and father sitting with her as a baby wrapped up and in her mothers arms.24

Cassy ran up the stairs into her room, she burst in and landed on her bed, the door swung shut behind her. She felt tired, awfully tired and the room seemed hazy, like when you look through a glass cup and everything goes astray. Her eyes slowly closed and she fell asleep. 25

A few hours later she awoke. Opening her eyes slowly and expecting the bright light to fall on her eyes stinging and blinding, but nothing came. She opened her eyes fully and realized it was night time. She looked around herself in confusion, slightly dizzy and very hot, someone had tucked her in bed and laid a damp cloth on her forehead. She looked up and saw Sera’s grey eyes staring down at her. 26

“A fever” she said brusquely 27

“The young lady shall have to stay home from school tomorrow; have her eat her dinner here and make sure she does not tire herself out” Cassy looked to her right and saw Dr. martin standing at the door, he smiled and nodded. Cassy smiled back. 28

Her aunt burst in. 29

“Cassy” she scolded, “This is what comes from walking home from school in the rain”30

“Aunt I truly am sorry but there was no other way of getting home!” Cassandra explained desperately. Her aunt snorted and stamped out of the room. 31

“Hot broth for dinner I should think” called Aunt Catherine to Sera.32

“Yes milady” replied Sera.33

Cassy woke the next morning feeling just as tired, but her fever had gone down and she didn’t feel as dizzy as last night and was able to join the “family” for a special breakfast of pancakes. 34

As Cassy descended the steps to the greeting room she noticed that there was a rare smell coming from the kitchen, the smell of pancakes! She rushed down the last three steps and burst into a door on the left to enter the dining room. 35

The dining room consisted of a plain wooden floor, white washed walls, a huge wooden table and chairs set around it, there was also a door at the end of the room that led to the kitchen. 36

“Cassandra, good morning” called her uncle in a loud bellowing voice37

“Good morning uncle I hope you are well?” She replied formally. 38

“I just so happen to be well” he replied, announcing his reply to the hall. “I hear you shall be staying the day away from school due to a fever?” he continued in a very matter of fact tone.39

“Yes uncle.” Cassandra replied readily, happy that her uncle was choosing to notice her this morning.40

Suddenly Aunt Catherine burst in dramatically, “Good heavens child! You are so thin! What has happened to you??” she cried sweeping across the room.41

“Nothing” Cassandra replied with a confused look in her eyes. “I have not lost any weight what so ever as far as I know.”42

“Well you better put on some; we are not in the 1st world war still Cassy!” her Aunt said in an exasperated tone.43

“Yes Aunt Catherine” Cassy replied.44

That morning Cassy could only eat one pancake even though it was her favorite food and she only was allowed it a few times a year, she spent the rest of the day asleep.45

- The Next Day at School – 46

“Morning Cassy! Feeling better today?” Called Mr. Davidson. 47

“Yes thank you” Cassy called back with a smile. She walked up to him to see what he was doing. “Will you tell us a hat story today Mr. Davidson? You promised you would tell the class all of your hat stories and it has been 2 terms and we have only been through 2 stories!”48

“OK, OK today we shall have a hat story he said with a smile.” Mr. Davidson’s classroom had along its walls dozens of hats, each with its own story.49

“Cassy, feeling better?” Georgia called as she entered the classroom.50

“Yes thanks Georgia” Cassy said smiling.51

“Good. You’re looking awfully thin! Are you sure you’re not still sick?”52

“Im fine Georgia, fine I tell you.”53

“If you’re sure Cassy. If your sure”54

Cassy smiled at Georgia reassuringly and a bit of sunshine hit her hair making it shine its gorgeous gold.55

“Let’s talk about the sleepover!” She said excitedly. Georgia, reassured obliged happily. 56

- That Afternoon -57

“Good afternoon class.” Said Mr. Davidson, taking his place at the front of the class at the end of the day.58

“Good afternoon Mr. Davidson” the class answered in chorus. 59

“Remember tomorrow is the sport carnival”60

“Yes Mr. Davidson the class chorused back.”61

The bell rang and the class hurried out of the room. 62

Today was sunny and Cassandra was one of the fastest runners in the year so she was looking forward to sport the next day. As she walked home with Georgia at her side she smiled to herself, sleepovers with Georgia were always the best fun. Georgia would bring a few coins and Cassy would bring some they would buy a few lollies at the store and then venture to the monotonous mansion, were they would stay up as late as they dared talking and giggling. That night was the last night that Georgia and Cassy would spend talking and eating lollies.63

Cassy and Georgia ate dinner hurriedly before rushing upstairs and jumping onto the bed. “What should we do first?” Asked Georgia.64

“You choose” said Cassy. 65

“Hmm. Well it’s already 8.00 should we start the sleepover?”66

“Sure!” Said Cassy excitedly.67

At midnight they feasted on their lollies from earlier that day. Cassy barely ate any that night and she fell asleep a few minutes after they, or more like Georgia feasted. 68

The next day was sport and Cassys favorite day. Georgia had to shake Cassy awake that morning when usually all Georgia had to do was rustle the blankets to wake Cassy up. They hurried down to breakfast and ate hurriedly, or more Georgia ate hurriedly, Cassy barely ate anything. After breakfast they hurried to school. 69

“Cassy are you coming?” called Georgia. They were at the park and Cassy was lagging behind the group.70

“Yes, sorry Georgia, Just warming up for the race.” 71

“Well if you don’t hurry up you will miss the race all together!”72

“Im ready” she said with a smile. 73

“C’mon girl with the golden hair” she called to Cassy teasingly.74

They hurried down to the park were a handful of girls were lining up getting ready for the sprint.75

“On your marks get ready set and go!” screamed the teacher.76

Cassy shot off well ahead of the group, she would go at this pace for the next ten minutes, then she would slow down and run for 100meters before finishing the last 50meters in a sprint. Cassy was about to start the 100meters run when in the corner of both eyes black appeared, it slowly took over her whole eyes and finally everything was black. She collapsed.77

When Cassy woke up her first impression was that she was in heaven. White was the only color she could see. Then she realized that she was in hospital. She was lying in a bed with white sheets and white everything else. She sat up. Why was she here? 78

“Ah you’ve woken up” said a voice from behind her. She turned around to see a nurse standing at the door. 79

“Why am I here?” Asked Cassy. 80

“You fainted at a sport event and you were sent here to make sure everything is OK.”81

Cassy nodded confused yet slightly reassured. 82

“Is everything OK?” Asked Cassy. 83

“Your aunt and uncle will be in soon they will tell you. I personally do not know the answer to your question.” The nurse smiled and left the room. 84

Cassy lied back and waited, she did not have to wait long however. A few minutes after the nurse had left her aunt and uncle came in with pale faces. 85

“Is, is everything OK?” Asked Cassy. Her aunt swallowed. 86

“Darling she said her eyes filled with tears. I am so dreadfully sorry but it appears that…that you have leukemia.” She chocked on her words, and rushed over to Cassys bedside.87

Cassy stared at her and her face paled. 88

“Leukemia?” She asked uncertainly. “I, I am going to die” she said aloud to herself. Her eyes brimmed with tears but not one of them fell. 89

“My darling” her aunt sobbed. She bent down and embraced her. Cassy looked up at her uncle, her tears that had not yet fallen still welling in her eyes. He was pale and for once not reciting a formal rule. He was staring at her with hollow eyes. She looked away, “how long do I have” she asked trying to pull herself together long enough to ask the questions racing through her mind. 90

“The doctors say that, that you have a month, 3 months at the most.” Her Aunt sobbed, she burst into a fresh wave of tears. 91

Cassy lay down and fell into a undisturbed sleep. When she woke up Georgia was leaning over her, her eyes filled with tears. 92

“So many tears in a day” said Cassy trying to smile. Georgia did not smile back. She stared at her friend. Her best friend. Why was this happening to someone so perfect, lovely, and kind? Why? 93

A few days after Georgia’s visit a nurse came in with a pair of scissors.94

“I am sorry” said the nurse timidly. Cassy new what it meant and she bowed her head down and let her golden curls fall to the floor. Georgia almost screamed when she next saw her friend. Why? She thought yet again. At least in heaven she will have her golden curls back. A month passed slowly, Cassy saw Georgia, her friends and her aunt and uncle a lot in that period of time. She put on a smile every day and she made the most of her time. She drew, ate lollies and laughed. She met many new people and every day she would complete a bit of work Mr. Davidson would send with Georgia [by Cassys request] for her. But Cassy was getting tired. More so every day. She had now small little fuzzy prickles of gold growing out of her head; they caught the sun just like her golden locks used too. 95

On the last day of the first month Cassy awoke from her sleep in suspense. Would this be the day? Her last final day? Georgia came in.96

“Hey Cassy” she said in a shaky pretend happy voice. They spent the day talking about school and a new friend Cassy had made at the hospital, India.97

India had cancer like Cassy and they had around the same time left on earth each. India had blonde hair, it was a dirty blonde that hung at her shoulders in a dull sought of way, her black eyes glittered strangely and her skin was a dark almond color. Cassy was in the compartment next to India and they found they had quite a bit in common. Cassy and India would sometimes go for short supervised walks in the garden together. Cassy’s window was always open no matter what, she wanted her last breath of air to be fresh, she told India. India had a very different view of death, she had known she would die for much longer than Cassy and looked at it as freedom. She was sick of waiting for the last breath; her last walk; her last anything; she knew she would return to earth another day.98

“I believe that when you die heaven is like a holiday” India once told Cassy. “A child is born every second and God can’t have enough time to create each one, so I believe that when one dies you go to heaven and relax there and you see your friends and family that have passed on. You could even meet your parents up there Cassy!” Remarked India with a small smile. 99

“My parents” Cassy savored the words. To actually meet her own flesh and blood, to touch there skin, not the oily paint of the painting that hung on her room at home. She sighed. To go to heaven must be wonderful she thought to herself. 100

“And” continued India “in heaven god assigns you a new life on earth and then you are reborn and the process of life and death repeats.” 101

“I hope you are right” said Cassy sadly, smiling at her friend. “I hope you are right.”102

Cassy shared India’s thoughts about death with Georgia. Georgia thought it was very interesting.103

“Very intresting” agreed Cassy and they laughed. 104

“No more talk of death though” said Georgia. “You have survived the first month why not survive this year? this decade? This lifetime!”105

“Georgia I am due to leave soon” Cassy reminded Georgia gently. 106

“But I don’t want you to leave!” Gerogia cried out tears beginning to build up in her eyes, and hysteria creeping into her voice.107

Cassy tried to comfort her friend.108

“Georgia im going to miss you but I will see you again, I promise. When you come to heaven one day.” Gerogia looked up her eyes tearstained. She smiled rather sadly and then said in a crusty voice.109

“I think I might go home, I have a lot of homework to do, ill visit tomorrow.”110

“Of course replied Cassy” with a small smile. 111

“And Georgia, remember I am going to a world were I shall have love, ill be happy there!”112

Georgia nodded and then left through the open door. “I hope you are right” she muttered solemnly to herself. “For your sake Cassy. I hope you are right!”113

A week after Georgia’s outburst Cassy was sitting up in bed smiling. She felt very good today. The doctors were letting her go home for the week, she would be able to spend sometime at school, see her friends and celebrate her birthday away from the hospital! Cassy was turning fourteen. She was going to have a sleepover with Georgia and her aunt and uncle were getting her a special present! 114

As Cassy was drived into the gate of the monotonous mansion, she realized how beautiful it looked in the summer. The gardens that surrounded the house bloomed. The colors of the flowers were a beautiful blue and red and the grass was a luscious green. Even the mansion looked better than usual. She realized that the bad memories of crying herself to sleep because of a good beating from her uncle were the memories that she had let shape her view of this home, not the memories of laughing with Georgia, playing in the garden and listening to her Aunt play the harp. As she walked through the huge doors she sighed. It was good to be home and that weekend Georgia was coming over for a sleepover.115

- The Next Day -116

As Cassy walked through the steel gates of her school she had a great smile on her face. She greeted all her friends and her teachers with that smile and they all smiled back, they all loved Cassy. Underneath her smile however there was still sadness. Wherever she walked she could here whispering behind her, the school had announced that she had leukemia and all the smiles that she got were ones that said ‘sorry.’ Cassy got tired quite quickly and went to bed early that night. She did enjoy her time in class however, working harder than ever and enjoying every minute of her work at school.117

By the end of the week she was tired out. But there was one thing left to look forward to; her birthday. As Friday morning dawned Cassy rose early. Today she was fourteen. She slowly got up out of bed and hobbled down the stairs. She was so tired and weak. 118

She entered the dining room to find her aunt and uncle already up sitting at the table with smiles on there faces. Both smiles were fake. Her aunt for once said happy birthday… before criticizing how thin and pale she was. And her uncle threw a maths sum at her before letting her sit down at the table. As Cassy lowered herself into the chair she sighed happily, atleast Georgia was coming for a sleepover the next day. 119

“Now” said her uncle “birthday presents.” Cassy looked up bewildered. She usually was given a cake and a toy a week after her birthday, if she were lucky enough to be remembered. Her uncle usually avoided any occupation that did not involve his maths, that included thinking up birthday gifts or celebrations.120

“Here you are” he said stiffly. “Happy birthday” he smiled in a painful way. Aunt Catherine rang a bell that was at her side. Sera walked in looking just as dreary as ever carrying a box that was shaking. She handed Cassy the box then took her place near the end of the hall. Cassy peered at the box. There were holes in the lid. What were they for? Cassy slowly took the white sticky tape off the top of the brown box. And then the box burst open. A huge golden fluff ball burst out. It jumped on Cassy and attaked her face… with licks.121

A beautiful, excited, golden, playful, loving Labrador pup burst out. 122

“He’s name is lassie” called out her aunt over the dogs excited barking. 123

“Hes, hes so beautiful” Cassy exclaimed 124

“Thankyou, Thankyou so much!” was all she could manage to say.125

Cassy fell in love with her pet. It seemed to understand her. She spent the day throwing a ball for it and talking about her problems to Lassie. The dog would sit with her and lick her tears away when she thought about leaving her home and new friend and hugged her back when she held the pup in her arms. By the end of the day Cassy couldn’t do anything but sleep. Lassie slept at the bottom of her bed. 126

When cassy woke up she wouldn’t get up. She was too weak. A wheel chair from the hospital was brought over for her and she stayed in her room for the day playing with Lassie. The sleepover was cancelled with Georgia and Cassy slept the day away. When Sera came in to fetch Cassy for dinner she found that Cassy had fainted. 127

She was taken to the hospital later that day were the doctors forbade her to leave her room for the next week. 128

Lassie visited Cassy regularly; he was Cassy’s only friend that could visit her daily as on her birthday India had gone to heaven. Cassy did not cry when she heard the news, she new India had wanted to go and that she would be joining India soon. She talked to Georgia as often as she could but exams were fast approaching for her school and Georgia was forced to study.129

As the third month dawned Cassy slept more and more. Her aunt and uncle visited her a few times a day, as they new, as did Cassy that she was reaching the end of her time. Georgia had been away for 2weeks due to exams and she now came to visit her friend full of news about school. Georgia stopped in the doorway and stared at her friend. 130

Once so fit and beautiful, all that remained of the girl with the golden hair was her heart, eyes and mind. Georgia took an instant liking to lassie and promised to look after him if anything happened. Cassy now had ear length hair. It was the same gold that it always had been but now it was almost lank.131

That day was the last time Georgia would visit Cassy for a good few years. Cassy lay in bed absent mindedly stroking lassie and she fell asleep. A few hours later her eyes flicked open and she saw a wondrous sight. 132

She saw Georgia, Uncle George and Aunt Catherine peering at her from what seemed like a long distance, she sighed. Their smiles were real and pure; Not fake and filled with love. Lassie appeared in the picture too and then her parents. She closed her eyes again, she was so tired. 133

As George and Catherine stared at there niece they only just realized how important she was to them. Georgia entered the room.134

“Good morning” she said in a shy voice. George and Catherine smiled silently at Georgia as she walked over to the bed. Lassie was lying next to Cassy. She looked beautiful again, although she was asleep there seemed to be a glow about her. Cassys eyes fluttered, then they slowly closed, and never opened again