August, 1950

Tessie's Story

Tessie Murphy walked slowly up the steep path that led to Old Man's Lookout. The path was dusty and dry. It had been a hot summer. Her parents didn't mind: it was perfect weather for drying fish. Now and then in clearings, or where the trees were thin, Tessie could see the blue ocean. It rolled gently between the tall fir trees or above the blowing, yellow grass. Even in places where she couldn't see the ocean, she could hear it. It roared and crashed on the sharp rocks below. Sometimes it boomed and thundered as the water pushed into the deep caves that reached far into the headland. When Tessie was little, her Uncle Tim had told her that the caves were haunted by drowned sailors. Tessie had listened with wide eyes. But now she was 19. She didn't believe in ghosts.

The sun burned brightly in the clear sky. It was nearly noon. Tessie was getting tired. A hundred yards up the path was Kissing Rock. Tessie wiped the sweat from her forehead. She took a deep breath and continued on until she reached the rock. Kissing Rock had a flat place near the top that was good to sit on. She climbed up and made herself comfortable. She opened the lunch bag she had brought and took out a molasses sandwich. The last time she had visited Kissing Rock her boyfriend, Charlie, had been with her. Now he was fishing with her father up on the Labrador.

Tessie finished her sandwich. She stood up and looked out over the bay. Far below, gulls and small boats rode gently on the waves. She climbed down and continued up the path. Kissing Rock had a good view, but Old Man's Lookout had the best view in all of Eddy's Cove. From there you could see the whole harbour and even all the way to Deep Cove, the next community to the east.

When Tessie reached the Lookout she shaded her eyes and looked out over the water. On the horizon she saw something white. An iceberg? No. It was a boat. It was coming towards Eddy's Cove. Tessie watched it closely. Soon she knew what boat it was. She could tell by its shape. She knew its sharp prow and the way it cut through the water.

The boat was the M.V. Christmas Seal. Tessie had first seen it three weeks before. She had been waiting for its return. It was bringing news for her. Whether the news was good or bad she did not know. Well, she would soon find out. Tessie took a deep breath. She felt dizzy. She waited a moment for her head to clear. Then she turned and hurried down the path to Eddy's Cove. She wanted to be at the wharf when the boat tied up.