Selkie's Tithe

Selkie’s Tithe

Pure aquamarine light

Flows away and returns

At Bright Lady’s behest-

Liquid feeling fields.

Low ebb granite in

Fingering shelves protrudes

All kelp-draped with kin

Lying congregating.

No sun hours frame

Time's march past here

Nor rigid structures

Bind to ordered lives

Anima heart-held now

Swims freely bayward

Grey form homing to

Love’s clear toned call.

Yet sidhe fear most

The metal banded heart

Whose webless fingers

Clutch, asphyxiating

Cradle lightly carra.

Store away her skin

Guard well from vermin

but free-rein your selkie

Drawing From Life

Chapter 18 continued:

The weekend after their move Rhona and Gracie had a house warming. 

It was the first time Rhona had seen Philip since her weekend away. They had spoken a few times in the interim but neither had mentioned Bill. She told herself she was waiting for him to raise the subject, knowing full well he never would. He walked in with Charlie and Paul, which was a good thing. She thought it was less obvious that she had been waiting anxiously for him to arrive. 

She introduced all three men to Joe, who had come down especially for her party. He had Emma and his nephew Joey with him. He also brought his friend Niven Marsh, who was staying the weekend in Auckland with family.

That night Charlie returned to something like his old self, charming everyone as he circulated the room. His appearance there signified a détente between them, but Rhona was aware the old easy understanding with him had never returned. She saw him engaging Niven on some serious subject for quite some time, but they moved on to a lighter note eventually.

This Mr Marsh was an asset to a hostess. He mingled easily with everyone, telling stories and cracking jokes. He patiently answered all Rhona’s questions about the theatre sports project, but it was clear he had no time for her. Once or twice during the evening Rhona noticed he looked at her aggressively. The third time it happened she decided to ask him what was wrong. Drawing her aside from Anna and the others nearby he said in an undertone “Did Joe talk to you?”

“About what exactly?” 

Niven blew out his cheeks and looked at the ceiling. He had his hands in his pockets and started rocking backward and forwards on his heels. In an accusing tone he said “I was a friend of Jim Drago. Joe was too. He taught us art see. When he died recently I sorted out some of his stuff.”

Rhona looked away to her left thinking: Dear Jim. I didn’t know he died. 

When she looked back she made an effort to smile. “No. Joe never mentioned it, but then I never asked to see his school records.”

Niven snorted. “Right. Sure” and went to find a drink. She stood there a moment thinking how Jim Drago had tried to spare her from ignorant, prejudiced people. He had paid dearly for it too.

She looked up to see that Philip was watching her from only a pace away. She unclenched her hands and widened her eyes as she had learned to do at Easter. Poise Rhona, she thought.

She gave him her best camera worthy smile, cursing his uncanny way of materialising in her most vulnerable moments. She tried to put a bit of sparkle in her voice when she spoke to him. She nodded in the direction of Niven’s back. “There goes a man I never met before in my life who imagines he knows all about me. What do you make of that Philip?” He had come across to stand in front of her and handed her a glass of wine. She suspected that he had heard the whole stupid exchange.

He looked at his own glass a moment before he asked a question of his own. “Do you usually give credence to the uninformed opinions of strangers Rhona?” When she didn’t answer he said in a light hearted way “Lift your chin a little more”. When she obeyed he raised his glass to her. He understands me, she thought, but if he touches me now I shall make an exhibition of myself.

Philip showed he was in full command of the situation however. “Gracie tells me your new studio has two entrances. I am interested to see this thoroughfare. It is that way I believe.” He indicated the verandah to his right, where Paul and Joe were standing outside talking.

Rhona was certain he sensed her relief. She took her queue, leading the way to the door    “Yes come and see. I am so delighted with it.”

As Philip had forseen, there were others interested in seeing the part of the verandah that was now enclosed to form a narrow room. Rhona felt he watched to make sure she was steadier. As she opened the door Paul asked her about interruptions and she was back in control when she answered. “Once we get settled I will keep this entrance shut. The other access is from my bedroom at the end there, so it’s ideal really.” Philip had drifted away of course. She knew he would.

After they had settled the overnighters down, Joe and Rhona stood together in the kitchen stacking glasses and plates. She was thinking about her sharp exchange with Niven earlier. She knew full well that Joe’s dislike for conflict would have prevented him from mentioning that man’s opinions– especially if he now thought of her as some sort of tainted goods, like Bill seemed to have done. “Niven tells me Jim Drago taught you two drawing. Did you know he taught me too?”

Joe reached past her for a tea towel and said casually “Well I figured you must have known him.”

She tried to keep her tone light. “How come?”

Joe leaned against the oven. “I went to visit him – Jim was in the hospice at Whangarei- just before he died. He was sitting up sketching, just kind of playing around with a pencil as we talked. You probably do the same so you know what I mean.” He gave her a tired smile. “Well he started talking about things he had done in his life. How it was a matter of honour that had brought him up North. How he had lost a lot in terms of his marriage and his career, but he didn’t regret it.”

Rhona started to gnaw at her lip, but she didn’t interrupt. She was watching his face as he told her “He didn’t elaborate, just flicked to a fresh page of his pad and drew the head and shoulders of a girl. A quick likeness you know? Then he signed it and wrote “Rhona” along the bottom and gave it to me. I hung it in my upstairs hallway.”

She turned away to the stack of plates behind her and began to reload the dishwasher, asking the interior of the machine “Did you know what he meant?”

Joe came up beside her and handed more plates. “Not then. Later on I asked Niven and he told me.”

She stood up demanding “Why did you ask him and not me?”

 Joe looked so distressed but she couldn’t help him now. She waited for him to answer. After a couple of false starts he burst out “I had only just met you. Your name is unusual and I recognised you from the drawing see? It was Jim who said you were “Out of the ordinary” but he didn’t say anything more, not to me anyway. How could I ask you? You didn’t know me. Niven told me the rest anyway.”

Rhona wanted to say that the gospel according to Niven was hardly illuminating. It was pointless. All this obsession with past details had soured the present for both of them.  Joe shrugged apologetically when he finished with the statement “I guess I didn’t want it to get in the way.”

She sighed “But it did get in the way, didn’t it?  Something Niven said made you afraid.”

He nodded and touched her hair, watching his hand as he did so. “Yeah I guess it still does.” He left the kitchen then and stayed away from her for the rest of his visit.