Free The Golden Land by Di Morrissey

strange little hanging back into its box and placed it to one side. ‘You won’t miss this in your new streamlined modern house. Minimalist living. Stylish. The new you.’
    â€˜Doesn’t sound like me,’ muttered Steve as he clumped out of the room in his workboots.
    â€˜He sounds stubborn like Mark, doesn’t he?’ said Sarah.
    Natalie didn’t answer. She wished her mother would stop criticising Mark. It wasn’t as if Mark really wanted to spend so much time away from his family. He was doing it for them. As he’d once commented to her when he arrived home, straight off the red-eye flight, tired and still in his grubby work clothes, ‘I can see why people don’t last long in this job. Everyone’s only in it for the money and once we’ve saved enough for the renovations, I’m out of there, too.’
    But, most of the time, they were grateful for the extra money he was earning, despite the toll it took on family life.
    It was almost dark by the time Sarah and Natalie had gone through the boxes and sorted them into piles.
    â€˜I’m proud of you, Mum. You’re down to keeping just six cartons.’
    â€˜And those papers? Do you think they’re of any interest?’ Sarah pointed to the bundles of letters tied with ribbon and packed in plastic bags.
    â€˜Mum, I have no idea what’s in them. Why don’t you read them? Skim through them at night while watching the TV,’ suggested Natalie. ‘Now I’ve got to get the kids’ dinner.’
    Later Natalie stood on the verandah watching the cows settle down. Steve had finished cleaning the milking machinery and had come indoors for the evening. It was the time that Mark called to say goodnight to Charlotte and Adam.
    â€˜What plans do you have tonight?’ asked Mark. ‘Surely you’ve finished going through that stuff. I reckon you should just dump it all.’
    â€˜We’re nearly finished. Mum’s culling now. What did you have for dinner?’
    â€˜Veal schnitzel, potatoes duchesse and peas, and floating islands for dessert.’
    â€˜Those caterers spoil you! I hope you’re getting some hints on how to cook nice things. I’m looking forward to a special dinner when you get home.’
    â€˜It’ll be special all right! How are the kids? Does Charlotte understand what’s going on with the farm?’
    â€˜Kind of, but she won’t really understand that we won’t ever come back here until she sees Mum and Steve in their new house. She’ll miss the calves. She has drawings she wants to show you.’
    â€˜Well, sounds like you’re having fun.’
    â€˜Mark, this isn’t fun. It’s a disaster here. You can’t believe the stuff Mum has, even things from my greatgrandmother. And poor Steve is – I don’t know – a bit ambivalent. Big wrench for him,’ she added softly into the phone.
    â€˜Yes. But he should be happy he has a buyer who’s taking everything. Maybe they should have thrown in all your mum’s stuff as an extra! You never know there could be something valuable in there,’ he said with a laugh.
    â€˜I don’t think so. Most of it just has sentimental value, no-one else would be interested. You should have seen this old fox fur. Yuck! Charlotte freaked out when I showed her. It had the head with its beady eyes and little feet. Anyway, Mum’s going to go through the old papers and photos later. Not that we know who half the people in them are.’
    â€˜Nat, please, just don’t bring anything back with you.’
    â€˜No, I won’t. Promise. Just a couple of eggcups that are old but cute, and some books that I loved as a child and I hope Charlotte and Adam will love as well, and an odd little thing I have no idea what it is, but it’s old and maybe I’ll hang it on a wall,’ said Natalie.
    â€˜Sounds good. I’d better go. Put the kids