There is a scene in The Fifth Element when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) sits down at a computer to learn everything about the human race. The moments, the disasters, flick past her and by the time she’s learned everything there is a look in her eyes of terrified incomprehension, and she falls into Bruce Willis’ arms, spent.
Keira came to me yesterday afternoon with a similar look in her eyes. Stupidly, I had left the 5pm news on while I was preparing dinner. The news upsets Keira, so I normally keep it off. We had this conversation:
“Mum, that Prince (William) went out to the fires. I didn’t see any water. It was all dry.”
“Many of those people need water tanks out there. Some might get it supplied to them in pipes underground like we do. The area is still dry and recovering from the fires last year.”
Before that, a news story was on about a seven year old boy and his twelve year old sister being pulled alive from the wreckage a week after the Haiti earthquake.
“Mum, what does dehydrated mean?”
“Our bodies need water to survive and function. Those kids were lucky because they got out…”
(I left out “…alive”)
Not that I needed to add it anyway.
“So those kids will be okay?”
“Yes.”
“But others won’t.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Keira looked at our kitchen taps, and her feet upon the floor.
“Will we run out of water?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Will we have an earthquake?”
“It’s unlikely because we don’t live in an area that is prone to earthquakes. Some countries are more vulnerable than others.”
Keira exhaled deeply, smiled a half-smile, and walked away.
She still thought about those children, I know it. As did I.
******
Photo by IFRC
For the next twenty four hours I’ll be having a fundraiser: for every comment left here I will donate one dollar to the Australian Red Cross Haiti Appeal. This will run from 8.45am (time of posting) today until 8.45am tomorrow (Saturday, Eastern Australian Daylight Savings Time)
Also, I will randomly pick two lucky people who will win either a copy of Surprise! or a copy of Miscellaneous Voices: Australian Blog Writing upon its release (their choice).
Thank you for your support.
