The sky was clear, and when I looked up it was like being at the farm again, all the stars, and my eyes pricked at the memory of a place that I’d certainly never return to now. I hadn’t seen so many stars since coming to the city, and there was a half-moon, reflecting on the dark ocean below, and I thought of Mum, who had always wanted to see this. I decided I would be brave for her sake.

It was hard to pull myself away from the sky. I could have slept out there beneath the moon and stars better than in our small close cabin with the others breathing, snoring, groaning in their sleep.

That night I dreamed of Thomas Ryan, the boy who’d sat in front of me at the Yatte Yattah school all those years ago. I dreamed I looked down from the ship and saw him floating face down in the ocean, his small pale neck, hand still grasping the nub of a pencil.

•

Dear Mum,

Well, we are away, and while I haven’t quite got my sea legs yet, I haven’t been as sick as many of the girls. It’s like we’re constantly rocking in a giant cradle: the side-to-side motion never stops. I will get used to the sway eventually, I suppose. The boat is very nice. I’d heard some horror stories about the Liberty ships but this is all first class, and the Red Cross ladies have organised so much for us to do. There are movies every night, games on the sports deck, lectures on things like fashion and make-up, and even a talent show. I certainly won’t have time to brood. The other girls in my cabin are friendly—well, actually, three are friendly and the fourth seems to think herself better than us, but I will pay her no mind.

Right now I am sitting in one of the low timber deckchairs (the writing room was full), so excuse my messy writing. Around me there are girls playing shuffleboard, and others crowded around a wireless listening to music as loud as it will go. Later I will go to lunch. Our cabin is in the early sitting, and after being seasick yesterday I’ve got more of an appetite today. The food is plentiful, so you needn’t worry about me starving—more whether I’ll be twice my size by the time Roy sees me! When we dock I’ll send a telegram before I get on the train to Virginia. We don’t spend any time in San Francisco, as previous brides have had such a good time there they didn’t want to travel to their husbands! Mind you, they seem to give us lots of these warnings.