Sister Heart

A “government man” buries Janey—and two other children who succumbed to the influenza outbreak—in three little “government graves” while Tim and Annie watch. Afterward, they stand by the fresh grave, crying. Tim wants to know why the government wouldn’t send Janey home. Annie has no answer for him. Tim lays Janey’s laughing stone on her grave, and Annie carefully places the bush doll Janey made her next to it. They cry and whisper goodbye and cry some more.

Tim, Annie, Nancy, Dot, and Emmy gather a huge bundle of wildflowers to place on Janey’s grave. As they do, Tim tells Annie that his heart has burst with grief, and it hurts. A lot. Annie knows she can’t fix Tim or bring Janey back. But she resolves to do the only thing left and be a big sister to Tim herself. They hug.

Time slows down in the wake of Janey’s death. Annie still does all the usual things—lessons, chores, eating stinky soup—but it’s not the same without her friend. At night, she dreams of home. In her dreams, she tells Mum about Janey, and Mum holds her while she cries. Annie wakes up, crying. Alone.

Weeks later, Annie sits in the crying tree watching the wildlife in the bush. The blooms have all faded and she feels lonely without Janey. Tim finds her there crying for everything: home, family, Janey, him, and herself. He climbs in beside her. Annie shows Tim her treasure: the last billy button blossom. He asks if Annie plans to give it to Janey.

Annie and Tim place the last billy button on Janey’s grave. It reminds Annie of a sad smile. She feels melancholy. Tim declares that he’s not a baby anymore, and he vows to remember everything Janey ever told him about their family. Annie nods. And she thinks about her memories of her own family: Mum’s bright singing voice, her little sister’s kisses, her grandparents’ jokes and stories. She knows she will never forget her family and they will never forget her. No matter what.

A kookaburra calls from the trees, and then it swoops over Tim’s and Annie’s head. Kookaburras were Janey’s favorite bird, Tim says. He thinks that maybe the kookaburra is Janey’s spirit, flying home. Annie agrees. Tim tells Annie that one day, he’s going to grow feathers, too, and fly home.

Annie knows that songs have wings just like birds do. That night, when all the other girls are asleep, she plans to sing a soft song and send it to Mum on a moonbeam. She will tell her mother that she’s not lost and that she promises to come home someday. Tim looks up at her and says, “Home’s waitin’ for us, Annie.” She agrees. And she tells him that one day, they’ll “all fly free.”