KASE STUDY 

By Tessa Harvey


    The diminutive woman bounced into the room, seeming to fill the small lounge and kitchen with her anger. Face set hard, she headed for Felix who was backing away, bent like a pretzel, hands cupped over his privates.
    Belle felt angry and disgusted . What kind of mother would hit her son in such an area. The boys fear-filled eyes were focused on his mum. Kase stepped forward.
    "Morning, Rosa. Fancy a coffee? Lovely day." He inserted himself between Felix and Rosa quietly, one hand behind him in a signal to get the child out by the kitchen door.
    "Your husband pushed me down the steps this morning," Kase continued in a calming monotone though his words were incendiary, successfully diverting the younger woman's attention.
    Rosa smiled. "It wasn't pretty, so your son has guts after all." She walked out.
    "Exit stage left," muttered Belle shakily, turning to clear the breakfast dishes.
"Wait," Kase requested. "Let's pray first." And they did, asking God for His peace and for wisdom in this situation.
    Rosa surged into the large loungeroom of the big house, trying to locate the children round the large beams holding up the roof. Scattered food dishes and a jumbled discarded boardgame were strewn near a coffee table.
    The large covers over the couches and easy chairs were dirty and in disarray.
    Rosa went to a small cupboard, rescued her whiskey bottle and poured herself a generous measure. Fortified, she went looking for Luke, her "useless" husband.
    The silence was unnerving. She wanted his parents gone. They had gifted them the large house and land, but Rosa knew they had long passed their use by date. They were of no use to her.

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KASE STUDY  By Tessa Harvey     Luke tossed and turned in his sleep. His dreams were vivid and painful. Finally, Rosa dug an elbow in his side. "Out," she whispered, fiercely, "I need my sleep."     Groggily, Luke complied, groping his way to the spare room. He fell into a deep sleep, waking early.     There were faint noises from the nearby kitchen, crockery rustling, food packets. He had left his bedroom door open and saw the gleam of the fridge light several times, and furtive whispers. Slowly, he crept out of the room, wrapping a blanket around his waist, then flicking on the lower beam kitchen light/     A trio of faces looked at him - Willow startled but looking defiant.     Silver looked like a deer caught in the headlights, a bowl of cereal in one hand, a glass of Milo in the other - or rather a glass of Milo with a sprinkle of milk!     Felix was backing away, beginning to cry. This shocked him.Where was his feist...
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KASE STUDY  By Tessa Harvey     The old man teetered on the steps. Agonised, he could feel himself falling, centre of balance altering irrevocably. He swayed and crashed down on the wooden planks, his head hitting each one. He landed in a crumpled heap, shocked and dazed.     Slowly, memory coalesced. His son had pushed him. No, he thought. Never. He is annoyed with us, but not actual bodily harm - yet his son swung lightly around him, using the rail they had made together to vault over Kase.     Without a word, and without a glance, he headed to their old home over the wooden bridge.     As the elderly man tried to roll and stand, a voice hissed: "Get up, old man. Your grandchildren are coming. Do you want them to see you crawling like a dog?" The brown face of his daughter-in-law swan into focus.     Then Kase heard a car draw up, skidding slightly on the gravel. Despite his pain and discomfort, he grinned. He thought - Belle alwa...
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KASE STUDY   By Tessa Harvey     What was happening here? Then he remembered pushing his father and guilt stirred his spirit. "Let's go visit nan and pops!" The girls looked delighted. Felix looked wary, almost happy, but worried. "Hey mate, High Five!" Luke reached out his hand, remembering just in time not to be too rough.     He hadn't been a good father, he thought, nor a good son.     Belle opened the door cautiously. "It's fine," Luke reassured her. "I owe dad an apology. Wordlessly, Belle opened the door wider. Kase stood up, his pose combative and watchful. There was a large bandaid on his chin. Had Luke made his own dad bleed? Suddenly he saw him as the old warrior he was. Once he had fought in Vietnam for his country, training dogs to track and protect in the jungle. And his country had treated these brave, battle-scarred heroes with disdain, returning them home quietly as though ashamed. "Dad, I'm sorry." His voice...
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