Season 01 - Episode 01

‘good morning lampshine’

Ty wakes tangled in a damp, grey sheet, Ky's heel pressed into his cheek. Ty grimaces at the salty tang of his brother's foot and pushes it away. He can hear people walking through the room, Mum saying hello. Then she calls up to them.

“Good morning lampshine,” Mum calls to him.

“Good morning flitty bird,” Mum calls to Ky.

“Who wants magic soup for breakfast?”

“I do! I do!” cries Ky, scrambling over Ty to drop down from the top bunk.

Ty follows Ky as Mum dishes up.

Ky still thinks magic soup is actual magic. Ty knows it's just leftovers and warm water. They sit at the tiny, wobbly table on mismatched, wobbly chairs. The bottom bunk is empty. Dad is at work. He starts early and finishes late every day. Ty hasn't seen Dad for weeks.

They slurp the soup while Mum washes them. She rubs a clammy flannel over their faces between slurps. Lifts their stick thin arms by the wrists and runs it over their bulbous elbows, twists it into their armpits.

She turns away. Ty spies her bowl. There's almost nothing in it. He watches her back, waits, then tips what's left in his into hers. He reaches for Ky's but Ky doesn't understand. He snatches his bowl to his chest, guarding it jealously, spooning it empty.

While they eat, more people pass through their room. Some are nice, some are scary. Some say hello, some don't. Mum is fussing in their trunk. Their treasure chest she calls it.

Ty's old shirt goes over Ky's head, while Ty gets an old shirt of Dad's. All their sleeves are too long but they have nothing else. In their shorts and bare feet they are ready.

“Now Ky,” says Mum. “You hold Ty's hand and do what he says ok?”

“Yes Mama,” says Ky.

“And Ty,” says Mum. “You look after Ky. Don't let him get lost.”

“Yes Mum,” says Ty.

Then they're off, out of the room. They pass through more rooms, all like theirs. In some there is more furniture, in others less. In some people smile and say good morning, in others people cry or just stare.

Room after room until the corridor comes. They plunge right into the crowd. Everyone's taller, packed in and busy. Ty can see nothing but bodies. They are pushed and crushed from every side. He grips Ky's wrist as tight as he can, dragging his brother along.

The ceilings are low, the walls are close, the floors are filthy and hard. He counts the corners, the steps up, the steps down, looks for the broken striplights. In this way he finds his way, through the throng and along.

They pass the scary door, with its grey stripe running from left to right. Mum says they must never go through it. Further on with twists and turns, another door comes on the left and from it the sounds of small children. He pushes Ky towards the door and makes sure he goes inside.

He carries on further to a door of his own, finally leaving the press of people as he steps inside. He says hello to the other children and goes to sit at his desk. Then Mr Keplin comes in and the day begins.

“Good morning, boys and girls,” says Mr Keplin.

“Good morning, Mr Keplin,” they all shout together. “Good morning, everyone.”

Mr Keplin hands out their assignments, talking as he goes.

“Eb?” he says. “Great work on that hatch seal yesterday, more like that please. Ty? That belt you worked on yesterday has gone again already. Get yourself back down there and fix it properly this time! Yes?”

“Yes, Mr Keplin,” says Ty.

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