Journey to Appleby - A Story by Rhianna Doran

As a part of our Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month celebrations this year, some of our young people wrote short stories to be shared at our Community Celebration and exhibited. We asked all writers to share something celebratory about Gypsy and Traveller culture, and what it means to them.

Here is Rhianna’s story and illustration.

I am excited to go to Appleby with my family we have our horse linked to our wagon while Dad is in control. Right now, we are heading to our next stopping place to settle for the night then tomorrow we should finally reach Appleby.

As Dad was driving, I was looking around at the green field that had dashes of yellow flowers along them and the trees with their fresh green leaves. Just then Dad said. “When I was younger my mother and father would tell me what it was like when they used to shift.” I said. “Could you tell us what it was like?”. Dad agreed

“When they used to shift in groups, they would leave a bundle of grass tied together so the person behind didn’t get lost and knew where to go and when they came to a crossroad, they would get sticks and point them in the direction they were going.” Said dad

Then my Mam said, ”when I  was younger my farther would get a small twig from a tree and trim the ends of mine and my sisters hair and make his own paintbrush and paint wagons and flat carts.”

We spent a little while talking and didn’t notice my father had found a camp by the roadside where we could stay for the night.

When the horse came to a halt we started to unpack and tie the horse down and gave him some water and let him rest for tomorrow. I watched as some cars and trucks drove by as some gazed at amazement and some just glared at the site.

Just then a car pulled up with police written on the side and two tall men dressed all in black, who didn’t seem too impressed,  walked over to my father and brother. They told my father we had to leave and if we stayed, we could be fined, or our belongings confiscated.

The two men observed as we hurriedly packed away our belongings and got back onto the road to find a new camp before it got late, not long after we found a new camp but this one had trailers on too.

We pulled in and started to unpack and tie up our horse. My father and brother went to collect some wood for a fire while my mam put the food on the pan. The food was cooking and me and my family sat around the fire as the red sparks flew up into the darkening sky. Then the owners of one of the trailers came over and we talked about our journeys and where we had come from.

They had a daughter around the same age as me. We played until we got called to eat, not long after it began to get dark, and we headed to our bed until the sun peeked into the wagon early the next morning.

I walked outside to see my mam and dad cooking breakfast we then got dressed and brushed our teeth and waved goodbye to our new friends and headed on our way.

It wasn’t long till we reached the little village of Appleby. My farther saw some of his old friends and cheered they had finally finished their journey.

By Rhianna Doran