Rescue

    in Australia 3


































Mrs A continues her account of the last few days of Tessa's stay in Australia.


In the light of all this, I did not think it was reasonable for me to pay $700 — and for you to spend
that much — on things whose value probably did not add up to that sum. I hope I made the right decision, and you must believe me when I say that the main factor for me was not the money. I had the money, but I simply did not think it was the right thing to do. Secondly, she discussed the other suitcase. She said she did not want to lose it. I had initially thought that that suitcase was in a locker at the airport. But upon realizing that it had been sent as unaccompanied luggage, I
realized that it would not be at the international terminal. Tessa herself did not realize that. I asked her for her receipt. She looked through her papers and said: "I had it but I don't know where it's gone." I noticed she still had her Air New Zealand boarding pass from when she traveled to Sydney. I then told her: "Give me the boarding pass — it has your date of travel and flight number — and I'll ring Air NZ Cargo and see where your suitcase is. I don't want you to lose your things." She said: "I want to make my own arrangements myself. Why can't I do my own booking? It's all rushed, etc...."

That was how we left each other that night, and she went to sleep. I kept worrying about her suitcase, and knew that if she traveled the next morning it would be impossible for her to retrieve it on the same day. Abdullah went out that night and came back late, so we did not speak about it until 5 o'clock on Saturday morning. I said: "Should we let Tessa stay until Monday, because of her suitcase?" and he said: "Okay", and we went back to sleep. At 6 o'clock, I woke up and went to Tessa's room. She was awake, so I told her: "Tessa, you can stay until Monday. We'll find out where your suitcase is, pick it up, and I'll pay for it to be sent back with you, as that is only about $100, and when you get back to NZ you can sort out the other luggage from that end." She said: "Okay." Then she said: "I don't know." Then again: "Why can't I get the other luggage as well?" I had to explain to her again the financial and other considerations. I tried to tell her again that she could stay over the weekend, but only so that she could recover her suitcase, and that I would give her no money and you would not send her any cash either. Then she said: "What's the point, then?
I might as well go now." I reminded her that going now meant going without her suitcase, and she said: "I'll go to Air New Zealand in New Zealand and get them to send it back." So we got ready and took her to the airport. Continued...