Alison Strange is a young autistic woman living in Australia. One day she receives a collection notice that she owes the government money for illegally receiving unemployment while she was working. She knows this debt is not valid and she is determined to clear her name.  She repeatedly meets resistance to clearing this debt and as she is feeling defeated, her grandfather tells her the story of an ancestor who was sent to Australia as a convict and managed to move forward with his life. 

 

Tamala Shelton did a wonderful job of portraying Alison complete with the tics she exhibits when she is under stress. It was performed exactly as I imagine someone under that stress would tic.  Thomas Keneally is widely known for Schindler's List but this short story portrayal of a young woman in Australia was wonderful.