So Long, No See Cont...

“Children, children, I told you not to go outside the yard!” A woman’s voice admonishes from over the fence.

“Grandma, we were just talking to this mister! He’s giving back our shuttle.” The first boy explains as an old lady walks out of the yard onto the footpath.

“Oh, Brian! I haven’t seen you in so long, young man! Look at you, you’re so grown up now!” She exclaims.

“Hi Mrs Donohue.” Brian responds awkwardly, looking down at the cracked stone path. He remembers the old woman, of course he does, but since when did she have grandkids? It barely feels like a year ago that she was talking about her kids going to university.

“He caught our shuttle, grandma! Kicked it up and caught it like a pro!” The first boy says excitedly. Mrs Donohue just laughs and pats him on the head.

“Brian here is very good at this game, Fraser. Maybe if you practice more, you’ll be as good as he is when you’re older.” She says.

“Well, it’s good to see you, Brian, but I won’t hold you up any longer. Have a good day, young man.” Brian nods goodbye to the old woman, who’s now pulling the young Fraser back into their yard.

The interaction doesn’t leave his thoughts as he continues towards the corner shop. Old memories of himself as a child; bright, bold, and determined to do everything for himself, resurface. How had everything gotten to this point, where he can barely drag himself out of bed in the mornings? How had a hopeful child and teenager become a young adult who refused to even leave his bedroom for days on end?

Pushing the door of the corner shop open, the small welcome bell’s jingle reminds him again of everything he’s missed in the past few years he spent as a hermit and social recluse. The warmth, the people, even a silly bell are enough for him to remember a time where he wasn’t always angry and sad over everything.

“Oh, Brian! Haven’t seen you in a long time, mate! What can I get for you?” The friendly voice of the shopkeeper asks.

It takes Brian about 2 minutes to get what he wants from the little shelves around the store. Even though he hasn’t been here for a long, long time, the arrangement of goods hasn’t changed from the way he remembers it. Out of an odd compulsion, he doesn’t pick up the portable Wi-Fi he originally wanted.

“It’s really good to see you around again, mate. Anything else you want?” The shopkeeper asks as he scans the items and puts them in a big paper bag.

Looking around the counter as he puts his hand in his pocket for money, Brian pulls out the crumpled college admissions form his mother gave him yesterday. Turning the envelope over, he thinks for a second before looking up at the shopkeeper.

“Actually, could I just borrow a pen?”

By Dominique To (Year 9)

Spring

It’s nature shrugging off the winter chill, the whimsical wildflowers sprouting out of the damp earth. It’s the busy bees buzzing through beautiful banksias, the new-born birds singing a sweet melody.

It’s the delicate stream dancing carefully through the meadow, the cherry-blossoms blooming and fluttering like hummingbirds. It’s the children laughing as they play in the dappled sunlight, the delicate breeze rustling the fresh new leaves.

It’s the dainty butterflies exploring the colourful flora, the fresh fruits ripening in the warming sun. it’s the sun dipping and diving gracefully into the ocean, the starry sky as summer shines ahead.

By Ella Riches (Year 9)