THE MUSIC BOX (chapter 2.1)

Chapter two- Canberra

For a while, everyone just sat there, until the lawyer coughed, breaking the tense silence. Then my mum asked me to leave so the ‘grown ups’ could finish the paperwork. I slowly got up out of my squishy chair, opened the door, that squeaked as its hinges hadn’t been oiled in a long time, and went out to sit with my cousins. To tell you the truth, I was a little light headed.  I mean, Grandpa never really gave complements to people. We could see the pride in his eyes. But him actually saying he was proud, (well OK he didn’t say exactly that but I knew what he meant) was a really big thing.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the story of Princess Sara was about a girl who had everything but one day her father died in war and she was left with nothing except a silver locket with her dad and her mum’s picture in it. Everyone treated her like a slave and she had to work for her food and a room in a home for orphaned, but kind, children. She cried every night but knew her dad was with her because of the locket. She was a princess, even though she didn’t have pretty clothes or money or jewels, she was nice and kind and brave, so on the inside she was royalty. At the end of the story, her father wasn’t actually dead; he was mistaken for someone else. So Princess Sara was reunited with her father, and all the children in the orphan home were found homes with nice, loving parents. After her father came home she wore the locket everywhere, near her heart so that her dad would always be with her. It was one of my favourite stories actually.

Outside, sitting slumped on plastic chairs were my four cousins whispering between themselves. As soon as I came out they stopped instantly, as if they were talking about me.

“Hey guys,” I said happily, faking a smile.