Everything We Keep by Di Walker (inspirational books .TXT) 📕

‘Hey Lawson, aren’t you meant to say, ‘Welcome aboard me hearties’,’ asked Morgan.

‘That’s pirates, Morgan. We’re Navy.’

‘Well what about ‘abandon ship’ or ‘batten down the hatches’? Do you say those in the Navy?’

‘Yes, but let’s hope we don’t have to say either of them today.’

‘We have something for each of you,’ Agatha said as she took three Navy caps from a small bag, handing one to each of her friends.

‘And life jackets,’ said Katherine, making sure each girl had theirs securely on.

‘Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the boat. Follow me below deck,’ Agatha said to the others and they disappeared.

Katherine joined Lawson and Ed on deck. ‘Well this is going to be a perfect birthday – the sun is shining, a good breeze, friends and cake.’

‘Let’s set sail shall we, make the most of it,’ said Lawson, ‘Ed do want to untie us from the pier?’

‘Aye, aye Captain.’

‘It’s aye, aye Commander,’ said Agatha with a soft chuckle. The girls had emerged from below each with something to eat from the food Katherine had prepared in the galley.

‘Just don’t fall in, Dad,’ said Tully.

‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Does he mean he’s going to do his best fall in, or not fall in?’ asked Cora.

‘Could be either,’ laughed Tully.

As they left the pier the girls sat behind Agatha as she steered the boat towards the middle of the bay, Lawson standing close by. Katherine and Ed sat along the edge, ‘Just keep your eye on that boom, Ed,’ Katherine warned.

Chief was near the front of the boat, as if pointing them in the right direction. ‘Look at Chief at the bow,’ Agatha said to the others.

‘He has always loved sailing and that’s his favourite spot; more to the left, Agatha, gently now,’ said Lawson.

‘I hear Agatha has been elected to the Student Council for next year,’ Ed said to Katherine.

‘Yes – we are really proud of her.’

‘She’s a great kid, and after that win she and Tully had at the Science Competition, smart too! Science Camp in the new year.’

Katherine nodded and looked at Agatha. ‘Yes – she’s worked hard Ed, but we have Tully and the others to thank too – they have been the best thing for her, true friends.’ She turned to Lawson and called out, ‘How’s she going, Commander?’

‘How are you going Agatha?’ Lawson asked.

‘It’s great steering, Lawson – I can see the whole bay.’

‘Excellent, well I’ll sit back and relax and leave you in charge.’

‘Aye, aye Commander. I have it all under control.’

Acknowledgements

One Friday evening, I watched an Agatha Christie movie and thought Agatha would be a good name for a character. The next morning, I cleaned out the linen press and decided we had too many towels. Then on Sunday, as I drove to Melbourne, I listened to a fascinating discussion on Melbourne radio about hoarding and the effects it can have on children. Later that evening I had dinner with a colleague whose daughter had sent her a text to which she said, ‘It’s Grace.’

A few days later, just after 5am, I woke with a picture in my head of a girl, Agatha Grace, sitting on a step with an orange suitcase beside her.

What was going to happen to Agatha Grace? I didn’t really know but there was something about hoarding somewhere. Why did Agatha have a bright orange suitcase? I didn’t know about that or about Tully until she stepped onto the train.

Seven weeks after it began, the first draft was complete, and that is how it happens. It starts with a name, then things happen and an idea forms and the rest unfolds as I write. I don’t know what will happen or how it will end until I am about a chapter away, and even then, I don’t know the final line has been written until it appears on the page.

I enjoy the solitude of writing, just me and the characters as their stories unfold but what turns it from an idea in my head to a book on the shelf takes a lot of people, and I am very grateful for each one of them.

Many thanks to a small group of friends who read everything: Anne Hutchison, Tracey Ritchie, Karen Rijs, Lisa and Teagan Menhenett and Nicole Evans – they each give up their time to read the first draft, ignoring the wayward commas and the numerous typos. Each of you offer me something to think about that adds a layer to a character or the story but most importantly the confidence to keep going.

Thank you to Rachel Farrar, who kindly spent a few wintery days during school holidays reading Agatha’s story and instantly became Agatha’s fan and to Sheree Fitzgerald who took Agatha across the Simpson Desert on a family camping trip. Thank you both for reading that first draft and giving me your feedback.

Thanks to Donna Crosbie, who read the first chapter and who then listened to updates of the story as it progressed, resisting the temptation to ask me too many questions that she and I both knew I couldn’t answer and especially for telling me that Grace had sent her a text.

As the young readers of my drafts grow up and move on to other genres, I am searching for new readers. Thank you, Charlotte Field, who read the draft only a couple of weeks after reading another draft of a different story. I am grateful, Charlotte, for giving me your time and telling me you wanted to know more about Agatha’s home – that really added a dimension to the story. Thank you to Alisha Fitzgerald, who also read the draft while camping in the Simpson Desert and told me how much she liked it.

I am very appreciative of the time Mr James McPherson, Navy Media Manager, took to answer my questions to make sure Lawson’s character was just right. Thank you, James, for your detailed answers to all my questions and for the excellent suggestion