Meet Lucy
Lucy POV
My name is Lucy Lancaster.
I have brown hair just past my shoulders, and brown eyes just like my Dad.
I am eight years old.
My big sister is ten.
I live in a big town on the coast of New South Wales in Australia. It is really pretty with beaches and a rainforest on the edge of town and farms on the other side.
My favourite thing to do is going on walks in the rainforest or going to the beach with my Dad.
I like David’s family, they are really friendly. I’ve never been camping before, but my new friend Tara is going to be there too, well she is David’s niece so duh!
Mum says that after the school holidays that I am moving to Tara’s school, which I’m happy about. I don't really have any friends at my other school and I was bullied.
Mum and David got married last week so we are moving in with David as soon as we get back from our camping trip.
Today is hot, but at least there is air conditioning in the car. We are driving to the campsite at the lake.
After a couple of hours, we finally arrived and luckily I put my bathers on underneath my clothes because the lake looks so pretty, and nice and cool. Tara’s sister and big cousins are here too.
Marli, my sister, goes off somewhere with Tara’s sister Vanessa and her cousin Becca because apparently, we are too little. Eight is not little, and Tara agrees with me. Her boy cousin, Corey, says he’ll hang with us. I think it’s because he doesn’t like his sister.
“Hey Lucy, do you want to go on the kayaks?” Tara asks me.
“Yes! But I’ve never been on one before.”
“I’ll show you,” says Corey.
Corey gets the life jackets and makes sure that Tara and I have them on properly before helping Tara on her sit on kayak and gently pushing her away from the edge of the lake. Next is my turn but because I’ve never been kayaking before Corey gets on with me. Sitting behind me he explains everything and even tells me what to do if we accidently fall into the water. I like him, he has a great smile and is really nice.
On our way home David asks if we had fun. Of course I say yes but Marli just mumbled that she missed watching TV and playing games on her iPad. Mum said she missed those things too but was happy to relax before we moved house and before the baby comes. Yep you heard it! Mum and David are having a baby which means I get to be a big sister and not just a little sister.
Marli and I are staying at Dad’s for my birthday in a couple days. Dad’s house is only small so Marli and I have to share a room but I don’t care because at least I get to see my Daddy.
It makes me sad that I don’t get to see him very much.
Daddy always makes me feel special on my birthday. Mum only ever says Happy Birthday when we have cake.
I asked Mum if I could live with Dad just before Christmas and she got mad at me. David had to tell her to calm down, he asked me why I wanted to live with my Dad, after Mum stormed out. I told him it was because Marli is nasty to me. I don’t like my sister.
2 years later
This year it is just me and DJ going on the camping trip with David. Mum and David separated a five months ago and are getting a divorce but she said I could still go camping because Tara will be there, and I will need to help David look after DJ. DJ is my little brother, he is named after David, but we just call him DJ because it would be weird calling them both David. They also look the same. They both have blonde hair and blue eyes.
Marli didn’t want to come because she just wanted to do girly things with Mum and go to her friend’s house for a sleepover. David got me my own sit on kayak for Christmas and I am so happy I get to use it by myself.
Tara is now my bestie and even though we get to see each other at school, I haven’t seen her since the holidays started so I am super excited to see her.
Both Tara and Corey like my new kayak and after I give DJ big smoochies we take our kayak’s out on to the lake.
Corey tried to show DJ how to use a fishing rod, he took the hook off and just had a squishy rubber thing on the end instead, but DJ isn't quite two yet so he just kept waving it around and nearly hit Corey in the head, it was funny.
Corey and I had our birthdays while we were camping this year and Corey’s Mum, Pam, and Tara’s Mum, Megan, made us cakes. Mine was chocolate and Corey’s was banana. With a 10 on mine and a 13 on Corey’s.
I got to talk to my Daddy on the phone. He works with Corey’s Dad, Rick, they are both firemen.
I miss my Daddy a lot!
I was a bit sad after talking to my Dad. I only get to see him every two weeks for the weekend. Tara gave me a hug and Corey put his arm around my shoulder, like a side hug. The adults let us sleep in the same tent together because I was sad.
I like David but he’s not my Daddy. I love my Daddy lots and lots.
When David drops me and DJ back home to Mum’s, he and Mum start arguing. I think it was because Mum’s new boyfriend was here too.
I took DJ to his bedroom and played blocks with him.
It’s the first day of year 7.
I am officially in high school!
I was so happy to find out that both Tara and my other friend Millie were coming to the same school as me. We make a new friend, her name is Matilda. She has pretty, long dark red hair, green eyes and is tall. Millie and Tara have only ever met once before at Mum and David’s wedding four years ago.
Millie’s Mum is my Mum’s cousin, our grandmothers are sisters. Millie and I don’t look anything alike except that we are both short and have long hair, hers is almost black and wavy and mine is chocolate brown and dead straight. Our eyes are different too, mine are brown and hers are a cool amber colour. She’s also got a bloody tan, I have no idea how because we both spend about the same amount of time outdoors.
I thought that Corey came to this school too but apparently he goes to the public high school which is bigger. At least he doesn’t have to do religious stuff. I know the only real reason Mum is sending me here is because she’s making Dad pay for it.
The last year has been weird. First my Grandma died, then Marli started acting like a bitch, well she’s always been a bit bitchy, but she was escaping from the house to go hang out with older kids and dressing like a slut. Also Mum and Rob got married at the start of October, it was a small wedding as Rob doesn’t talk to his family, I’ve got no idea why but, whatever. And lastly, I got my period. Urgghh! Thank fuck it waited until I turned twelve. Well, just. At least I didn't get it on the camping trip.
I can’t believe I’m going to be an Aunty! Mum is currently at the hospital with Marli while I’m at home with DJ and Rob. We are waiting for David to come pick up DJ.
Marli is only fourteen, well almost fifteen, but is having a baby.
She went out one night with some older kids and was raped. She didn’t know she was pregnant until she got sick and then Mum took her to the doctors. The man who raped Marli is now in jail, but she still has nightmares and says that she doesn’t want the baby, but Mum says she will help her.
When Mum rings to tell us that the baby is a girl and that her name is Bethany. I am excited, but Mum says that we can’t visit Marli at the hospital because she is too upset and sore.
I end up going to stay at Dad’s for a few days because Rob wasn’t feeling well and Mum stayed at the hospital with Marli and baby Bethany.
Dad and I go shopping for some cute things for baby Bethany, he also takes me to the movies and we get pizza for dinner.
I really enjoyed spending time with Dad without Marli there. He drove me to school and picked me up too which was nice.
