Hi! I’m Casey and I’m nine years old. Uncle Trav says I should tell you about living on our farm in Wongan Creek.
I know what you’re thinking. Nine year olds don’t know much about important stuff, right? But I know things grown ups don’t think kids notice. Like when Uncle Trav gets that sad look in his eyes when he thinks I’m not watching. Or when Harry forgets my name but still knows I’m someone special to him. Or when Miss Penney tries really hard not to smile at Uncle Trav but her eyes give her away.
Kids always know first when someone belongs.
My Life on the Farm
Every morning, Uncle Trav makes me peanut butter sandwiches with the crusts cut off (because crusts are yucky). He braids my hair even though sometimes it comes out a bit wonky. Mrs Everett from the CWA says he does a great job, so that makes him happy.
I have my own palomino horse named Fantasia. She used to be my mummy’s horse before she went to heaven. Fantasia is really gentle and lets me ride her even though I’m still learning. Uncle Trav says Mummy would be proud of how brave I am.
I also have a swing set under the big Jacaranda tree, a sand pit, and Uncle Trav even planted a vegetable patch so I can grow my own carrots and tomatoes. He says it’s important to know where food comes from.
But my favourite thing is when Uncle Trav gives me piggyback rides from the bus stop. He pretends he’s a horse and I pretend I’m a jockey and we gallop all the way home.
About My Mummy
My mummy’s name was Tracy. She was Uncle Trav’s twin sister, which means they shared a birthday and had a special connection. Uncle Trav says twins can feel what the other one feels, even when they’re far apart.
I don’t remember much about Mummy because I was really little when she went to heaven. But Uncle Trav has photos of her all over our house. He says I have her smile and her green eyes. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I try to see if I look like her.
Uncle Trav doesn’t talk much about how Mummy died, but I hear things at school. Kids say mean words sometimes. They say things their daddies said at the pub. But Uncle Trav hugs me really tight and tells me none of those things are true. He says Mummy was brave and loved me very much.
My Best Friends
Harry is our neighbour. He’s really old (like seventy something!) and sometimes he forgets things. Uncle Trav says Harry has something called Alzheimer’s that makes his brain a bit fuzzy. Some days Harry doesn’t remember my name, but he always knows I’m important.
I draw pictures for Harry because they make him smile. Uncle Trav takes me over to visit him lots. Harry tells the best stories about the old days, even if he tells the same one three times in a row.
Fantasia is the best horse in the whole world. She nuzzles my shoulder and lets me feed her apples. Uncle Trav says she knows I’m Mummy’s daughter because she’s extra gentle with me.
Benji from school is my friend. He’s going to be SO jealous when I tell him Miss Penney let me play her CD in the car. The one with all the songs from my favourite movie!
Then Miss Penney Came to Town
Miss Penney is our social worker. That means she comes to check that Uncle Trav is doing a good job looking after me. (He is. He’s the BEST.)
But here’s the thing. The moment I met Miss Penney, I just knew. You know how sometimes you meet someone and it feels like you’ve known them forever? That’s what happened.
Miss Penney has pretty red hair and she doesn’t talk down to me like some grown ups do. She actually listens when I tell her about school and Fantasia and why Harry forgets things. She gives the best hugs. And she thinks Uncle Trav’s wonky braids are perfect.
I asked her to stay for dinner one time and she said yes! We made salad together while Uncle Trav cooked steaks on the barbecue. She told me stories about when she was a little girl and how her mummy had to fight really hard to keep them together.
That’s when I knew. Miss Penney understands about families that don’t look like other families. She understands that sometimes the people who love you aren’t the ones you were born to. They’re the ones who choose you.
The Mean Man
There’s a man in town named Zac who’s really mean. Uncle Trav doesn’t like him and I don’t either. He says horrible things about my mummy and makes Uncle Trav angry. One time at Mama Bella’s ice cream shop, he scared me so bad I hid behind Uncle Trav.
But Uncle Trav held me really tight and told me I was safe. He always keeps me safe.
I heard Uncle Trav tell Miss Penney that the mean man wants to take me away from the farm. Away from Uncle Trav and Harry and Fantasia. That makes my tummy hurt just thinking about it.
But Miss Penney promised Uncle Trav she’d do everything she could to make sure I stay right here where I belong.
What I Know About Love
I might only be nine, but I know some important things:
Love means piggyback rides when your feet hurt from new shoes.
Love means cutting the crusts off sandwiches even when you’re tired.
Love means visiting Harry every day, even when he can’t remember your name.
Love means keeping your mummy’s horse safe so she can remember too.
Love means someone fighting for you to stay with the people you love.
And I think… I think maybe Uncle Trav and Miss Penney are falling in love. They look at each other when they think I’m not watching. Uncle Trav gets all nervous and drops things. Miss Penney’s cheeks go pink.
That would be really nice because then Miss Penney could stay forever. She could be my new mummy and we could be a real family. Not just me and Uncle Trav trying to figure things out, but all three of us (plus Harry and Fantasia).
Why You Should Read Our Story
In Uncle Trav’s words, “This is Casey’s story, but it’s also about all of us who’ve had to fight to keep our families together.”
Whispers at Wongan Creek is about:
- Families that don’t look like other families but are just as real
- Grown ups who are scared but brave anyway
- Kids who know more than grown ups think
- Mean people who try to break up families
- Good people who fight for what’s right
- Love that grows in unexpected places
- And how sometimes the best families are the ones we choose
Plus there’s mystery! And a palomino horse! And rainbow ice cream at Mama Bella’s!
For Just 99 Cents!
For less than what Benji’s mum spends on a coffee, you can read about how I found my forever family. You can meet Uncle Trav who tries so hard to be both a mummy and a daddy. You can meet Miss Penney who’s brave enough to fight for us. You can meet Harry who might forget your name but never forgets how to love.
And you can find out if the mean man takes me away or if we all get to stay together.
Kids always know first when someone belongs. I knew the moment I met Miss Penney that she belonged with us.
Do you want to know if I was right?
Because every kid deserves a happy ending. And every grown up who fights for kids deserves one too.
Love, Casey (age 9, Wongan Creek, Western Australia)
P.S. Uncle Trav says I have to tell you there’s some scary bits and some sad bits. But there’s also really happy bits. And Miss Penney says sometimes the best stories make you cry and smile at the same time. This is one of those stories.
Genre: Rural Romance | Romantic Suspense
Perfect for: Anyone who believes families are built on love, not just blood
Warning: This story will make you want to hug your family, adopt a horse, and move to the Australian countryside
#CaseysWorld #WonganCreekWednesday #ChosenFamily #RuralRomance #KidsKnowBest #99cBookDeal