A Place To Call Home

This is a fiction story so a lot of the places are made up.

Chapter 1

I leaned my head against the window, focusing on each bump in the dirt road that led to Pine Hill farm. A place to call home...at least for the rest of my teenage years. My parents both died in a car accident 2 months ago. Leaving me to live with my Dad's brother Uncle Max and his British wife Elanor...she always liked to be called Aunty El though. Uncle Max was a good bloke...but he reminded me too much of dad, he had the same sparkly blue eyes, and light brown hair...even his facial structure! Stop it I thought to myself, it's only going to make things worse.

"Sally.....we're here" Uncle Max said breaking me from my thoughts. "Uh, yep" I said in an airily voice stepping out of the Toyota four wheel drive Ute. "I'll just grab my bags". With one arm, I picked up my belongings and looked up at the reasonably sized mud brick house.....It was actually rather nice.

"Come in, come in and get out of the cold" Said Aunty El in a chirpy British accent. "You must be freezing". I have to admit I was pretty cold...inside and out.

"Oh, my goodness you look so much like your Mum" Aunty El said. I smiled shyly in reply. The very mention of my parents brought shivers up my spine.

"You must be hungry and cold" said Aunty El in a soft voice.

"Umm, no thanks, I think I just need some sleep" I said placing my weak hand on her shoulder and giving her a quick hug.

"Argh...y-yes I'll show you your room" Aunty El said, she set off at a brisk walk leading me down the long hallway. I looked around me at all the pictures hanging on the walls, spotting one of Mom and Dad on their wedding day, I quickly looked away. I couldn't be reminded of them right now, though I knew that being in this house would keep their memory fresh.

My room was at the end of the hallway on the left. "Okay, here we are. It's nothing fancy, but it's comfortable" she said in looking up at me. "Do you like it" she said in a small questionable voice.

"Yes, yes, of course I do.... It's just fine" I said in a reassuring voice.

The room was plain, just a bed, tall brown wardrobe, desk...by the window of course... and a small vanity stand by the bedside... I knew that in a few days, it would be smothered in my belongings. I noted how the covers on my bed matched the light Olive walls, and the cream curtains.

I was trying to sound happy but I wasn't sure if it was working or not.

"Well goodnight Sally" she smiled warmly. "I hope you can call this place home" she added quickly as she walked out the door.

I rubbed my arms, trying to warm up at bit, as I did so I caught my reflection in the mirror... Aunty El was right; I could have been my mother standing in front of me. The same long wavy Brunette hair, Sparkly blue eyes, the same tanned legs and arms and the same tall slim figure.

I looked away slowly from the mirror and walked to the bed. Curling up on it...wishing I could go back in time to when everything seemed perfect...but now it was just cold and lonely.