West||Life Story

Chapter One

Sometimes all it takes is a dark day for you to realise that all you have can be lost in an instant.

I was sat on the couch in my western Sydney house, watching the news on channel nine.

They were doing some story about some accident up on the Gold Coast and I thought nothing of it until I saw the survivors of the accident. My little siblings. Winnie, Wyatt and Wade.

"Unfortunately the children's parents didn't survive the awful accident. Their older brother's location is unknown, however it has been confirmed that he remained in their Sydney home while his family went on the holiday from hell." The reporter spoke.

Holiday from hell.

What bullshit. They were gonna be up there all winter holidays, and then come back down a few days before school came in for semester two. They were having a blast while I was left to camp on the couch because apparently people thought it'd be a good idea to pass around the flu.

Weeks later, after my brothers and sister were brought home to me, it was discovered that the 'accident' wasn't actually an accident they named it the Harrison Holiday Homicide.

Now I'm sat on the couch with my siblings, reading through the letters from people we don't know and eating the multiple lasagnes and other dishes given to us by sorrowful neighbours whom we don't know the names of.

Bang, bang.

"Great, more food." I thought out loud, walking to the door.

I opened it expecting another little old lady, who's face held a solemn look and who's hands held another tasty pastry dish or delightful dessert. But instead I was greeted by a man, no older than forty, standing in front of me.

I recognised him instantly. I never met him of course, but I definitely knew him from photos from dads high school days.

"G'day West, I'm ya dads mate, Tom Wynters." He said.

He had the sorta thick Aussie accent you expect from a country bloke. Now that I think about it, dad did tell me he grew up in the country, so that's probably where I'm gathering that from.

"I know. Dad talked about you all the time, c'min." I said, opening the door wider.

"Pretty shmico place ya got 'ere. Shouldn't've expected any less from your old man." He said, looking around. "He was always a class act that bloke."

"So, Tom. What're ya doin' here exactly?" I asked, getting impatient with the flanno wearing man, who was tracking dirt through the pristine house with his dirty work boot clad feet.

"Well, years back, whey you were born, ya parents decided that if somethin' happened to them, you'd come with me to my property." He explained. "And, unfortunately, the day has come that you and ya siblings come with me out my way."

I nodded, dad did tell me about this a while back... I just didn't expect his friend to be so... Bogan.

"Right. I knew this day was coming, so I packed and I helped Larry, Curly and Moe pack." I said, referring to my siblings, whom I've always referred to as the three stooges.

"Right oh than, let's head off shall we, I got the ute out front, shove ya shit in the tray and we'll piss off down to my place aye." He said.

"Larry! Curly! Help Moe with her things and get down here, with ya suitcases." I yelled up the stairs of the house I grew up in.

Minutes later, they came down the stairs.

I walked over to Winnie, picking her up and sitting her on my hip. She was definitely my favourite.

"Anyway, kids, let's head of." Tom said, leading us outside to his ute. "There's only three seats, so the little one'll have to sit on someone's lap."

The second Winnie heard that, she held onto me tighter, I was the only one she liked holding her, there's never been a time she's wanted Wyatt or Wade holding her.

We loaded our things into the tray of the ute and got in.

"Ah, shit. How rude of me, boys and girl, I'm Tom Wynters, you're legal guardian as appointed by your father."

"I'm Wyatt."

"I'm Wade."

"This is Winnie." I said. "She doesn't talk in front of people she hasn't met before."

"Right. Anyway. We're going through Newcastle, so we're gonna stop at the truck stop and get some Macca's." Tom smiled.

This is gonna be a long trip.