Flying Free

Kings Town

Dad and I had been in hospital for two and a half days now and we were finally healthy enough to go home, not home-home but our new home. The insurance company sold us a brand new car at half price, $10,000 but even that wasn't enough to cheer us up. The weather today was perfect blue skies coated in fluffy white clouds and all I could think about was crying over my dead mum. I pictured her smiling and like a hologram her face changed into a lifeless face covered in bruises and cuts - it was kind of scary - dad caught me in the corner of his eye biting my lip resisting to cry, he rubbed me on the back and gave me a little hug. It didn't help if it wasn't for him and his stupid job none of this would of happened, we would of still been living in Melbourne in our luxury house, where mum was a model making thousands and he did his stupid work.

It took an hour to get to this dump. We came up a red dirt road - makes it obvious we're in Australia - I pictured a great big building with offices and a beautiful flat for us to stay in, then I realised we're in the country now. Well there was a couple of sheds, dad had gotten a job on a farm? We came through a white gate surrounded by pine trees and a 'Kings Crop & Sheep' sign on the front. Dad's job was in the office and paddocks researching a advising chemicals for the crops and drenches for the sheep, he's a genius at agricultural science, I always got lectures on our front lawn, no wonder he got the job.

It's definitely Kings Town I mean everything we went past; Kings Cafe', Kings Post, Kings College and not to mention the farm we're on right now. These 'Kings' must be mega rich!

A man helped us unload our luggage and walked us to our room. We walked into an employees only area, I'm pretty sure the big room at the front was a cafeteria, then there were a million offices and up stairs we finally reached our room "you'll be staying here sir" said the man "make yourself at home" I stepped in front of dad, this was like a 5 star hotel in a shed... "Wait. Why's there only one bed?"

The man looked confused "I'm sorry sir, this is all we have left, I was not notified you had family that had to be accommodated" my mouth dropped wide open where was I supposed to sleep, on the street. "Don't fret sir, she'll be fine to stay at the boarding house"

"Wait, so your suggesting school?" Dad said interested

"Yes, it a great school, great facilities, I even send my little girl there. Not to the boarding house of coarse, she just loves living out here on the farm with me". Him and dad continued talking about fees and classes. I starred out the window into nowhere and the episode of mum being revived turned through my mind, what could I have done to help? I should have marched up and did what ever I said I'd do. I was at the point of bursting into tears when a carriage pulled up out side the window interrupting my thoughts, two gigantic Clydesdales pulled it "beautiful Clydesdales" I whispered to myself

"Someone knows their horses" said the man

I gave him a cheeky look and replied "I read". I don't want people getting any ideas about me and horses - it's not going to happen. I followed dad and the man out to the carriage. "Are you coming Courtney?"

"I just remembered I'm allergic to carriage rides"

"Get in"

"Not unless there's food!"

"Nope no food. Hey could you pass us one of those cupcakes please" I knew he was teasing but I quickly rushed up on the carriage and shut the door behind me. "What are we doing?" I asked

"Your getting a complementary, dusk carriage tour, it's beautiful"

We trotted all throughout Kings Town. It's not really big, just spread out but there's a lot; the History of Kings Town Museum, Kings Sport Stadium and more. Our last stop was Kings College (apparently where I'm going to be sleeping for the next few years and learning.) When we stopped the man - whose name was Stew we found out - hopped out of the carriage. Dad and were confused. "Well you can't see the school that your daughters going to from the carriage now can you" dad and I jumped out and followed. This school had everything high tech class rooms; kitchens, science labs a library and stables. Another one of the Stews fancy and gestures "... and these are the Kings Riding Academy best horses". They were all tall and elegent looking, perfectly groomed coats, soft flowing manes. Out of the corner of my eye a small nose peeked over the door of a stall. A small chestnut horse with thin tall legs, it was beautiful. I leant over the door to pat its face, it's coat was as if I was touching a little bit of heaven. A brass label was screwed on the door "Hazel? She's beautiful" stew nodded "indeed, second most expensive horse in the stable, $30,000". My mouth went right open in disbelief. I looked over to the second stall towards the back and reached out to pat the chestnut horse "uh those are the spares, if you were to ride" I was not interested but my face told a different story, he puled a leaflet out of his pocket and handed it to me 'Kings College Riding Program'. I'm getting really curious about these Kings people. Dad looked towards me and put a pleased look on his face. Looks like I've got another problem on my plate: school.