Lost in the Stars

Chapter 1-Gazing for Beauty

Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep.

Scarlett hit her alarm, it was 4:00 am. She rolled out of bed, slid on her new, red gumboots and peeped out the window. It was just what she had hoped for a perfect, cloudless night.

Scarlett slowly tiptoed down the hall, determined not to make a sound. She carefully picked up her precious black box. Her hands fiddled around in the dark as she searched for the key to the back door. Then slowly she turned the key and stepped out into the cold night air. The door suddenly slammed shut. Scarlett held her breath. But all she heard was the still sound of nothing from inside the house. She breathed out and kept on her way.

Her feet crunched on the icy August lawn.

She shivered in her thin cotton pyjamas, as the icy, cold wind whistled past her making the hairs on her head and back stand on end. But she didn't care, she wouldn't miss this for the world.

She ran past the rusty old barn and the shearing shed, into dreamland, that's what her paddock was called.

In her paddock, she could do what she wanted and could dream away to her heart's content. To the right, she had her two cherry trees that were home to many birds and wildlife. Not to mention they were her favourite trees to climb. Their rosy buds were ready to bloom at any moment and their old bark was beginning to peel off to reveal the young, fresh bark beneath. To the left, she had her garden which is home to every kind of flower you could imagine from alliums to the beautiful nigellas. Scarlett has had so many fun times in her paddock. But her favourite spot is right in the centre of dreamland. Where her father has built a wide deck with a small bench. There she would stargaze and look up into the sky and simply wonder why.

Scarlett has always dreamed of going to space and touching the stars. One day Scarlett vows to go up in an aeroplane, on a clear night and look up towards the milky way. Then maybe someday go to space herself. It gave her butterflies just to think of it. Wouldn't it just be incredible?

Scarlett carefully began to unzip her telescope. It's shiny outer and purple starry pattern makes her quiver with excitement. Scarlett received her telescope for her fourteenth birthday last year. It is so spectacular she will never want anything again. This telescope is more than a silly gadget. It's harboured and developed all her dreams and is the source of most of her happiness.

Scarlett peers through the lens up into the clear dark sky. The stars twinkle with joy.

"Aww" Scarlett gasps she can see the ring nebula. A beautiful blue circle surrounded by entrancing colourful light. The ring nebula is found in the northern constellation of Lyra and she has only ever seen pictures before.

A flash of light flew past in the corner of her eye. A shooting star falls and glides through the picturesque sky. Warming her heart and mind. It just makes her feel so free and full of light.

Then to Scarlett's delight, the sun begins to rise though she loves to stargaze the beauty of a sunrise is hard to beat.

Light and colours pour up through the dark sky lighting it up. Pinks, purples, yellows, and oranges blaze into action. Creating an inviting effect that draws Scarlett into this beautiful, magical scene.

But suddenly the light starts to fade into a dark grey. A roar comes from above, droplets begin to cascade down. Scarlett quickly packs up her telescope careful that it doesn't get wet.

"Why does it have to rain" she sighs whilst trying to dodge each droplet. She finally reaches the cover of her house and wrings out her soggy hair. Her new pyjamas are sopping wet and she doesn't know if her mother will be too happy about it.

Scarlett sneaks inside and tiptoes through the kitchen into her bedroom.

"Scarly, what have you been doing, why are you so wet, you said you'd play cars with me" little Benjamin sighs Crossley.

"Sorry Benji, I'll make it to you," Scarlett says adoringly.

"You better promise or I'll tell mother you were out early again" Benjamin declared.

"I promise Benji" Scarlett assured lovingly.

Looking satisfied Benjamin goes out to feed the cats and play with his cars.

Scarlett changes into her overalls and ties her hair up into a messy plait, hangs her pyjamas out to dry and then goes to look for pansy, her cat to tell her all about her mornings gazing.

"Scarlett Rose Tilbey, come here at once" came mother's sharp clear voice.

Scarlett hurried, her mother only used that tone of voice when she was in trouble and she did not want to delay being there as fast as possible.

"Yes mother, what's the matter?" Scarlett mumbled looking down, she knew what the matter was.

"Well you tell me, the door was open, your new pyjamas were wet and there are puddles all through the house" shouted mother loud enough to wake to the whole neighbourhood.

"I'm sorry, but I heard that this morning was going to be the best, clearest night for stargazing this year, and they were correct, mother, it was magical, you should have seen it" explained Scarlett with a sparkle in her eye.

Mother laughed.

"I would rely on you to make the simplest things sound incredible, just next time tell me first so I can check the weather before you caught in the middle of a storm" she concluded.

Scarlett began to make breakfast like always, porridge was her special, she was pleased to say she had quite the knack for making porridge, everyone says so.

Although the Tilbey's didn't have much money they made the best of things and found pleasure from the simple things in life.

Scarlett served up five bowls of porridge. One for mother, one for father, one for Benji her four-year-old brother, one for Sally her one and a half-year-old sister and one for herself.

"Deary, there'll be no need to serve up fathers he left for work over 3 hours ago" explained mother.

"Oh mother, he's always leaving early, we hardly see him, he leaves early and comes home late" sighed Scarlett annoyed at his absence.

"Yeah he hasn't read me a story in ages and ages" gurgled Benji with his mouth full of porridge.

Sally giggled as she thought it all to be quite amusing.

"He does try, you know he does, but he's very very busy, you'll see him tonight he's coming home early to have dinner with us. Now go and get ready for school" concluded mother.