Starr Tobias

"Ewww, gross. Khloe dont eat that" called 15 year old Starr to her border collie puppy "cow patts are not food" she said and she held Khloes muzzel and looked into her blue eyes. Squirming to get away, Starr let go of the puppy and continued on with her early morning walk. The warm summer breeze blew Starrs messy dirty blonde bob into her face as she quickly strolled through the farm. As she approached the horse's paddock she saw her beautiful black stallion, Muffin, canter up to her. "Hey beauty" Starr said as she handed her horse a sugar lump "wanna go for a ride after brekkie?" Any other 15 year old girl living in Perth would never have time to go for a leisurely horse ride on a Tuesday morning. But Starr could, and it was all her grandfather's fault. The small farm wasn't bringing in enough money so Patrick Shelby was forced to take Starr out of school. Starrs parents had both died in a plane crash in Africa three years ago. During this time 12 year old Starr was with her grandparents. She always would worry that something would go wrong because her mother and father flew to different places at least ten times a year. Her mother was a wildlife journalist and her father was a photographer. Starr thought they were the best parents in the world. Every summer holidays they would go to a different country or town in a different country. Her father was English and her mum was Australian and Starr used to run around shouting that she was Austrish. In the years after her parents deaths Starr gave up most of her hobbies and focused mainly on school work. Bringing up her B+ average to an A+ average. She had gotten dux in years seven, eight and nine. She thought if she focused on getting a good safe job she would be safer than her parents.

Looking at her watch Starr saw that she would be late to breakfast. This would be bad because her grandmother's rule was 'if your late to a meal then your obviously not very hungry, you can go without'. With this in mind Starr sprinted towards the house, whistling to Khloe as she ran. Puffing hard, Starr opened the front door to see her grandmother setting the table. Checking her watch she saw that she was only two minutes late. "Hi Grandma" she said as she pulled out a chair and sat down. "Is it alright if I take muffin out for a ride after breakfast?" Starr asked, looking pleadingly at her grandmother. Jeanne knew that horse riding was the one pleasure activity that her granddaughter hadn't given up after the death of her daughter and son-in-law. Nodding her head, Jeanne turned back towards the stove. "No", Starr heard her grandfather's voice and instantly her hopes shattered around her. "Why not grandpa?" She said, trying to hold back sobs "I've already milked the cows, collected the eggs and taken Khloe for a walk. After the ride I can churn the butter, mow the lawn and take Delighla to the pond". Shaking his head Patrick spoke gruffly "No, Starr I mean it. Chores come before pleasure. What do you think I'm paying you for? To have fun?" . Pushing back tears Starr said "you dont pay me". "Who pays for your food, or your clothes and shelter. I do you ignorant little girl. Go and do your chores" Patrick shouted. Tears overflowing from her eyes Starr pushed away her half full bowl of porridge, grabbed Khloe and raced out the front door. Sobbing Starr sank to the floor below the kitchen window.

"Patrick, what were you doing. Dont yell at your grandaughter. She's gone through enough these past few years." Jeannes voice drifted out the open window. Starr stiffened as she realised they were talking about her. "Jeanne, you know we cant afford to look after her properly. The council have already contacted me about her dropping out of school. They said we would be fined if she didnt actually have an apprenticeship" Patrick said. Gasping, Jeanne said "But she doesnt". The couple must have moved away from the window cause suddenly Starr could only hear muffled noises. Peering through the window she saw her grandmother crying on her grandfather's shoulder. "I found a plumber that will take her as an apprentice" Patrick said softly "Michael Bird from Darwin, he'll be here to pick her up in two days". Gasping silently Starr leaned in to hear her grandmothers reply. "She's not going to want to leave the farm and all her pets". Letting tears stream freely down her face Starr rushed away from the window.

As Starr approached the duck shed, Delighla waddled out to meet her. Scooping up the fluffy yellow duckling into her hand, Starr whistled for the little collie and began jogging to the pond. As she watched the young dog and baby duck splashing about together, Starr pulled out her cell phone. Dialing Indianna Attaway, her best friend. Ring ring, ring ring. "Hey Starr" Indianna whispered "What do you want? If Miss Grogan catches me on my phone I'm dead meat". Laughing Starr said "You never let her catch you when I was at school, why should she catch you now. Anyway, I didnt ring to try and get you in trouble. Guess what I heard my grandad say" "oh I dont know maybe 'get back to work you fool' or 'STARR 'ave you seen the jam filled dounuts?'" Indianna joked. "Indi, this is serious" Starr said gravely "He is planning on sending me to Darwin to be an apprentice plumber" "OMG, thats such a dawg move" Indi said in her strange accent that nobody knew where it was from. "What should I do?" Asked Starr "has your mum got any work offers for some money to do anything with horses?" "Wait let me think" Indianna said with a pause. oh yeah I remember there's one about some horse keeper at an Otterman Ranch they say if anyone's interested please to ring this number, um wait oh yeah oh four three nine six six nine two one five, oh Miss is coming. Tell me what happens. Byeee" Click, your call has been disconnected.

After arranging everything with the owner of Ottermans ranch, Starr filled a pack with clothes and money, clipped her riding helmet on, grabbed Khloe and Delighla, jumped on Muffins back and rode away silently...