Saved for a rainy day.

Long streaks of rain trickled down Juni’s bedroom window. “Is it even coming?” She sighed to herself, her eyes fixed on the empty driveway. Weather for the optimist. Finally, a dim light flickered through the foggy strains of water. She peered, hoping with her heart, her soul, could it be? She could hear the squeal of motor belts as an old van bounced over the muddy potholes. A frumpy figure clambered out the rusty door. Water trickling down their yellow rain hat and their emerald green wellington boots squelched as they approached her home. Juni’s eyes widen, lips separate, feet are swiftly placed down on the ground and quickly shuffle towards the front door. Upon her welcome mat in brown paper, dotted in droplets of rain is her future, hopes and dreams. She pulls her glistening eyes away from her much-awaited delivery, only to see the van creeping backwards towards the road. “Thankyou!” she yells as the squeal of belts become fainter and the van slowly disappears into the downpour. Inside she goes clutching the package as if it were the answer to all her problems. She places the package on the kitchen bench, uncrosses the bow and rips off the wrapping. A little leather hand stitched black diary is uncovered. She looks at the rickety dining table covered in dusty diaries that have ruffled pages and loose stitching. Juni pushes them aside and plonks herself down onto a chair. She smooths her hand over the soft leather and unlatches the brass buckle. Imagining herself becoming a famous writer and travelling the world. A desperate whisper escapes her breath, “This will be the story that sets me free.”

“Juniper! Come help me empty the buckets!” Mum’s scream shakes Juni from her trance.

‘’Alright mum, keep your undies on” She sighs, gently placing the diary down on her desk. Juni glances at it one last time with longing eyes. Then gets to work emptying the precisely placed buckets catching water underneath the holes in the roof.

Juni tossed restlessly as the morning light peaked through the mouldy window. ‘Finally!’ She thought as the daylight marked her adventures to begin. Tip toeing around the puddles and buckets down to her new diary, her mind is swirling with ideas of excitement and adventure. She lifted the pen, but before the ink connects her imagination to paper, she heard a loud thud followed by a series of swear words. Creaking along the corridor Juni pops her head around the corner into her mother’s room. She is lying stomach down, straining her arms as she tries to push herself back up off the wet floorboards. “Go see Clout and get something to fix the roof please, I can’t afford to be slipping over like this.” Juni understandably nods and reaches down to grab her arm and helps pull her back onto the hard spring bed. She sneaks her way into kitchen to fill her backpack for the journey; 2 scotch fingers, her water bottle, a pen and the diary.

The fresh winters air brushes across Juni’s fair skin. She sighs a deep breath of relief as the sky parts and bright colours emerge from the stormy gray pallet. The wind set in and gently removes the misty air evaporating off the ground. A day for the pessimist. Juni ‘s memories flood through her as she passes her favourite places; a small bridge were she would play in the creek below and the big gum tree where she would sit with her Nanna and help plan her stories.

Dawdling down a cul-du-sac Juni stops at the top of a gravel driveway covered in old collectable cars. From the road she could see glimpses of white weatherboards amongst the overcrowded garden. Hopping down a small path made of pebbles she loudly announces her arrival, “You there Clout? Mum needs your help!” Nobody opens the large cedar door, “Got any more buckets?” Having received no answer, she shouts louder “A TARP MAYBE? Have you got your hearing aids in?” Determined, Juni ventures to battle the unmanicured scrub around to the back of the house. As the bush clears, parts of cars, broken bikes and blocks of wood become visible. Dodging the junk on the ground Juni finally makes it to a slanted wooden shed. Underneath the veranda in a box, she spots a hammer and some nails. She quickly places them in the backpack. She then proceeds to pry open the old door. Her eyes scan the room. Amongst wooden sculpture’s, knickknacks and exotic paintings she spots a tarp on a high shelf. Using a table as leverage she climbs on top, careful to not stand on crafting tools and materials. Yanking at the tarp it slowly slides out and on to the ground. Dust explodes from the tarp and shelf. Juni finds old photos of ancient castles and temples from places all over the world. A shy little smile spread across Juni’s face. A blissful life of adventure and fun she thought, losing her imagination in the sepia tone photographs. She gently places the photos where they belonged and stuffs the tarp into her backpack. She yanks the zips across the top and ‘SHHHHIIIIIRRRRRPPPPP- ‘The zip splits the whole way across the bag. Juni shrugs and proceeds to swing the pack of loot over her shoulder.

Juni had dreamt up stories of explorers finding ancient architecture in faraway lands. Her footsteps quickened, eager to get home and start creating a world of her own. Her legs stride past the scruffy houses, gum trees and over the bridge back home. She barges in the door “Mum! I found so much stuff!” The room was dead still, a hazy light illuminated a tear that ran down Mum’s cheek. She quickly turned her face, a failed attempt to shield Juni from her pain. Her body slumped over, her head heavy in her hands. “Are you alright mum?” Juni cautiously asks.

“Nan was found this morning at Leatherman’s Creek” her body trembling as she drew a second breath, “She’s not with us anymore.” Juni’s body hunches over as she places her hand on to her stomach. She blankly stares at the heartbreaking look on her mother’s face. The moment passes and a deep red starts to develop over her cheeks. Juni jumps to face the front door. She stumbles out of the house. Head pounding and lungs heaving. Trudging back through the streets. Each step blinded with grief. She could see the creek. Juni struggles up a grassy hill to get a better look. Just as she approaches the top she fumbles on a rock. The backpack is thrown from her shoulders and the belongings are catapulted into the air. She watches the diary flicker open and fall onto the muddy ground. ”Noooo!” She wails. Her body stretches out to reach for the diary. A small piece of paper floats down towards her. As she looks up at it a tear drops from her eye. Plucking the paper from the air. Juni reads.

It’s a joy to love stories, but never forget to love your own – Nanna Clout

A roar of emotion is woken from within Juni. Tears now pouring out as if a damns flood gate had been opened. Holding on to the diary. She sobs loudly whilst rocking back and forth. Staring down at the muddy skid marks that lead to the roof of the van resting in the gully.

For the next 2 weeks a haze clouded Junis mind. The little black diary still empty. Instead of writing up new adventures Juni spent most of her time lying on her bed, staring blankly up at the tarp peeking through the holes in the roof. A knock comes from her door. Her mother lets herself in holding several items. A yellow waterproof hat, emerald green wellingtons, a set of car keys and a piece of paper stating that Juni had been left $20,000 from Clout. It was everything she needed to run away.