Sydney's Song Read Online Free

money. Can’t dance. Can’t play any instrument. Can’t teach.”
    â€œHow was it your parents sent you to a public school instead of a private school? They could’ve afforded it.”
    â€œTo be in touch with the real world.” I rolled my eyes. “My parents had to work hard during their studies. They often tell me that kids should sweat through their education. But I enjoyed our school heaps.”
    â€œShe’s your down-to-earth Aussie girl,” Brenna commented. “Jeans and all.”
    â€œWe all know that,” Alex told me, knowing he could annoy a close friend and still be forgiven, “The boys at school always say your only saving grace from being labelled a tomboy is the way you walk! It’s so graceful and elegant like your mum’s.”
    â€œWhy, thank you!”
    â€œSpeaking of clothes,” he went on unperturbed, “it’s almost Christmas and there are lots of vacancies as shop assistants. If you don’t have any skills, why didn’t you apply to be one?”
    â€œâ€™Cause I dread meeting people. I can only laugh and be noisy with my parents and close friends. The notion of talking to strangers face to face makes my tummy churn.”
    â€œWhy this job?” Blond and tall Lucy asked. She was analytical and the smartest girl in our class.
    â€œMy contribution to the Olympics.” Olympic fever was running high in Sydney and thousands of Australians had offered to volunteer for free. “Never mind the low pay—I’m thrilled to be part of it!
    Besides, the HR manager said I could switch to weekend part-timer when uni starts. And the office isn’t far.”
    It was going to be a time of my life, I thought, foolishly feeling secure that face-to-face conversations with my customers weren’t required. Little did I know I would have to meet hundreds of co-workers. Little did I know my customers were going to be very angry commuters disillusioned by the government’s inept handling of Sydney’s prehistoric public transport. Or that, for me, this episode was going to be life altering.
    I told them when my training would start, while in the ice rink a young mother helped her little boy with his first steps on the ice. He fell. He had a hug and a kiss. What a wonderful world.
    â€œSo soon? No chance you’ll join us for schoolies?” Brenna asked me. “You’ll miss the fun.”
    â€œWhat fun?” Alex scoffed at her. “It’s just a waste of money!”
    â€œAlex, don’t be a smart ass,” Lucy objected. “It’s once in a lifetime fun. You only get to graduate from high school once. Then it’ll be responsibilities after responsibilities. Or so I was told.”
    â€œIt may be fun, but useless!”
    â€œWho cares?”
    â€œWell—,” he sputtered. We girls had all finished our food, but poor Alex still had a full plate. More proof that boys were lousy at multitasking. “Good on you, then. I don’t have that kind of money to throw away. If I could save even a dollar more for my world trip, I would.”
    â€œBut Alex,” mischievous, black-haired Brenna teased. “Someday we’ll go around the world too. But we won’t be miserable like you. We’ll have made money first. Travel first class. Five-star accommodation. Chocolate, champagne and fresh fruit to welcome us. No sorry excuse for a shack to crash in.”
    They bantered happily, defending their choices. That afternoon we waved our goodbyes wearing broad grins, looking forward to our future and freedom.

    Back at home, I was dreaming of buying a mobile phone when a car pulled up in the driveway. Whose car? Didn’t sound like Mum’s or Dad’s. I peered down.
    Holy moley… a sleek hot rod! Low, showy… and open-topped.
    Mum was in the passenger seat saying goodbye to a brown-haired young man who had given her a lift home. Hang on, where was her