Pictures of Lily

kangaroo visibly tenses. I spy two legs poking out of her front pouch and my eyes widen as I belatedly realise that the twenty-sixth kangaroo is a baby – or ‘joey’, as I remember hearing them called on a wildlife documentary. The mother gets to her feet, her pouch bulging as the legs disappear and a tiny face appears in their place. I hold my breath as Ben quickly and efficiently checks over both kangaroos before the mother hops away. He looks across at me.
    ‘What are you waiting for? You can start with Freddie. Or Roy, if you prefer.’ He winks.
    It vaguely occurs to me as I work that it should feel strange that Ben opened up to me about his life like that. But it doesn’t feel strange at all.
    ‘Why are you doing the kangaroos today?’ I ask Ben as we walk back across the paddock.
    ‘Colleague called in sick.’
    ‘Are you heading over to the koalas now?’
    ‘Yep. Want to come with me?’
    ‘Yes, please. Is there anything I can do to help?’
    ‘You can help me weigh them, if you like?’
    ‘Cool.’
    And just like that, I make my first friend in Australia. A friend called Ben. I reckon Michael Jackson would have approved.
    My first few days fly by. I barely see Josh. He’s never up when his dad and I leave in the mornings, as the garage where he works in Mount Barker doesn’t open until nine, and he’s either tied to the television or out with his mates by the time we get home. Mum seems happy enough to let me do my own thing, and she spends her days cooking up a storm in the kitchen or doing God knows what around the house. We came home yesterday to find her making apricot jam using the fruit in the garden. I think Michael fell more in love with her than ever at that point. Last night he took her for dinner in the city and Josh went out with his mates. I’ve spent every evening this week around the house, practising with my new camera, watching telly and gradually getting over my jetlag, so I was well up for a night out, but an invitation never came. For the first time since we arrived, it bothered me.
    Now it’s Saturday morning and I’ve been sitting in the kitchen for half an hour with no sign of anyone. I check my watch again, wondering if I should wake Michael. At this rate we’re going to be late. I drum my fingers on the tabletop and decide to give it a few more minutes.
    Yesterday, Ben let me put Cindy back into her loft. He had to hold onto her while I clambered over the wall because I’m only five foot six and couldn’t quite manage it with a koala in my arms, but I carried her all the way there after her Meet the Tourists session and put her back on her perch. She clutched hold of my arm and held on tight around my neck, just like a small child would. She reminded me of Olivia, and that thought made me smile instead of cry.
    Ben told me afterwards that some idiots have been known to climb over the wall and try to pick up a koala, but they don’t know how to handle them properly and usually get bitten. I’m glad he waited until after I put her on her perch, otherwise I would have been nervous. I can’t wait to see the animals again today.
    Right, that’s it, I’m waking him.
    I stand up and stride purposefully out of the kitchen and down the corridor. I reach Michael’s bedroom door and stop in my tracks when I hear voices inside. I quickly retreat to the kitchen and sit back down at the table.
    ‘Good morning!’ Michael booms when he appears a moment later. ‘You’re up bright and early.’
    ‘It’s seven-thirty,’ I say cautiously. ‘Shouldn’t we be setting off soon?’
    ‘Oh.’ He claps a hand to his head. ‘Sorry, darl, I thought I told you – I’m not working today.’
    My stomach falls flat. ‘You’re not working today?’
    ‘No. So you’ve got the day off.’
    But I don’t want the day off. I want to go to the conservation park. Maybe I could go with Ben?
    ‘Is Ben at work today?’ I ask hopefully as Michael sets about making tea.
    ‘No, he’s off today too, I’m afraid. You sure do like it there, don’t you?’
    I’m so disappointed I can barely speak so I nod my reply.
    ‘We’ll have to start paying you at this rate,’ Michael continues. ‘Ben said you’ve really been pulling your weight.’
    It’s true. I’ve been helping him a lot. At first I thought he was just being nice to me, keeping me company because Michael always seems to be in demand by everyone else, but I think I’ve been useful. I’m glad he said so to