Ariette apologized to her daughter Annette for changing suddenly and allowing her father to bully her. She promised to be a better mother. Annette was confused by the changes in her mother and struggled to focus on her school project. At the Bailey farm, the plants were mysteriously dying without any symptoms or change in weather. Teresa was worried because they could not afford any decrease in output. Megan knew about the family's financial troubles from secretly looking at their finances for years. Aimee still did not have decent work and was over or underqualified for jobs. Marley loved his job as a firefighter and was learning the skills needed well. When on duty, his role was medical but he

1. Deasil
6.3
Street

2. Ariette got to Annette early that
morning before Harry could say
anything. She apologised for the
sudden change, for hiding her
away and allowing herself to be
bullied by her father, for
everything. She swore she’d try to
be a better mother from now on.

3. After their long talk Ariette hurried off to
give Peps her morning ride.
Annette was less industrious. She struggled
to concentrate on her family history
project, her mind was so confused by the
changes in her mother.

4. The sense of rebellion
must be contagious, as she
soon bailed to go for a walk
and try to clear her head.

5. At the Baileys, they’re in real
trouble. Although there had
been no change in the weather,
no swarms of unusual insects…
the plants were dying.

6. Teresa has had no luck diagnosing the disease, as
there are no symptoms. They simply shrivel and die.
It is a major concern. There is no way they can
afford any deviation from maximum output. She
barely manages to keep a lid on her rising panic.

7. Teresa thought she was keeping their worries
from their kids… But Megan had been regularly
sneaking looks at the family finances for years.
She knew everything.

8. Aimee is also struggling
with work, in that she still
doesn’t have any. She’s
under-qualified for anything
decent, but over-qualified
for starter positions.

9. Marley was happy though. He
loved his job as a fireman, and
had carved out quite a niche for
himself. He was picking up all the
skills he needed for the job like a
duck to water.

10. When on duty, his job was strictly
speaking a medical role. But his co-
workers were finding her could be
relied on as a handy number two in
many situations.

11. In a small town like Appaloosa,
coincidences happen. One evening
Malika walked to the station after
school, as her mum was out late
working an evening shift as an
interview. In the foyer, she met a
policewoman she recognised. It was
the lady who had arrested that scary
man right in front of her!

12. PC Marsh was flattered by
Malika’s awe, it was so
rare to find a child or teen
who was ready to voice
their admiration for the
police.
While they waited for
Marley to finish, she gave
Malika the contact details
for a programme they ran
for young people
interested in the law.

13. PC Janet Marsh was a plain clothes detective, who had risen
through the ranks from the pathology lab to an active
investigator role.

14. Despite tracking down criminals as a detective, she also worked behind the scenes and
did the odd shift walking the streets in uniform. She had no family at all, and her co-
workers quietly pitied her workahloc lifestyle. Non of them had the heart to call her on
the fact that she shouldn’t be doing so many different jobs at once.

15. Malika took the bull by the horns and
was soon signed up to the
neighbourhood watch. She couldn’t
wait to be a teen and enrol after
school as a police cadet.