The Hutchins and Mojica Renovacy Chapter 8

Chapter 8 A New Page “This is me! Graduating!” thought Uiara as she mounted the steps up to the Town Hall. “And now I’m free of school and can start making a real difference to our family lives.”
Tesni was frankly envious – she couldn’t wait to be free of school, free to do something practical. And Regina was just proud of her – proud of how well Uiara had turned out. “Love what the hat does to your hair,” Tesni teased Desmond. He grinned a little sheepishly. “Look at me! I made it!” Viriato smiled at his little sister’s enthusiasm. He too was proud of her and Desmond and pleased to think that there would be three adults in the family now. They all filed into the Town Hall behind Desmond and Uiara, ready to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Uiara, unsurprisingly, was voted as Most Popular – and graduated as Class Valedictorian. Desmond graduated with Highest Honour. All that time in the library when they were little – it paid off, thought Viriato.
“I did it! And I’m done! No more stuck inside all the time for me anymore!” And Desmond flipped his scroll into the air and caught it neatly. Uiara grinned hugely and copied him. Tesni stood there, impressed by the ceremony despite herself, quietly proud of her siblings. Charlie just felt overwhelmed. He still had such a long way to go and he felt so left behind at the moment. With four adults working on it, the smallholding began to look very different. Most of their earnings were being ploughed back into the land rather than the house at the moment – new fencing, additional sprinklers, fresh paint for the loose box. But the place was looking much smarter. The area at the back of the house had been cleared to make a wide space for Queen’s Hope. The mare was developing nicely, and though Desmond hadn’t won any races on her yet, she was gaining skill and experience. And she was still young. Another year or two and she’d be hitting her peak, he and Uiara reckoned. She was brave and she was fast – ideal attributes for a racer. When they could afford it, they’d buy some cavaletti and start teaching her to jump as well. Eugenio still liked to go to the art gallery to paint whenever he could. He’d like to be able to buy an easel for his own use, and some paints and canvasses, and paint at home, but the family’s money was earmarked for other things at the moment. One day though – and his paintings were selling now that the tourists were coming back. One of the local galleries took them and sold them, though they took a percentage of the sale price. When Tesni opened her bakery, then he could keep that percentage! There was a competition today. Queen’s Hope was looking as good as Uiara could get her. She was a lovely mare, Uiara thought and should drop good foals later. “Good luck,” Uiara said, smiling up at her brother. “I’ll do your share of the gardening, but you owe me!”
“Always,” he replied. “This wouldn’t have happened without you.” He touched his heels to the mare’s sides and they set off at an easy pace in the cool of the morning. It was summer and hot as the day drew on. Viriato was upgrading the latest sprinkler to auto-water, bare-chested and barefoot. He’d give Uiara and Desmond the summer off, he thought, and then talk to them about getting jobs. They’d worked hard at school all those years – they deserved a break.
Now the road bridge was repaired, they could even work on the mainland instead of the island, though it would be a long commute. And they’d need a car. But worth it, if the salaries were high enough. And then they could plan what to do next. Tesni was at work of course, but Eugenio sat with Charlie and Henrietta to do their homework together. Though you’d think, this near the end if term, there could be some let-up in the homework stakes!
“This makes me feel really grown up,” he said, laughing a bit. “It used to be Viriato doing this with me.” Then he caught sight of Henrietta’s face.
“Henrietta, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, but he knew she was lying. He’d get Tesni to talk to her… “What’s up, Henrietta?” Tesni bent to hug her cousin. “Even Eugenio noticed there was something wrong, and it takes a lot to get through to him. Come on, little sister – tell me all about it.”
“But I’m not your sister – that’s just the problem.”
“Well, you feel like one. I feel closer to you than to Uiara – you and I share more memories. What is it?” “I just feel left behind. Edged out. Like I’m not wanted.” Henrietta was nearly in tears.
Tesni was thoughtful for a while. “Don’t forget, you’ve nearly finished primary school. Only another week. And next year, we’ll be at the same school again, you and I – and Charlie and Eugenio. But especially you and I and Charlie.” “Do you think that will help with how I feel?”
“Yes, I do. And do you want to hear something nice? I got promoted and I got a bonus. And some of it is going on decorating our room.”
“Really?” Henrietta’s eyes suddenly shone like stars. “And the rest of my bonus is going on decorating in here,” Tesni said firmly.
“Tesni, you darling! You can have some of it for yourself, you know.”
“I’ll do our room. Henrietta needs something that isn’t third-hand! Think about it – all she’s had are hand-me-downs that were second hand in the first place. And when she leaves primary school – like this summer! – can I buy her one set of brand-new clothes with my earnings? And Charlie too, if he wants them?” Tesni was as good as her word. Their bedroom went from that… …to this. Uiara was impressed and envious in roughly equal quantities.
“Reggie and I next,” she said. “That looks so good!”
“Thank you,” Tesni said, pink and pleased at the compliment. The kitchen got some cheap and cheerful wall covering – and one window got painted with the paint left over from doing Tesni and Henrietta’s room. Upstairs looks like this now. Downstairs looks like this now.

This seemed like a natural place to break a chapter – next one is called Growing Pains.