Charlie Franks is A-OK

by Cecily Anne Paterson

  Was it true, what Mum said? If I wanted something enough, had I always gotten it? Maybe. Or maybe not. I had really, really wanted to get to State for jumping this year. But what I discovered was that by wanting it too much, I made myself a little bit crazy. It was only when I stopped wanting it so much, when I took it out of the box that said ‘The Most Important Things’ and put the things that actually belonged in there—having a sister, loving my mum and looking out for other people along the way—that I discovered a confidence that was bigger, deeper and stronger than any confidence I’d ever felt before. With it came something I’d never known before either—that it’s okay to try your best and not make it.

  I sat back, sipped my drink, crushed an ice cube between my teeth and looked around me. Maybe Baylor was better at riding than me. Or maybe she wasn’t. Maybe I had just needed to train more. Maybe all the things that had happened this year—changing horses, going to a new school, Mum being unwell—had an effect, maybe not. I didn’t know. I really didn’t. But it wasn’t important either, because I would get another chance next year. I had heaps more confidence, and I had something that was more important than winning—my family and my friends.

  And Faith and Mika.

  And Fozzles, who was now well enough to ride again, according to Ness.

  ‘Just go gently,’ she said to me, as she finished the washing up and herded Tessa and James out the door. ‘Come on, James. You’ll see Coco again tomorrow.’ She looked at me intently, as though she didn’t quite trust me. ‘Go easy on her, okay? Not too much, and not too hard.’ She looked back. ‘And not too long. Mika will miss her.’

  It was okay. After a lot of hard riding, I was pretty happy to go slow and steady, and the next morning, Fozzles and I got saddled up. We left Mika with Cupcake and Coco, and instructions to ring us the instant Mika started to get upset.

  ‘Go,’ said Coco, when I’d checked for the seventh or eighth time that Cupcake was fine, and Mika was okay, and everyone was alright with us leaving. ‘We’ll be fine.’ So Fozzles and I went for a ride.

  We headed down the paddocks towards the creek, now just a tiny sliver of silver water dancing across small rocks. ‘Imagine it, Fozzles.’ I laughed to her. ‘It was nuts. And you know what Cupcake’s like.’ Fozzles snorted and shook her head, and I laughed again. ‘If it ever happens again, I’ll be riding you. Actually …’ I stopped talking and bit my lip. ‘It had better not ever happen again.’

  We kept going onto the path which leads to the rock face and my favourite view ever, out over the bush and the farms of Budgong, right out to the coast and the sea.

  ‘Perfect. You and me here. This is just how it should be.’ But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t. There was something missing. Two things missing, in fact. It would take some waiting, I knew, but in a few years, it would be perfect.

  ‘Let’s go home,’ I said to Fozzles. ‘There’s something we need to do.’

  Coco yelled at me as we walked up the farm to where she was waiting with the horses. ‘I didn’t even ring you.’

  ‘Look at her.’ I pointed to Mika, who was going crazy now she’d seen Fozzles, lolloping around like a baby lamb, but with longer legs and a flickier tail.

  ‘That’s so cute. Adorable.’ She considered a moment, her head to one side. ‘I’m so glad I let George Michael in the paddock, you know.’

  I gave her a look. ‘Yeah, right. Next time, check with me. Or let him in with Cupcake.’

  I saw the hint of an idea start in Coco’s face, travel up to her brain, sit there for a little bit and get fatter, and come down to near her mouth.

  ‘Hmmm,’ she said, but it was a happy ‘hmmm’, not a grumpy one.

  ‘“Hmmm” indeed. Come inside with me. I have to get something.’

  ‘Get what?’ But I wouldn’t tell her until we were in the lounge room, and I was borrowing Faith from Mum, who’d just finished feeding her.

  ‘I haven’t changed her,’ she called after us. ‘You’ll have to do the nappy for me. And don’t blame me if it’s a full one.’

  ‘It’s okay, I’m on it.’

  Coco followed me down to the fence. ‘So close to the horses so early?’ She looked unsure.

  ‘I’m being careful. And if she doesn’t start now, when will she?’

  I opened the gate and went through into the paddock, up to Fozzles and Mika, who’d calmed down from the exhilaration of being reunited with her mother. Holding Faith close and still with one arm, I took her hand out with my other arm to give Mika a pat. The baby foal nosed her way in to me, close and warm by my side.

  ‘She can be your horse,’ I said to Faith. ‘You can ride her, and I’ll teach you everything I know.’ I looked around me; the grass and trees were glowing in the sunlight; the blue sky went on forever. There were so many possibilities in life. So much to do. And now I had someone to take along with me.

  Faith’s fingers found the sprouting hairs of Mika’s baby foal mane, and closed over them. Mika tossed her head a little, trying to get free, and I laughed. I’d had Faith’s hands in my hair before, and it had hurt.

  ‘Let go.’ I gently prised her fingers free. Mika galloped away, frisking in the grass. Faith’s eyes followed her and then came back to me. ‘You don’t cling too tightly.’ I made a big ‘look at me’ smile on my face. ‘Hold things gently, okay?’

  Faith’s mouth opened, then the corner of her lips went up for just a second, but it was enough.

  ‘You smiled at me,’ I cooed. My face opened in delight. ‘You gave me a smile.’ I shifted her into both arms and started walking quickly up to the fence. ‘She’s smiling at me,’ I called to Coco. ‘You should see this.’

  ‘Seriously? A real smile?’

  ‘I think so. I really do. We need to get a picture of it—show Mum and Dad.’

  And the two of us, twin sisters, with our new baby sister, on a perfect evening, walked back into the house.

  THE END

  Also in the Coco and Charlie Franks Series

  Have you read them yet?

  Love and Muddy Puddles

  Thirteen year old fashionista Coco Franks has finally made it into the popular group at school when her dad decides to move the whole family to the country so they can ‘bond’. Social death is looming, her shoes are covered in mud and all Coco wants to do is get herself back to her city friends.

  It’ll take a boy with no dress sense and totally hick boots, and a contrary horse called Cupcake to bring Coco to her senses. But it might just be too little, too late.

  …and a short story…

  Six Words That Wreck Your Life

  Her mum has just dropped some terrible news that has Coco convinced her life is going to be over forever. Like, for reals. It’ll take some smart talking from Charlie to help her see that it doesn’t matter what people think—really.

  Acknowledgements

  I really loved writing Coco’s story back in Love and Muddy Puddles, the first book of this series, and I was a bit afraid that Charlie might not be quite so much fun, but, as you can imagine, it turned out just fine, and I was able to put her in enough terrible situations to keep it amusing and challenging. Thanks to all the readers who kept emailing me, asking when the sequel was coming out, and keeping me on track. (You know who you are.)

  Really big, super-huge thanks go to the real Franks family, who actually exist in real life, even though I have taken so many liberties with their characters so as to make them almost unrecognisable throughout these two books. When I gave the manuscript to Deb (the mum) to read through, she said, “This is weird. We don’t yell at the kids.” There are lots of other little differences, for which I apologise, dear Deb, but I still say thank you for letting me use you and your beautiful family in my writing. Deb also helped with horsey details and show jumping stuff. She’s a riding instructor, so I learned all about things like ‘impulsion and direction’. Extra special thanks go to the real Charlie and the real Faith, who have been kind enough to let me write about
them and make them into fiction. And a shout out to Christine, the Franks’ real life grandma, who lives with them on the farm, and who keeps asking when she’s going to get her own story line. (If you want to see glimpses of the real Franks family, head to www.kangaroovalleyhorses.com and check out their gorgeous property. Or, if you’re local and you can, go on a ride with them.)

  Clever Izzy E gave me the name for Mika the foal. It means ‘moon’ in an Aboriginal language.

  Massive thanks also to Sue and Aria B, who let me into the world of show jumping and gave me the deets on some of the local comps. Readers who live in New South Wales will recognise that, actually, you don’t have to qualify to enter in the State competition, but on that little detail, I took author’s licence. Yes, I made it up, I’ll admit it. I needed it for the tension in the plot.

  Of course, thanks go to all my ‘test readers’ who were kind enough to leave reviews as well: Jemima G, Aria and Paige B, Milly and Yasmin A, Abby and Caitlin T, Jo and Rachel K. Also, Lara L, Jessy L, Rianna D, Annette L, Abby U, Izzy E, Nati from Barcelona, Amanda C, Sarah B, Heather M, Izel, Emma Y, Craig F, Bec C, Denise B, Anne S, Janelle M, Emily, Phoebe and Georgia S, Amelie and Carys B, Mariette W, Jo B, Julia C, Gillian, Beth, Nati, Clara, Hannah B, Sarah W, Aiyana, Linda T, Emma B, Bec and Zoe P, Annie-Jo, writer Katie J Cross (check out her awesome books, guys) and anyone I’ve left off because I’m disorganised and not very meticulous with lists. Sorry!

  I really appreciate my readers, young and old, and from so many different parts of the world! Getting your emails and messages makes me happy and keeps me wanting to be a writer, day after day.

  Always, thanks to my husband, who gives me time to write. I often shoo him out of my office. “Go away, I’m working,” I say. And he does. (We talk later, don’t worry.)

  'Charlie Franks Is A-OK' is in paperback

  Books on your e-reader are great, but when you really love a story, there’s nothing like having it on your shelf in paperback, am I right?

  Grab a copy of Charlie Franks for yourself, or buy it as a gift for a girl in your life. You can order it through major book retailers or online.

  About the Author

  Cecily Anne Paterson was born in Australia but lived overseas with her family in Pakistan from the ages of three to sixteen. She spent time in the city, in the desert, and in the Himalayan mountains, where she went to boarding school for five years.

  These days she lives in a tiny tourist town in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband, four children and very cuddly dog. Her hobbies include playing the cello, reading good books, watching good films and not cleaning the house.

  Cecily loves getting letters from readers and tries to answer every message she gets. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or drop her a line through her website at: www.cecilypaterson.com. You can also sign up to get her newsletter, and to hear about new books and special offers.

  More books by Cecily Anne Paterson

  In the Invisible Series…

  Invisible

  Jazmine Crawford doesn’t make decisions. She doesn’t make choices. She doesn’t make friends. Jazmine Crawford only wants one thing: to be invisible. For Jazmine, it’s a lot easier to take out her hearing aid and drift along in life pretending that nothing’s wrong than it is to admit that she’s heartbroken. But something’s got to give… and soon.

  “An exquisitely written story… a stunning account of the reinvention of a compelling and sympathetic character.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

  “Lovely… sensitive, hopeful, empowering” ~ Cathy Cassidy

  Invisible was a semi-finalist in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

  Sign up for Cecily Anne Paterson’s newsletter here and she’ll give you a free copy of Invisible.

  Invincible

  Finally, everything is going right for 13 year-old Jazmine Crawford. After years of being invisible, she’s making friends, talking to her mum and hanging out with Liam. But what happens when everyone around her changes? Will getting back in touch with her grandma help her cope or just make things worse? And who’s going to finally give arrogant Angela what she deserves?

  Invincible was a finalist in the 2016 Caleb Awards.

  Being Jazmine

  Jazmine’s deaf. And she’s getting tired. Tired of having to try hard, tired of fitting in, tired of pretending to be like everyone else. When Jaz goes to deaf camp, a new world opens up to her. A world where things are easier, and she finally seems to have a place.

  But when you leave one world and enter another, what happens to the people you leave behind? And why is one of her new deaf friends suddenly pushed out of the group?

  Which world will Jaz live in? Can she keep a foot in both? How will she figure out the best way to be Jazmine?

  Coming in 2018

  A brand new series with brand new characters

  Smart Girls Don’t Wear Mascara

  Abby Smart is planning to have the most awesome year ever. She’s the leader of the Smart Girls club and her dreams to be a singer are coming true. But then Stella turns up, wrecking everything. Will Abby follow her friends or her dreams, because she certainly can’t have both.

  How Not To Be Popular

  It’s a bonus for Maddie when her good deed – helping weird, chicken-obsessed Tahlia get a dress for the Year Six formal – leads to a genuine friendship between them. But Maddie has a dark, guilty secret that she’s going to have to keep hidden, or risk both her new friendship and her dream to be voted the School Leader at the end of the year.

  A request from the author... leave a review?

  If you’ve enjoyed this book, I’d be super grateful if you would spend just a moment leaving a review. It can be as short - or as long - as you like. Leave a review on Goodreads, or the site of the retailer you bought this from, or even, just tell your friends about it.

  Oh, and tell me what you thought too… I’d love to hear it.

  Thank you so much xxx