💮The Gold Panner💮
I was 7 when my Mother and Father both died. They both died in a robbery, leaving me and my older sister Jaimee Galloway all alone in an orphanage in Māwhera for 1 1 years before we were let free. My name is Thomas Galloway and this is my story.
At the age of 18 life hit Jaimee and I in the face with force. We had left the orphanage and had to find a job quickly in order to survive. We were no longer orphans that meant no more food and fresh drinking water. If we didn’t find a job we would die of lack of food and water.
My sister and I found a small run down shack while we were in search of a job. It was made from logs which have rotted over years of the wild West Coast weather, with vibrant green moss carpeted over them.. We walked in and the smell was hideous. It hit our faces like a bullet. It was a damp musty smell, making our nostrils flare up, making us want to be sick but we managed to sleep in for a night. To air it out we opened the door and the shattered glass windows. Now we went to make a bed out of old moldy damp sacks that were left there by others. The sacks have been eaten by hungry creatures .
Then we went to bed lying awake talking to each other of what we could do to get money. Then I thought. It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Gold panning was a great job to get money,
“ We will sleep on that idea till morning okay Thomas?” said Jaimee.
I woke up first leaving the shed without Jaimee. I went to find a gold pan. I had finally found one. It was really rusty with some holes around the top. Luckily I got my dad's old panning licence to show so I could find gold. If I did not have one I would die because you are not allowed to mine without a licence. Then I rushed home to tell Jaimee.
“Look Jaimee” I said
“I have dad’s old panning licence so I can go gold panning.”
But she was busy cleaning so I decided to leave her and let her finish. So I left and went to find a creek, and that’s where I knew I would get lucky. I put in my first load of chunky gravel and without putting it in the water I saw a little sparkle. So I looked I had just struck gold I had found a small nugget that’s when I packed up my items in a old rotten sack and ran to the shed to show Jaimee my luck.
I was amazed and screamed
“WE'RE RICH WE'RE RICH”
But Jaimee said
“shh Thomas you will have us caught out, keep your silly mouth shut boy!”
Jamiee said angrily.
I had hidden it away quickly. The next morning I went to grab my gold nugget but it was gone. Someone might of heard us yesterday screaming we are rich and stole our claim. then I saw a man with my nugget I was sure it was mine and he was cashing it in at the bank I went to get him but he started running. I started screaming at him
“give me back my gold you stupid fool!”
Then he dropped it. he didn’t realize I picked it up cashed in at the bank so I could purchase a small tin safe from the supply shed to put all my money into and keep it safe.
The next day I made my way down to the supply shed again to get some timber for the shed. Jamiee and I to patched up all the holes. So when we were done it counted my money. It turned out I only used a tiny bit of money on the timber and my safe.
Now back to work panning for some more gold but I did not get lucky this time. When i got home I went to uncover my safe it had rusted a bit because I buried it in a really moist spot.
I went to walk home and helped Jaimee do some house work or should I say shed work haha. We went to bed while the sun was still setting. I woke up this morning and Jaimee was already up cleaning that’s when I realised I should get help her get a job Later in the day I saw Jamiee and she was cleaning in the Cory’s house house she got hired by James Cory I don’t like him he is very grouchy but Jaimee does.
Jaimee came home tired and dirty she had done 9 hours of work today and its 13 tomorrow she has to clean up after 2 adults and 4 children and she is only allowed on half day of work off and gets paid 1 pound every fortnight. I make my money a lot easier than Jaimee does.
Sometimes Jaimee bring home some stale bread or some used coffee grounds and we have that for our tea so we don't starve. If we are really lucky we get muesli bars or some fresh eggs.
One night we got the best dinner every leftover roast mutton with roast potatoes that James had let Jaimee have it. Mmm just the thought of thinking about it made my mouth water like crazy. The scent was amazing.
Before I knew it i turned 19 Jaimee and I could not believe we had a year of freedom already. This is the diary of Thomas Galloway and I hope you have enjoyed my story.
By Eilish Morgan
