Chapter 1

Hi I’m Joe and this is my unusual story of success. When I just turned 12 years old and I loved cycling, not racing just cycling. As I was cycling along the valley I saw some chickens, a lamb and a goat on the roadway. I stopped and noticed a gate open. I herded the animals back inside the gate just as a lady screamed out “What are you doing to my pets?”
I collected my bike and parked it inside the gate that I closed to keep the animals in and went up to the old lady. I explained “Hi, I am Joe. I found your gate open and the animals on the roadway. I herded them back inside the gate and I was looking for any more. With the work run home due shortly I did not want them killed. Is it possible to get a glass of water please as I ran out.”
She asked me to sit outside on the cane chair, so I did. This big mangy ginger cat jumped up onto my lap and started to purr, rubbing her face against mine.
I tickled it neck, the lady came out and saw what her cat was doing and smiled “Well for Ginger to like you, you must be a good person son.”
She handed me a glass of water. I said “Thank you miss.” and drank the water.

The lady smiled at me “Yes I am a miss, never married, my name is Rose, your parents certainly gave you manners, it’s very nice to see and very unusually today Joe.”
I smiled “Mum trained me, manners or stave.” I smiled, Rose burst out laughing as she sat down on the other chair. We just generally chatted for another fifty minutes or so. She was a nice lady. Before she left she asked me to give her my full name, address, birthday and phone number. As I always carried a few ID cards with me I handed her one.
I explained “My dad printed these up for me just in case I have a bike accident, at least I could identify myself.”

“I see your parents do love and care for you.” Rose stated. Ginger jumped down from me and I was able to leave. I again thanked her for the water. This was the first and last time I did see her.

On my 17^th Birthday, I just got out of bed and dressed when someone knock on the door. Dad answered, it was a man in a suit asking for me. Dad called and I went out to the front door. He asked me my full name, address and phone number. These I gave. He was looking at a card. He smiled “Is this the card you gave to Miss Rose a few years ago after moving her animals into her yard from the roadway?”

I had completely forgotten about it, I looked at him, then remembered “Yes, but that was, um, 5 years ago. I have not seem the nice lady since.”

He asked “May I come in to talk about Miss Rose!”
I opened the door and we entered the dining room. “Would you like a drink?” I asked.
He smiled “Yes one that Miss Rose gave you.” I smiled and went to get a glass of water.
Both of my parents were looking like stunned mullets with my smile. I sat down opposite him and asked “How is Miss Rose?”
He asked my parents to sit. He stated “First I am Stuart Lee, the legal rep for Miss Rose. Unfortunately, Miss Rose passed away three months ago.” I got wet eyes “Miss Rose was so impressed with your manners and the fact Ginger sat on your lap. Rose made you the beneficiary of her estate. She did not have anyone else, her parents died many years ago and up until she met you and you brought her animals in from the roadway, she had not made a will. After your visit she did make a will in your favour, but you were not to be informed until you are a man at 17 years old. Miss Rose was a witch and believed boys and girls become responsible at 17 not 18 as in the current common law?”
I giggled, my parents looked at me. He continued “I have to ask your parents, are you going to allow your son to inherit this estate without interference?”
Dad answered “Yes, we will let him have it, Why?
He replied “Joe you inherit everything, if your parents try to take any from you, let me know as if they did say no I would have held the estate until you are 18. Can I ask why did you giggle earlier?”

I looked at him, then mum and dad. “My current girlfriend Luna, who everyone believes is named because her father likes the night sky, is infact a witch, together with both of her parents. She has not, repeat not, tried to change me but her mother did say three months ago, I would hear sad news but do not grieve, live the life she wanted herself. I am stunned with this news. Can I ask what happened to Ginger, the cat please?”
Stuart replied “She passed away 2 months before Miss Rose died.”

Just then my phone rang, I answered it and it was Luna wishing me a happy birthday. I asked her “Can you come over here with your parents now, I have some news for you?” Luna agreed. As she only lived 3 streets away, they were soon here. I introduced them all.
As we sat down I held Luna hand, she is 4 months older than me, I asked her to marry me. Luna gave such a big smile and cuddle saying yes I will. I asked her parents if they would allow us to marry. Her father agreed on the condition we both at least finish high school with good marks. I kissed Luna, so happy. I asked Stuart to explain to Luna’s parents what has just occurred to me. He told them what I was to inherit.

He then looked at me saying “I have not finished yet Joe. Not only do you get her farm and the 100 acres, you will have an annual income of $250 thousand from her property rentals. Miss Rose was a real estate saleswoman and did invest her monies into good quality properties. That income is tax free as it is dividends from your shareholdings.” I looked at all four parents, I was stunned and so were they.
Mum said “Well I was going to take you for your driving test in an hour, do you still want to go?”
I quickly recovered “Yes please mum, however can we have the day off school so we can visit the property after my driving test please Mum and Dad?”

Stuart answered “I am at your call today, I would suggest you pass your test for the next surprise.”
Luna parents agreed she could have the day off as well. Her parents left to go to work. Dad said he is taking the day off to be with me.

We had breakfast with Luna and Stuart joining us. I left at 9.30 for my test and I am glad to say I passed. On the test we actually passed Miss Rose’s property and I stopped for a minute. The instructor asked me why I stopped. I did explain my inheritance today and if I pass I would be coming here to check out the property. He just smiled. Mum drove home.

We had a drink of tea to celebrate the obtaining of my licence and Luna kissed me. We, you must understand, we have been together for over nine months and never really shown our love like today.

I went with Luna and Stuart to now, my property. He had the keys to open the gate. This did have three locks. He parked on the gravel driveway, with mum and dad behind us. Stuart showed us the outside of the property and it all the way up the valley side, which he explained was all now my property. A big property.

At the front door was the old cane chairs and table. I sat in the same chair when I first saw her and my eyes did water. Luna saw me and just stood next to me and gave me a hug. Stuart opened the front door and asked me to enter. I was about to enter, I stopped, signalled Luna to come to me. I kissed Luna and swept her up in my arms and carried her over the threshold. She kissed and cried at my actions. I put her down and looked astonished at the inside, infact all of us were astonished at the fit out of the home. It was world class luxury. The outside and entry look ramshackle but inside it was better than any display home I had seen on TV.
Stuart said “I have never been inside this house before and this was not what I expected. Every time I saw Miss Rose, it was either my office or at the cane table outside.”