The Dilemma of Parker

Chapter8

It had been a year since Parker had left and William and Richard had no luck tracking her down. Richard and William were at the school Parker use to attend for another graduation. Leon was there too, he had been asked to come along so that William and he could speak with the teachers to get information about Parker. After the first six months William had reached out to Leon to see if he had heard from Parker and to try and see if he was able to get information from the school. They had managed to get some teachers to confirm she was awarded a scholarship through a indigenous pathway program. They had called every university in Australia but no one had confirmed that Parker was a student at the university.

Parker had had the best year at university. She loved the course she was in and Matt had taken her under his wings. She had confessed everything to him on Christmas Day when he had invited her to Christmas dinner with some of the elders in the area. It was lucky she had told him everything because just after new year, he received a call from someone claiming to be Parker's brother needing to get in contact with her for a family emergency. Matt had informed Parker immediately of the call and had informed her brother she wasn't part of the program.

Parker had made several friends and was very active in the gadigal program. She had been a student ambassador through the spring and winter program as well. She had shared some of the skills she had learnt from her mob with the mob at gadigal. She was even working at the drop in centre at Redfern with the younger kids. The aunties loved her. Parker had built a family with the gadigal people but still kept in contact with some of her mob back in the Northern Territory. She had been informed that her brothers and mother had been looking for her but no one had given them any information at all.

Tonight Parker was talking to her old school via video link. She had made sure that William was not going to be there tonight. Mrs Andre had confirmed that his father would be presenting the award so she didn't have to worry about anyone finding out where she was. Matt would introduce Parker and then she would talk about the program and living on campus. She had done a few of these in person and via zoom before.

Parker had accepted that her family had been abusive. She had connected with a counsellor through the gadigal centre and had worked with them. At first she thought it was her fault and she wasn't good enough, but Stephen had made her see that she was never at fault. Her family neglected her and emotionally abused her for years. Nothing she could of done would have changed that. She accepted that her father hated her because he wasn't her real father. Her ninny had told her that years ago but she didn't believe it until recently. She wanted to know who her real father was but she wasn't ready to have any communication with those people.

"You ready sis" Matt asked sitting down next to Parker. "Yep" Parker replied. She was a little excited to be speaking to her old school. She knew these people, some had been her friends. "Please welcome Parker Jones and Matt Smith from the Gadigal program at Sydney uni" Mrs Andre was heard saying before Parker and Matt could see the hall full of students and families.

Richard's heart dropped hearing his daughters name and he swung around looking at the screen which was mounted on the wall behind him. Gosh she was gorgeous, Richard thought. William was right in the front row and couldn't take his eyes off Parker. He had called the guy sitting next to her who had assured him Parker wasn't there. William was pissed off but was also grateful he was looking at his baby sister. Leon was shocked to see Parker on the screen and wanted nothing more then to call out to her and get her attention.

"Evening all, my name's Matt Smith and I am one of the coordinators of the gadigal program here at Sydney uni. This here is Parker Jones and I'm sure many of you know her. She graduated last year from your school and was offered a position at our uni through our pathways program. Parker is now one of our student ambassadors and is going to speak to you mob about the move she made. Take it away sis" Matt stated.

"Hi guys, first off congrats to all of you for making it. I am proud of you. I remember sitting in that hall last year not knowing what life had install for me. I had been offered a spot here at gadigal but hadn't decided if I was actually going to follow through. Well I am glad I did. Matt and the other aunties and uncles here, are like my family. Gadigal is like my home and even when it's after hours, I can call up one of the workers if I need help and they are there" Parker stated. "Yeh the amount of calls I get for boyfriend advice" Matt laughed causing Parker to go red and smack Matt on the arm.

Richard was not happy that Matt was looking at Parker and saying he was giving boyfriend advice. He didn't like the idea of his little girl around boys at all. For Christ sake he hadn't offically met the girl and he was already willing to make sure boys stayed away. Richard hadn't bothered to listen to anything else Parker was saying he was just watching her laugh and smile.

"What the fuck?" William asked when he saw Parker go red when Matt mentioned boyfriend advice. Little Jones, should not be talking to boys at all. "I'll kill 'em" Leon whispered. "Huh?" William asked. "Boyfriends, no way in hell is my sister having a boyfriend" Leon growled. Even though Tyson had made it known that Leon was in fact no relation to Parker, Leon still considered Parker his little sister. Yes he had been a shit brother but he wanted to make it up to her and now, seeing Parker, he knew exactly where she was. He would be heading to Sydney immediately so he could finally start making it up to Parker for treating her so poorly.