Smooch & Rose by Samantha Wheeler

him here. I just don’t want you hiding in trees and worrying your grandmother half to death. After all the stress the sale has caused her, the least I can do is help. Besides, your dad loved that creek. So . . . what do you think?’
    I hardly had time to worry about Smooch for the rest of the week. Uncle Malcolm and I were too busy preparing my speech. He came over every afternoon after work and helped me make a ton of phone calls. We spoke to everyone we could think of who might give us some ideas for Smooch’s creek. We googled ‘safe koala development’ on Uncle Malcolm’s laptop and found a place in New South Wales where they’d built a new housing estate without destroying koala trees. They sent us copies of their newsletters and spoke to us about the things that worked in their development, and the things that didn’t. There were more ideas on the koala websites I’d found and Uncle Malcolm even lent me his expensive camera to take photos of Smooch to add to the presentation.
    By Friday, my speech was ready. All I had to do was make sure I didn’t muck it up.

13. The Mayor

    Gran ironed a crisp clean shirt for me to wear on Friday. When I was dressed, she clipped a little furry koala to my collar. ‘From Smooch and me,’ she said, smiling. ‘For good luck.’ Then she cooked an extra-big portion of scrambled eggs to get me off to a good start. My stomach was jumping around so much I could hardly face eating them. But I ate them anyway, just to see the satisfied look on Gran’s face.
    And then it was time.
    Uncle Malcolm pulled up just after eight. He’d taken the day off work especially. And he’d dressed in a smart grey suit with a bright red tie.
    Gran sat with me in the back of Uncle Malcolm’s car and held my hand while I practised my presentation over and over in my head. It didn’t take long to get to the council chambers. I wished Uncle Malcolm would make another trip around the block. Only I still wouldn’t have been ready. I’d never be ready.
    I thought I might be sick as we climbed the steps to the front entrance. I gripped Gran’s hand so hard I probably cut off the blood flow.
    People were standing all around, waving banners that said things like, Stop the Destruction and Save Our Koalas . Some of the people were even chanting, like the protests I’d seen on TV. A group of school kids held a sign that said, No Trees, No Me . The writing was so neat it looked like one of the fonts in Microsoft Word.
    â€˜Mrs Glover?’ I whispered. The sign lowered. Mrs Glover’s beaming face appeared behind it. Shuffling around her to get a better look were the grinning faces of my whole entire class. Even Tahlia and Kellee were there. ‘Good luck!’ they chorused as we passed.
    I spotted Carol by the doors, talking to a couple of reporters. I hoped her friends were still guarding Smooch’s trees. She turned to give me a wink and I was sure they were keeping Smooch safe.
    And then we went in. Everyone smiled at me and I concentrated on smiling back without throwing up. The swirly pattern on the carpet didn’t help. I managed to get to where Mayor Bantex was standing without my legs collapsing, but my throat was dry and my hand was cold and clammy when he shook it.
    â€˜Welcome Rose,’ he said in a friendly voice. ‘I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ I peeped. I pulled my USB out of my pocket and gave it to him with a trembling hand. He passed it over to his assistant and introduced me to the other councillors and to Bill Young from Hall and Young Development. I told him we’d already met – kind of. Then Mayor Bantex said, ‘Over to you, Rose.’
    I took a deep breath. I glanced at Gran. She smiled and nodded. I looked at Uncle Malcolm and then over to Carol by the door. She gave me the thumbs up and I began.
    â€˜Good morning Mayor Bantex,