other and nodded. Specky was stunned. He didn’t know what to say next, except, ‘How? Why?’
This time Specky’s mum spoke. ‘Your biological parents are Bob and his girlfriend at the time, Lisa. Sadly Lisa was involved in a terrible car accident and unfortunately she died, leaving Bob to look after you. Your Uncle Bob was so devastated by Lisa’s death that he couldn’t cope with raising a baby by himself. He was a mess. He didn’t have a job—he was an unemployed actor waiting for his big break. He begged us to take you in while he tried to get his life together. As we looked after you, days turned into months, and we urged Bob to get a job, find a place to live, and take you back and be a responsible father. But unfortunately, Bob decided he just couldn’t do that. So he packed all his possessions and told us he wasleaving to go and live up in Sydney and that he wanted us to be your legal parents for good. We were so appalled by his actions—leaving his own child behind—that we agreed, but knew that it was unlikely we’d ever have much to do with him again. That was, until now. Since you discovered that photo. But saying that, Simon, we also wanted a little boy, and we were so happy to have you come into our lives.’
Specky sank back into the couch and let out a huge sigh. He watched his mother wipe away the tears she had streaming down her cheeks.
‘We can get in contact with him, if you want,’ added Specky’s father.
Specky began to cry.
His mouth was dry and he felt all choked up. It was hard to say anything, so he just nodded.
‘Fine, I’ll call him tomorrow. Now it’s time for bed,’ said Specky’s dad.’
The following morning, everyone in Specky’s household was running late. It had been an emotional night to say the least, and no one had slept very well. Specky rushed to school, feeling confused and unsure about what he had found out the night before. But as soon as he got to the school building he discovered that hewas now a celebrity among his classmates, so he had no time to think about Uncle Bob.
‘Specky, we saw you last night. Why didn’t you tell us?’ shouted Danny, as he and Robbo rushed up to him.
All the students in Specky’s class surrounded him, desperate to learn more about his TV appearance. Some students even asked for Specky’s autograph. Specky couldn’t believe the attention he was getting. Even a few of the teachers approached him during the day.
There was no escaping the constant fuss, not even on the footy ground the following Saturday morning. Specky took up his usual full-forward position, and the opposition’s full-back couldn’t stop staring at him for most of the game.
‘That’s where I’ve seen you!’ he blurted out, while the ball was up the other end of the oval, and he and Specky were casually pacing in the goal square waiting for it to come down their way. ‘You were on Sensational Stuff!. You thought Blade Furlington was your father.’ The full-back sniggered to himself.
Specky did his best to ignore him, and tried to focus his attention on the play ahead of him.
‘I can’t wait to tell my family about this! I played against a famous person!’
Specky rolled his eyes. He couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal to so many people. All he knew was that he wanted things to get back to normal—even with the knowledge that Uncle Bob was his real father. He glanced over to the boundary line to see the fathers of all his team-mates cheering the team on as usual.
It would be pretty cool to have Uncle Bob here watching me play, thought Specky.
The game ended with Specky’s team winning once again. Specky was glad to be in Robbo’s father’s car and heading back home, away from all the gawking and unsettling attention.
‘So, Speck, what happens now in terms of you finding your biological father? Will you wait a few years, until you’re a little older?’ asked Robbo’s dad, staring back at Specky from the rear-view
This time Specky’s mum spoke. ‘Your biological parents are Bob and his girlfriend at the time, Lisa. Sadly Lisa was involved in a terrible car accident and unfortunately she died, leaving Bob to look after you. Your Uncle Bob was so devastated by Lisa’s death that he couldn’t cope with raising a baby by himself. He was a mess. He didn’t have a job—he was an unemployed actor waiting for his big break. He begged us to take you in while he tried to get his life together. As we looked after you, days turned into months, and we urged Bob to get a job, find a place to live, and take you back and be a responsible father. But unfortunately, Bob decided he just couldn’t do that. So he packed all his possessions and told us he wasleaving to go and live up in Sydney and that he wanted us to be your legal parents for good. We were so appalled by his actions—leaving his own child behind—that we agreed, but knew that it was unlikely we’d ever have much to do with him again. That was, until now. Since you discovered that photo. But saying that, Simon, we also wanted a little boy, and we were so happy to have you come into our lives.’
Specky sank back into the couch and let out a huge sigh. He watched his mother wipe away the tears she had streaming down her cheeks.
‘We can get in contact with him, if you want,’ added Specky’s father.
Specky began to cry.
His mouth was dry and he felt all choked up. It was hard to say anything, so he just nodded.
‘Fine, I’ll call him tomorrow. Now it’s time for bed,’ said Specky’s dad.’
The following morning, everyone in Specky’s household was running late. It had been an emotional night to say the least, and no one had slept very well. Specky rushed to school, feeling confused and unsure about what he had found out the night before. But as soon as he got to the school building he discovered that hewas now a celebrity among his classmates, so he had no time to think about Uncle Bob.
‘Specky, we saw you last night. Why didn’t you tell us?’ shouted Danny, as he and Robbo rushed up to him.
All the students in Specky’s class surrounded him, desperate to learn more about his TV appearance. Some students even asked for Specky’s autograph. Specky couldn’t believe the attention he was getting. Even a few of the teachers approached him during the day.
There was no escaping the constant fuss, not even on the footy ground the following Saturday morning. Specky took up his usual full-forward position, and the opposition’s full-back couldn’t stop staring at him for most of the game.
‘That’s where I’ve seen you!’ he blurted out, while the ball was up the other end of the oval, and he and Specky were casually pacing in the goal square waiting for it to come down their way. ‘You were on Sensational Stuff!. You thought Blade Furlington was your father.’ The full-back sniggered to himself.
Specky did his best to ignore him, and tried to focus his attention on the play ahead of him.
‘I can’t wait to tell my family about this! I played against a famous person!’
Specky rolled his eyes. He couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal to so many people. All he knew was that he wanted things to get back to normal—even with the knowledge that Uncle Bob was his real father. He glanced over to the boundary line to see the fathers of all his team-mates cheering the team on as usual.
It would be pretty cool to have Uncle Bob here watching me play, thought Specky.
The game ended with Specky’s team winning once again. Specky was glad to be in Robbo’s father’s car and heading back home, away from all the gawking and unsettling attention.
‘So, Speck, what happens now in terms of you finding your biological father? Will you wait a few years, until you’re a little older?’ asked Robbo’s dad, staring back at Specky from the rear-view
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