The First Fleet - A Short Story

• Layla Wenman, Grade 4
• Short Story
• 2017

Hi, my name is Lilla Sharas, I am 11 years old. I live in England and I am an orphan. My life is hard. I am a maid and as I said, I’m an orphan, but at least my parents are in prison and not dead. My dad killed someone for no reason. I don’t know for sure, but I think he was drunk. My mum stole a piece of bread! But back to me, this is the story of me and the First Fleet to Australia.
I stole a potato from my boss, Lillian Grayham, and get this, she called the Police on me! They chased me for a week. Eventually they caught me and of course I got in trouble, but not too much. I was so hungry still, but at least I didn’t work for Lillian anymore. I was now homeless. Even though Lillian hated me, she had always treated me like her very own child. So basically what I’m saying is she loved me like her own. I was so hurt when she turned me into the Police.
I got sent to court, ‘Dumfries Court, what a funny name,' I thought to myself.
I was in a heap of trouble, I knew it! Then it started… “Name?” the Judge asked.
“Lilla Sharas,” I responded.
“Education?” he asked.
“None,” I replied.
“Parents?” he continued.
“Orphan,” I said.
“Job?” he asked.
“Maid,” I said.
“14 year transportation sentence,” said the Judge.
The soldiers grabbed me and took me to the hulks.
After one year, the boats finally set off. It was very scary, but I saw a familiar face on the boat named, Zora.
I arrived in Port Jackson and started building. When I turned around, I saw a girl named Lilly Martin. She was trying to steal my stuff. We got into a fight. The soldiers broke it up and I was sent to Cockatoo Island.
Cockatoo Island was the worst because we had to survive ourselves. I almost died. I behaved myself on Cockatoo Island, but one time when I tried to run away, I got my sentence increased by one year.
Eventually, I got set free. I was very happy. I even got to meet my mum and dad as they were sentenced to transportation for their crimes too. They were the best. Oh and you know that familiar face I saw? Turns out it was mum! I guess the world is a small place after all.