Creative Writing: Hayley's Life

[Having just arrived home from dropping Hayley at swimming, Carol starts to make herself a cup of tea in the family kitchen. As she looks at a family picture of an outing to the beach. Carol begins to reminisce about past family memories and how much she misses her eldest son Michael. Phil then arrives home].
I remember that day at Forster Beach like it was yesterday [Shows picture]. It’s crazy to think this bvphoto was taken seven years ago [Pause]. It was so freeing. Our laughter probably could have echoed down to Cronulla as we were all so cheerful that day. Hayley, so small she would ride on your shoulders yet so terrified she was as still as a statue. You and Michael, typical father and son, always trying to outdo each other like with
Could you imagine if the house was this empty the entire time, no kids, no family? Yes, I know it probably won’t happen but I didn’t think Michael would desert us either [Slightly irritated]. I just can’t swallow making the same mistake with Josh. It must be hard for him living in the shadow of his rugby star father, the legendary Phil Tambling. He must be constantly reminded by all the stories everyone tells the worst of all being that blooming Terry Vickers always sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong. Imagine how he feels constantly being compared to you whilst he sits on the bench all game. He obviously keeps playing to spare your feelings and the disappointment neither of your sons playing rugby. Instead he sits on the sideline every match whilst the whole town scrutinises him. There’s no way our Josh enjoys sitting on the sideline being used as some disposable utility every match while everyone compares him to the legendary Phil Tambling since that’s a lot of pressure for a kid to deal with. I’m scared he will crack under the pressure just like Michael and leave us too. Right now, he’s in Port Macquarie with his friends it’s much too familiar. It’s just like the time Michael left for the Gold Coast, what if he never returns just like Michael. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. If you dare drive Josh away the same way you did to Michael with the constant pressure and expectations you impose to mirror yourself. I don’t understand why you can’t just accept not everyone is like you. After all, that’s what family is about; accepting and supporting each