29th October 1968

Clancy's fingers flew over the piano keys as she played a song she had learned from her mother. It was five o' clock in the morning, and she had woken early to make breakfast. She finished her scales before running back to the kitchen to lift the burning toast out of the toaster. Clancy sighed and threw it onto the counter in annoyance.

Sonny entered the kitchen, his freckled face sleepy. He set his shoes on the table and seemed surprised to see Clancy standing there when she called, "Good morning! Sleep well?" Sonny swallowed, seemingly frozen in shock. Mark exited the bathroom and stood behind his little brother, towel hung around his shoulders. "Good morning!"

Clancy didn't pay any attention when Mark took off running. She was focusing too hard on trying not to burn the next batch of toast. Normally this never would have happened, but nerves had kicked in. Mark bumped into Matt in his frantic attempt to get away.

"Breakfast is nearly ready, Mr Hammond!" Clancy beamed, lifting her eyes finally from the toaster.

"Oh, Clancy, you shouldn't have bothered!" Matt said uneasily, taking in the pile of well-done toast.

"It's the least I could do!" Clancy announced, pouring some tea into teacups. "I also filled your car up for you. I always do that for dad. And, this toast might be well-done, but Jerry told me last night that you like it that way."

"Yeah, I like it burnt…" Matt nodded, staring at the plate of toast she had set before him. "Skippy not in yet?"

Sonny blinked and started to run towards the door. "Uh, I'd better go and get her!"

Clancy swallowed, her shoulders drooping slightly. She knew he hadn't run away because of that. Jerry moved past Sonny, singing. "Have some toast, Jerry." Matt held up the plate.

Jerry glanced at Clancy, his mouth tightening. "No, I'm not hungry this morning. I'd better go fill the wagon."

Matt smirked. "Clancy already did that."

"Oh…well, there is a couple of other things that, uh, have to be done…"

Matt stood up. "Thanks for all your hard work, Clancy, I'll take some of this toast with me. We have to get out at the river before seven-thirty, and we never bother much with breakfast anyway. Remember," He smiled fatherly. "You make yourself at home."

As Matt followed Jerry, Clancy exhaled deeply, trying to hold back tears. She walked towards the piano, a few tears dripping down her cheeks when she knew no one else was around. She self-consciously pulled at the green ribbon in her hair, letting herself curl up on the stool and cry. She missed her family. Tom, her father, with his airs and graces and money. Marion, her mother, who always doted on Clancy, her only daughter. She even missed her brothers, no matter how annoying they could be.

Clancy rubbed at her eyes quickly and dropped her legs when she heard someone come out from their room. She didn't dare look, and so she busied herself with practicing some scales.

"Clancy? Where's dad?" Mark asked from behind her. When she didn't answer for fear of him noticing her trembling voice, he walked beside her and noticed her red eyes. "Oh, don't cry."

"I'm not crying." Clancy stuck her chin up stubbornly, not realizing how sharp her voice sounded. "I was trying to practice my scales."

Mark scowled, clearly biting back his tongue, and left the house.

Clancy was finishing her schoolwork in her room, feeling sorry for herself, when she heard a car pull up. It was one o' clock, and she wouldn't have been surprised if they had eaten breakfast somewhere else. Deep down she couldn't stop feeling guilty about how she had snapped at Mark, and feeling embarrassed about that morning. She made her way to the main house, and sat on the sofa, watching Sonny talk on the radio school for a few moments. Matt was writing work documents at his desk, and Jerry must have been working outside with Mark. Clinging to the one thing that reminded her of home, Clancy sat at her piano and started to play her scales again. Over and over, until she felt comforted.

30th October 1968

Clancy was starting over. She had brushed her hair, put on new clothes, and her nerves were nowhere to be found. To calm herself down, she thought of all the lovely things about the four people she was staying with. Matt was caring and fair, and had tried his hardest not to hurt his feelings. Jerry was calculated and sensible, and he had made her feel comfortable on the car ride. Mark was cheerful and friendly, and he had made an effort to show her around. Sonny was smart for his age and tender-hearted, and although she hadn't spent much time with him yet, Clancy longed to be like an older sister towards him.

Matt walked into the kitchen and Clancy saw him stare at the carefully laid table in surprise. He smiled warmly at her. "Looks good!"

"I'm a little more organised this morning." Clancy laughed.

"I can see the situation is well under control. I have a hunch I'm going to like breakfast around here!"

Clancy grinned and poured some tea. "I haven't seen the boys, or Skippy."

Matt nodded, glancing towards the door. "Oh, they'll be along." He gave her one last warm smile before he turned to leave. "I'll be right back."

Clancy set the food on the table and waited for a few minutes. Deciding to see what was keeping them, she stepped outside and walked up the hill towards the helicopter station. Hearing what the boys were saying made her freeze, and her cheeks turn warm.

"We don't want another drama like yesterday. My head hurts from that piano!"

"It's bad enough Clancy putting aviation gas in your car, Matt. I don't want her fiddling around with the helicopter."

"I've told the three of you before. I want none of this sort of talk!"

Clancy didn't wait around to hear anymore. She was in her room by the time the boys and Matt reached the kitchen, feeling ten times worse than she ever had before. She had tried so hard with breakfast that morning, and now it felt like she was back to where she had been the previous afternoon. Clancy cried for a minute and sat up. She was getting older, and she needed to stop taking things so personally. She washed her face with some water and put on her sandals, making her way back to the kitchen.

"Clancy, this is great!" Jerry said in awe at the breakfast.

Sonny nodded happily as he stuffed his face with cereal. Matt gave Jerry and Mark hard looks. If she hadn't known what they had been saying, she would have guessed Mark's cheeks were flushing with the heat, not from guilt. Clancy nodded her thanks, knowing she was coming off slightly cold. Suddenly her calmness left her and she took off back for her bedroom. It was either that or she'd burst into tears. She scolded herself for being so silly as she closed the bedroom door and took deep breaths. Her heart jumped when someone knocked at her door.

"Clancy? Can we come in? We wanted to say thanks."

Clancy opened the door and forced a smile. "Hello, Mark, Jerry."

"Are you all right?" Jerry frowned. "It's not normal to run like that."

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you Jerry." Clancy nodded, and he smiled in relief and left. Mark stayed however, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Mark, I heard you talking about me, and I was hurt, and that's why I left so abruptly. I'm fine though, really."

Mark went even redder; which Clancy hadn't thought was possible. "Oh Clancy, Jerry didn't mean anything, and neither did I. I can't excuse what we said, I know, but it was really early and we were both grumpy about something."

"Yes, that's why I said it was fine." Clancy faked a laugh.

Mark bit his lip. "I'm sorry once again, Clancy. You can play your piano anytime you want, all night if you want to. I'll try really hard to be your friend, like Dad wants, and Jerry and I promise to look after you!"

His grin was so wide and his words so earnest Clancy surprised herself by smiling naturally. "I'll try too, Mark."